Plus UAS: A Technology Day to Level Up Any Program
About this Event
Drones + Tech = Your Graduates' Competitive Edge
The idea is simple: your program + UAS + the right technology = graduates who are ready for what's next.
Pair any degree with UAS courses, the UAS certificate and FAA Part 107, then layer in the cameras, lighting, video, audio, streaming and mapping tools already used in the field. Your students leave with more than a diploma. They leave with skills employers are hiring for right now.
The photographer who can fly, the GIS student who can map from the air, the business major who understands how drones and data are reshaping industries: those are the graduates who stand out.
HOW THE DAY WORKS
Choose the track closest to your program: Public Sector or Commercial.
The morning is split into two hands-on sessions. Your track does one, then switches to the other.
IN THE CLASSROOM: Drone Use Cases + Tech Lab with James Bushey
See how drones are really being used in your field, explore the career paths and use cases they open up, and get hands-on with the latest cameras, video and other technology professionals in your field rely on every day.
PUBLIC SECTOR TRACK
- Emergency Management: Disaster assessment, search and rescue, and live aerial video for incident command. Tech: thermal and zoom cameras, live streaming to a command post
- Fire Science: Hot spot detection, fire scene overwatch and post-fire investigation. Tech: thermal imaging, real-time video feeds
- Administration of Justice and Forensic Science: Crime scene and accident reconstruction, evidence documentation and situational awareness. Tech: high-resolution cameras, 3D scene modeling software
- Geospatial and Geography: Aerial mapping, land surveys and GIS data collection. Tech: mapping drones, photogrammetry and GIS software
- Engineering and Environmental Science: Infrastructure inspection, site monitoring and environmental surveys. Tech: zoom and multispectral cameras, 3D modeling tools
COMMERCIAL TRACK
- Photography: Aerial photography for real estate, events and fine art. Tech: drone cameras, mirrorless cameras, lighting and editing workflows
- Film and Digital Media: Aerial cinematography, storytelling and content creation. Tech: cinema cameras, gimbals, audio and post-production tools
- Athletics: Game and practice footage, sports broadcasting and live event coverage. Tech: live streaming setups, multi-camera production
- Business: How drones are changing construction, real estate, agriculture and marketing, and where the jobs are. Tech: drone data platforms, marketing content tools
Aviation, Computer Science, AI and Design: Join either track to see how your program connects, from flight operations to data, automation and visual design.
IN THE CAGE: Your First Flight with Mike Bellows
Learn the basics and fly a drone in a safe, controlled flight cage. No experience needed.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
- Program chairs and lead faculty
- Faculty and adjunct instructors
- Administrators, advising and student career services
- Arizona colleges interested in bringing drones to their campus
- Students interested in UAS and technology
WHAT YOU'LL LEAVE WITH
- A clear picture of how Plus UAS gives your graduates a competitive edge
- Real-world drone use cases for your discipline
- A say in the program roadmap for 2027
- A starting gear list for bringing drones and the latest technology into your classroom
- Your first drone flight, in a safe, controlled cage
AGENDA
9:00–9:30 AM | Breakfast and Check-In Grab breakfast and explore drones, cameras and gear on display.
9:30–10:00 AM | Welcome: Your Program + UAS Why every degree path gets stronger with drones and technology, and where the industry is headed. Host: Mike Bellows
10:00–11:15 AM | Session 1
Public Sector Track: Classroom with James Bushey
Commercial Track: Flight Cage with Mike Bellows
11:15 AM–12:30 PM | Session 2
Public Sector Track: Flight Cage with Mike Bellows
Commercial Track: Classroom with James Bushey
12:30–1:15 PM | Lunch
1:15–1:45 PM | What's Next: Building the Competitive Edge in 2027 The two UAS worlds (public and private sector), certificates built and in development, how computing and data programs plug in, and the 2027 roadmap, with live feedback from the room. Host: Mike Bellows, James Bushey
1:45–2:00 PM | Closing Key takeaways and your next step for leveling up your program. Hosts: Mike Bellows, James Bushey
2:00–3:00 PM | Open Cage and Gear Floor Stay to fly, try the gear or talk one on one with the team.
SPEAKERS
Mike Bellows | UAS Programs, Chandler-Gilbert Community College Mike leads the UAS Programs in CGCC's Aviation Division, building training that connects drones to careers across public safety, public works and the private sector. After 34 years in law enforcement, his mission is simple: give every student, in every program, a reason to fly.
James Bushey | Director of Technical Services, Adorama Business Solutions James trains public safety agencies, schools and businesses nationwide on drones, photography and video. A former member of a public safety air coordination unit in Wisconsin, he's known for getting first-time pilots confidently flying in minutes.
Michele Pardes | Account Manager, Adorama Business Solutions Michele is CGCC's day-to-day partner at Adorama, helping programs find the right gear, training and support to bring technology into the classroom.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
