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Rich L. Gatanis

Firefighter / HazMat Technician / UAS Coordinator
Southern Manatee Fire & Rescue District
Wimauma, Florida

Rich Gatanis
Southern Manatee Fire Rescue
Firefighter/HazMat Technician / UAS Coordinator
Co-Founder Unmanned Tactical Group
President - Tampa Chapter of the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)
Leadership Team - Florida Public Safety UAS Coordination Group (FLOGRU)

Rich Gatanis began his firefighter career in 2003 as a Firefighter/EMT/HazMat Technician with Southern Manatee Fire Rescue in Manatee County, Florida. In 2015, he took on the role of UAS Coordinator at SMFR, introducing a UAS program. Since then, SMFR has become a prominent pioneer in formulating policies and best practices for UAS response in hazardous materials and special operations. His forward-thinking led to the creation of specialized devices enabling drones to carry detectors for chemical, gas, and radiation, allowing real-time air monitoring via onboard cameras.
Driven by his passion for UAS in public safety, Rich joined a small, Tampa based, UAS company called flymotion in 2017. He collaborated with various national public safety agencies, crafting drone programs and providing equipment. With expertise in policy, training, and UAS regulations, he assisted these agencies in shaping internal protocols.
In 2020, Rich assumed the UAS Team Lead position at the Manatee County Search and Rescue Team. MC-SAR, comprising of Public Safety professionals, engages in community service through deployments for missing persons, water rescues, and other emergencies.
In 2021, Rich played a pivotal role in establishing the Florida Public Safety UAS Coordination Group (FLOGRU), fostering direct collaboration between agencies, industry, government, and academia. Simultaneously, he contributed to Brinc Drones, a purpose-built tactical UAS for high-risk scenarios. Rich also engaged with Skydio, a leader in US manufactured drones, offering training and consulting to public safety agencies building UAS programs.
Throughout his career in Public Safety as well as the commercial UAS industry, Rich closely collaborated with industry leaders shaping UAS technology for public safety. His contributions extend to promoting purpose-built development and gaining extensive insights into technology performance in challenging environments.

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