Michael Skaggs

Background

About Michael Skaggs

Ever since I was young man, I knew I would not be tied to Terra Firma like the common landsman. I was bound to follow that call of my forefathers to brave the seas and skies. To test my mind, body, and soul in the pursuit of the wind. In 2008 I enlisted as an Aircrewman in the United States Navy. The six years I spent accumulating 1400 flight hours as an Inflight Technician and Ordnanceman laid the bed rock of my aviation acumen. Beyond my inflight responsibilities I learned how to manage a crew of 23 Avionics Technicians, successfully meet and implement maintenance protocols for a wing of large aircraft, provide oversite and control of an aviation training program for new and existing aviators, as well as provide training of Emergency Procedures, Crew Resource Management, Ground and Air Safety, Avionics, Ordinance, and Aeromedical Factors. After separating from the Navy I sought to further my aviation experience by attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University where I earned my Private Pilot certification with Rotorcraft rating while accumulating over 275 Pilot In Command hours. It was here that impressed upon me the privileges and responsibilities that are afforded to and required of a pilot such as Mission Planning, Flight Execution, and Personal Accountability. I was able then able to pivot my education and experience into operational excellence when I was hired to manage a portfolio of 200+ communication towers at American Tower Corp. Due to years of experience aviation, I was able to help kickstart ATC's transition into sUAS operations in early 2018. For the next 18 months I tested multiple aircraft hardware and software platforms providing crucial analysis and feedback vital for finalizing the operational standards of the sUA program. In 2019 I was invited to transition from pilot to program management and was designated the UAS Specialist. From then on I have provided expertise to over 200 pilots from the Mission Control Center in Massachusetts, created and implemented and multiphase aviation maintenance program, created and serve as the chief editor of our internal aviation circular The Prop Stop that has been recognized by the FAA, created documentation to standardize fleet operations, served as the sUAS Logistics Expert, and provide detailed aviation data analysis for trend identification and program amelioration.