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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
Symposium Speakers
Welcome
Sallie Williams is the Section Manager of the Regulation Development, Planning, and Reporting Section in the Division of Mining and Solid Waste Management at the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES). She has been with SCDES for 14 years. Sallie earned a B.A. in Communication with a minor focus on Leadership and Psychology and 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 (then SC DHEC) drone pilots and was instrumental in founding the Agency UAV group. As a member of the SCDES UAV group she assists with many flights for the Agency, helps train new pilots, and promotes the group’s outreach efforts.
Sallie Williams, SCiDUC President
South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES)
Accident Management Panel
Uwe Klauck is an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Specialist and lead drone pilot for the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES). He works in this capacity, post-retirement from the former SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC), on a part-time basis. Uwe earned his FAA Part 107 certification in 2016 and was DHEC’s first certificated pilot. After Uwe demonstrated the capabilities of the drone as a tool for safely and efficiently monitoring conditions at a waste tire recycling facility in 2016, SC DHEC chose to pursue the UAS technology and expand drone use into the various program areas within the agency. As part of DHEC’s UAV Workgroup, he played a lead role in developing the Department’s drone program. After the SC DHEC agency split, Uwe continues to work as part of an experienced team to help grow the SC DES program and train new agency pilots.
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Uwe Klauck
South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES)
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. He also serves as a current SCiDUC Board member.
Darryl Jones
South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC)
Agency Lightning Talks
Bradley Chase Barron is an accomplished Geospatial Program Manager and technical leader with extensive experience in geographic information systems (GIS), geospatial integration, survey data collection and program management. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Chase serves as the Geospatial Integration Officer for Joint Base Charleston, overseeing the GeoBase geospatial program office. With over 15 years of expertise, Chase has led teams of military and civilian personnel, pioneered innovative geospatial applications, and modernized technical infrastructure, including securing over $2M in additional funding for data and contracts to support the GeoBase program at Joint Base Charleston. His contributions have spanned various roles, including engineering technician, GIS analyst, and project manager, where he supported vital infrastructure and operational missions for the U.S. Air Force and Army.
Bradley Chase Barron
GeoBase Program Manager
Joint Base Charleston
His contributions extend beyond technical achievements, including briefing senior leadership on programmatic changes, establishing enterprise geospatial policies, and driving collaboration across departments to meet and exceed organizational goals. Recognized for his excellence, Chase has received multiple awards, including Civilian Achievement Medals and the 628th ABW Civilian Cat II of the Year Award in 2023.
Chase’s leadership, technical expertise, and dedication to operational success have made him an invaluable asset in supporting military infrastructure and strategic mission objectives.
Gary Sundin is a Wildlife Biologist in the Marine Resources Division of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Since 2017 he has integrated small UAS into his work in the Shellfish Research Section where he focuses on mapping oyster reefs and intertidal coastal habitat. He also uses drones to monitor restoration sites and track geomorphological changes in coastal systems. He and his small team of biologists have flown over 500 drone missions, placing an emphasis on creating accurate map products that can be used in GIS workflows to produce indices and metrics that are used to inform resource management decisions.
Gary Sundin
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR)
Akshit Suthar is a Ph.D. candidate at the James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center, Clemson University. His doctoral research examines waterbird habitat relationships in historical wetland impoundments of coastal South Carolina using drone technology, thermal imagery, and autonomous recording units.
Before joining Clemson, Akshit developed a broad foundation in wildlife research and conservation in India, working on projects related to otter conservation, human–leopard conflict, crocodile conflict mitigation, biodiversity assessment, environmental education, and community-based ecological planning. At Clemson, he has contributed to undergraduate teaching on the use of emerging technologies in ecological research and mentoring. He has presented his research at more than 30 national and international scientific conferences.
Akshit has authored approximately 16 peer-reviewed publications, a book chapter is in press and received several competitive research grants, fellowships, and travel awards. He was recently recognized with the Clemson University CAFLS Best Graduate Researcher Award, highlighting his contributions to wildlife science, wetland conservation, and applied ecological research."
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Akshit Suthar
Clemson University
Calvin Rikard
SC Department of Public Safety
BVLOS
Scott Newsome
Charleston Police Department (CPD)
Scott Newsome serves as an FAA FAASTeam Representative with the South Carolina Flight District Office and is widely recognized for his long-standing contributions to aviation safety. He is the recipient of the 2025 FAA FAASTeam Outstanding Community Service Award and the 2020 FAASTeam Representative of the Year. Scott is an active member of the FAA Rotorcraft Collective Helicopter Safety Production Team and holds credentials as a commercial pilot in rotorcraft (helicopter) and single-engine land aircraft, as well as an FAA sUAS Remote Pilot Certificate. With 40 years of aviation and aerospace experience, his background includes SAR, law enforcement aviation, and extensive operational work under Parts 107, 137, 133, 135, and 91. Scott’s flight experience spans powerline survey and maintenance, external load operations, prescribed burning and fire attack missions for the U.S. Forest Service, motion picture and television news aerial work, and service as both a fixed-wing and helicopter pilot for the Charleston Police Department, where he also established the department’s UAS unit.
Brad Treas
Greenville Water
Search and Rescue
Alden Wheeler is a licensed private investigator with more than 36 years of professional experience and a recognized leader in unmanned aerial systems and search and rescue training. He serves as an Executive Board Member of the National Council of Investigation & Security Services (NCISS) and as Legislative Chair for the South Carolina Legal Investigators Association (SCALI). Mr. Wheeler is an SCSAR Instructor for the Spartanburg County Drone Unit and served as an instructor for the Carolina SAREX 2025 Training Exercise. His credentials include NIST/BPERP drone proficiency certifications, the Clemson Drone Course, and certification in thermography, along with extensive training in K9, ground, water, and aerial search and rescue operations.
Alden Wheeler
States Discussion: North and South Carolina
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Summer Justice
NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ)
Summer Justice is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with Waste Management experience at North and South Carolina's Environmental Agencies. Summer received her Part 107 certificate after beginning work at NCDEQ and has since assisted with teaching a Division-wide Accelerated Part 107 Training program to establish new drone pilots within the Division of Waste Management. Summer has quickly become one of the most active drone pilots within NCDEQ using UAS technology to support disaster response and facility inspections.
Lee Hill is a graduate of North Carolina State University and brings more than 21 years of experience in environmental compliance at the state and local level. He serves as the lead pilot for the Division of Waste Management UAS program where he integrates drone technology into real world environmental operations.
Lee has more than 28 years of aviation experience as a certified fixed wing pilot and is also an FAA Part 107 remote pilot. He teaches Part 107 training for the Division and helps new pilots build the skills needed to operate safely and effectively in the field.
Lee Hill
NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ)
Sallie Williams is the Section Manager of the Regulation Development, Planning, and Reporting Section in the Division of Mining and Solid Waste Management at the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES). She has been with SCDES for fourteen years. Sallie earned a B.A. in Communication with a minor focus on Leadership and Psychology and 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 (then SC DHEC) drone pilots and was instrumental in founding the Agency UAV group. As a member of the SCDES UAV group she assists with many flights for the Agency, helps train new pilots, and promotes the group’s outreach efforts.
Sallie Williams, SCiDUC President
South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES)
Industry Presenters
Coming Soon!