Interested in Partnering with Us?
Interested in Partnering with Us?
SCiDUC is nonprofit organization managed my South Carolina state employees for South Carolina state employees. If you are interested in connecting with our members to expand your brand and support the SCiDUC mission, please contact us using the form below
SCiDUC is nonprofit organization managed my South Carolina state employees for South Carolina state employees. If you are interested in connecting with our members to expand your brand and support the SCiDUC mission, please contact us using the form below
Board of Directors
Sallie Williams - President
Sallie Williams is Manager for the Solid Waste Regulation Development, Planning, and Reporting Section in the Division of Mining and Solid Waste at the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES). She has been with SCDES for fifteen years and served in several other areas, including underground storage tanks, solid waste, and hazardous waste. Sallie earned a B.A. in Communication with a minor focus on Leadership and Psychology and a M.A. in Organizational Change and Leadership, both from Columbia College. She earned her FAA Part 107 certification in 2016 as one of the first SCDES drone pilots and was instrumental in founding the SCDES UAV group. As a member of the SCDES UAV group, she has aided in piloting many flights for the Department, assisting and training new pilots, and promoting the group’s outreach efforts.
Darryl Jones
Darryl Jones is the Forest Protection Chief for the South Carolina Forestry Commission. His responsibilities include oversight of wildfire suppression, fire prevention, emergency response, law enforcement, forest health, training & safety, and administration of South Carolina’s Certified Prescribed Fire Manager, Smoke Management, and prescribed burning programs. Darryl is a Wildland Firefighter, Certified Prescribed Fire Manager, and a Registered Forester, as well as a past president and current steering committee member of the SC Prescribed Fire Council. He holds a B.S. degree in Forest Resource Management from Clemson University.
Dr. Joe Mari Maja
Dr. Joe Mari Maja is a senior researcher and the director of the Center of Applied Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Agriculture at South Carolina State University. With a focus on drone technology, robotics, and automation, Dr. Maja has mentored multiple graduate students whose work advances precision agriculture and environmental monitoring. He has secured over $2 million in approved grants, leading projects in UAV-based plant inventory management, water stress detection, and automated cotton harvesting.
Nikos Vitzilaios, PhD
Dr. Nikos Vitzilaios is an Associate Professor of Robotics in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of South Carolina, where he directs the Unmanned Systems & Robotics Laboratory (USRL). His research focuses on perception, navigation, and control of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), supported by a fleet of 30+ drones used in monitoring and inspection applications.
Dr. Vitzilaios joined USC in 2017 and has over 20 years of experience in aerial robotics. He earned his Ph.D. in 2010 from the Technical University of Crete, Greece, where he worked on the autonomous control of small-scale unmanned helicopters. He subsequently conducted research on fixed-wing and rotorcraft drones as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Alberta (2011–2012) and as a Research Scientist at the University of Denver (2012–2015). From 2016 to 2017, he was a Senior Lecturer in Robotics at Kingston University London, where he was elected a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy.
Dr. Vitzilaios has authored more than 40 publications in international journals and conferences. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). He is a Senior Member of IEEE and an active member of ASME, AIAA, AUVSI, and IFAC. He serves on the organizing committee of the annual International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ICUAS) and is an Associate Editor for IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters and the Springer Journal of Intelligent & Robotic Systems. In addition, he is an FAA Part 107 certified sUAS pilot and has completed the APSA-NIST Basic Proficiency Evaluation for Remote Pilots. Since 2023, he has served as a member of the SCiDUC Board of Directors.
Tyler Jones: City of Clemson
Tyler Jones is the GIS Administrator for the City of Clemson, where he leads the administration of ArcGIS Enterprise, oversees geospatial workflows, manages data, and integrates third-party solutions. A Certified GIS Professional (GISP) and FAA-licensed drone pilot since 2018, he is dedicated to advancing the use of innovative mapping technologies to strengthen city operations. His interests include asset management, utility geolocation, and drone-based survey applications.
Tyler holds a Master of Forest Resources from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology with a concentration in Sustainable Development from Appalachian State University. Prior to his GIS career, he served as a Certified Arborist for Clemson University, where he managed tree inventories, conducted risk assessments, and implemented long-term vegetation management strategies.
SCiDUC has played a pivotal role in professionalizing the City of Clemson’s UAS program by providing education on the evolving tools, techniques, and regulations of this emerging field. Serving on the SCiDUC Board of Directors would allow Tyler to give back to the community that has supported his work, while contributing valuable insights from the perspective of GIS and small government operations.
Mary Kule: Charleston County Public Works
My name is Mary Kule and I am a Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) Developer I at Charleston County Public Works. In addition to this role, I oversee the Public Works UAS Program. I am writing today to nominate myself for incumbancy on the SCiDUC Board of Directors.
I received my part 107 pilot licensure in October of 2023, and have been positioned to manage the program growth since then. The Public Works UAS Program uses UAS technology for environmental monitoring, permit and fee compliance, and detailed aerial surveying. Over the past two years, I have spearheaded research and development of the program to produce orthomosaic maps and 3D models that adhere to the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing accuracy threshholds.
In addition to learning and establishing how to use UAS as a surveying method for Public Works, I have developed key program protocols and success metrics integrated with GIS technology, such as designing a custom survey for tracking flight logs, an accompanying dashboard to quickly reference flight information, and a visionary Strategic Plan.
I believe I can contribute to the board by providing insights on UAS survey methods, experience with using drones in a diverse number of use cases, and input on starting and growing UAS programs. I have personally benefited tremendously from membership in this group, and would like to contribute my knowledge to further the SCiDUC mission. Thank you for considering my nomination!
Alden Wheeler: Licensed Private Investigator, UAS Instructor, Search and Rescue
With more than 36 years of experience as a licensed private investigator, Alden Wheeler has built a distinguished career grounded in investigative excellence, technical proficiency, and an unwavering commitment to public service. Over the course of nearly four decades in the field, he has earned a reputation as a meticulous investigator, a respected instructor, and a trusted leader within both the professional investigative community and the search and rescue arena.
Mr. Wheeler currently serves as an Executive Board Member of the National Council of Investigation & Security Services (NCISS), where he contributes to shaping national policy, professional standards, and advocacy efforts on behalf of investigators and security professionals across the United States. At the state level, he serves as the Legislative Chair for the South Carolina Legal Investigators Association (SCALI), representing the interests of South Carolina’s investigative community before lawmakers and regulatory bodies and helping to guide legislation that affects the profession.
A recognized authority in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and search and rescue operations, Mr. Wheeler serves as an SCSAR Instructor for the Spartanburg County Drone Unit, where he trains personnel in advanced drone operations supporting emergency response and search and rescue missions. He was selected as an Instructor for the Carolina SAREX 2025 Training Exercise, a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary search and rescue exercise that brings together teams from across the Carolinas to sharpen real-world response capabilities.
Mr. Wheeler’s technical credentials reflect the breadth of his expertise. He holds NIST/BPERP drone proficiency certifications, has completed the Clemson University Drone Course, and is certified in thermography — a discipline particularly valuable in locating missing persons, identifying heat signatures, and supporting investigative and rescue operations under challenging conditions. He is also trained in search and rescue operations involving K9, ground, water, and aerial units, with hands-on experience coordinating these specialties to deliver effective, integrated response in the field.
The combination of seasoned investigative judgment, advanced technical training, and a deep commitment to mentorship has made Alden Wheeler a sought-after instructor, consultant, and advocate. Whether testifying on legislative matters, training the next generation of drone operators, or coordinating multi-agency rescue efforts, he brings the same disciplined, mission-focused approach that has defined his career — and continues to set a high standard for professionalism in both private investigation and emergency response.
Joe Burgett, PhD: Clemson University
Dr. Joe Burgett is a tenured professor at Clemson University in the Nieri Department of Construction Development and Planning. He graduated from the University of Florida with his BS, MS and PhD all in construction management. He is a general contractor by trade and teacher HVAC and electrical system courses at Clemson. His area of research is in advanced construction technology; specifically, with how drones can be used to support land surveying and asset inspections. He has worked closely with the SCDOT and their program.
Brandon Klein: South Carolina Forestry Commission
Brandon Klein is the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Coordinator for the South Carolina Forestry Commission, where he leads the development and operation of the agency’s statewide UAS program. His work focuses on integrating uncrewed aircraft into wildfire response, prescribed fire, forestry, mapping, damage assessment and emergency response.
Brandon holds a bachelor's degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems and a master's degree in Unmanned Systems with a specialization in Aviation Safety from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. His professional experience includes flight operations, flight testing, drone delivery, security, infrastructure inspections, UAS integration, ISR missions, thermal imaging and advanced sensor applications.
In addition to his work with the Forestry Commission, Brandon is a professor at Sonoran Desert Institute where he teaches aviation safety, three dimensional modeling and unmanned aircraft design. He holds an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate, FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate and an FCC Technician License.
His interests include aviation safety, remote sensing, aerial ignition, photogrammetry, LiDAR and UAS technologies.
Through SCiDUC, Brandon is committed to strengthening collaboration among government, industry, academia and public safety organizations while advancing safe, effective and responsible UAS operations throughout South Carolina.
Executive Director
Mark Jahnke
Mark Jahnke has served the broadcast community since 2002. A graduate of Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, Jahnke currently is the Vice President, Chief Information Officer for South Carolina ETV (SCETV) in Columbia, SC. Since 2020 Jahnke has been integral in creating a drone program at SCETV. His focus on policy and practical application has directed SCETV’s drone program forward for creative content creation and engineering structural analysis.