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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 Election
The nominees for the SCiDUC Board of Directors are listed alphabetically. Please use the form below to select up to four individuals for the open seats. Voting is restricted to SC government employees only. Eligibility will be verified with your South Carolina government email address. The deadline to cast your vote is September 26th. The button to cast a vote is located at the bottom of the page.
Zachary Felts: Veterans Affairs
With over 20 years of combined federal and military service, I bring a strong engineering background in inspections, compliance, and program development. At the Columbia VA hospital, I oversee the Engineering compliance program for 25 buildings across a 97-acre campus and established our Engineering drone program. Together, these efforts expand our technical capabilities while ensuring strict alignment with federal, state, and local regulations.
My passion for flight began as a child at the RC Aero Club, where curiosity turned into a lifelong pursuit. As a young Airman, I filled my dorm with RC planes that even caught the attention of visiting Commanders. Today, that passion is woven into my professional work as I merge aviation and engineering to deliver value through photogrammetry, infrared inspections, and 3D modeling.
Academically, I hold a B.A. in Business Management and Economics, an A.S. in Mechanical and Electrical Technology, and I am currently pursuing a B.A. in Civil Engineering. I thrive on learning and believe this aligns directly with SCiDUC’s mission of advancing knowledge and collaboration.
As industry standards and technology evolve, SCiDUC will need board members who are optimistic, forward-looking, and strategic. I strive to embody these qualities in my current role. As a board member, I would work to connect people, strengthen partnerships, and advance SCiDUC’s mission through education, innovation, and collaboration.
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!
Ryan Reid: Greenville County Sheriff's Office
Ryan Reid brings over 30 years of combined public safety experience to his nomination for the SCiDUC Board. A full-time first responder with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Ryan serves as the Administrative Drone Program Coordinator, managing a fleet of 35 drones and 65 certified operators. His leadership supports over 250 missions monthly, including search and rescue, tactical operations, and incident documentation.
Ryan has trained more than 290 public safety professionals across South Carolina, delivering over 800 hours of hands-on UAS instruction. His emphasis on operational safety, compliance, and tactical application has helped elevate the standard of drone use in emergency services statewide.
Ryan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management and Homeland Security and has earned recognition for his leadership during federally declared disasters. He is a strong advocate for responsible UAS integration, policy development, and public safety innovation.
Ryan’s extensive field experience, instructional background, and passion for advancing drone technology make him uniquely qualified to contribute to SCiDUC’s mission of promoting safe and effective UAS use in critical environments.
Andrea C. Sancho-Baker: SC Department of Natural Resources
Andrea Sancho-Baker is a licensed attorney in South Carolina with nearly 15 years of public service. She has served as legal counsel across multiple state agencies, gaining deep insight into the operational and regulatory challenges faced by government entities of varying size and scope.
She currently serves as Chief Information Security Officer and Assistant General Counsel at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. In this dual role, Andrea navigates the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and legal compliance. Her work has given her a clear appreciation of the expanding role unmanned aerial systems (UAS) play in operational efficiency, environmental monitoring, and public safety. She is also acutely aware of the complex challenges UAS present—particularly in safeguarding sensitive data, ensuring regulatory compliance, and mitigating risks associated with unauthorized access or misuse. Andrea brings a balanced perspective that recognizes both the vast potential of UAS and the need for thoughtful governance to ensure their secure and responsible deployment.
Her previous service as a governor-appointed commissioner on a state board provides firsthand experience in board governance and collaborative decision-making. She approaches public service with a strong sense of duty and accountability, recognizing the real-world impact her work has on South Carolinians.
Andrea seeks a position on the SCiDUC board to advance responsible innovation, strengthen interagency partnerships, and support the secure deployment of emerging technologies like UAS. With a professional background spanning law, information security, and public service, she would bring a perspective well-suited to SCiDUC’s mission.
Nikos Vitzilaios: University of South Carolina
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.
Select up to 4 Candidates
Cast Your Vote by September 26th Using your Government-Issued Email address