How Vets To Drones Is Helping Veterans Reclaim Purpose Through Drone Technology

Chris Lewis, founder of Vets To Drones, served in both the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army from 2009 to 2018. After his military career was cut short by injury, he earned a degree in Science and Technology from North Carolina State University. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional job opportunities, Lewis sought alternative ways to apply his skills and education.

Opting out of a corporate career path, he deployed to California to assist with wildfire mitigation and later supported recovery efforts after Hurricane Dorian by inspecting power lines. He also worked in utility inspections across the Midwest, including salt tower capture—experiences that helped shape his capabilities as a drone pilot and laid the foundation for his business.

The company was founded unofficially, as Chris puts it, in a bar in San Bernardino in 2022, and officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on Feb. 1, 2023.

Veteran-Run Drone Program Sees Surge in Training Demand and Outreach

Vets To Drones has since trained over 3,000 pilots with 15,000 awaiting training, and 112,000 inquiries just in the last month.

“We’ve pushed 2500 through the part 107 since January this year. So we were fairly small before 2025 and we’ve just been growing rapidly,” says Chris Lewis Co-Founder Vets To Drones.

Vets To Drones recently partnered with 5.11 Tactical to host a “Tactical Fly Day” in Columbia, South Carolina, as part of its ongoing mission to empower veterans and build national drone readiness. The event brought together 14 active-duty service members, 18 veterans, and 17 civilians with prior military experience for hands-on flight training and field testing. Over the five-hour operation window, five drones flew in continuous rotation, logging more than 12 collective flight hours.

The team deployed mobile broadband kits and used the AirData enterprise platform to stream live telemetry and generate a real-time common operational picture for situational awareness. Billed as more than a demo, the event served as a real-world test of emerging technologies, while reinforcing the role of veteran pilots in disaster response and emergency coordination.

The company currently brought out a DJI M300 equipped with a Zenmuse H20T, first-person-view (FPV) DJI Avata, few DJI Mavericks, and even a Potensic Atom.

“This program is designed to give veterans an opportunity to display their greatness in an industry that will appreciate them,” says Chris Lewis Co-Founder Vets To Drones.

Empowering Veterans Through Drone Technology

While Chris doesn’t shy away from the topic of veteran suicide, his focus is on showing his fellow service members that there’s a path forward—one that leads through the drone industry. As he puts it, it doesn’t hurt that you get to play with some cool tech along the way.

“The way I see drone technology is a way for veterans to consistently look forward to the future, and that prevents them from dwelling too much on the past,” he says.

The soft skills veterans develop in the military—discipline, adaptability and mission focus—translate well to the drone industry, which is similarly driven by objectives and coordination. While conferences can be valuable for networking, the suit-and-tie atmosphere and bright lights may not appeal to veterans more accustomed to putting boots on the ground.

“The reality of the industry is you have to put your boots on and get out there in the field and be able to operate sometimes in an austere environment and that’s where having that military background really comes to your background,” Chris Lewis Co-Founder of Vets To Drones says.

The drone industry is projected to generate over 800,000 new jobs by 2028, reflecting rapid expansion in commercial UAS operations. Vet To Drones is already off to the races—positioned to train former service members for careers in a field that mirrors their mission-driven military experience. As demand grows, the nonprofit will scale its training programs significantly, providing veterans with both purpose and promising job opportunities in a booming industry.

Because Every Mission Needs a Soundtrack

From white girl anthems to “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor” and smooth jazz, the Vet To Drones training playlist covers all moods—and the smiles show it. Music remains a lighthearted staple during training exercises, keeping spirits high no matter what’s flying.

“I’m from the greater New Orleans area, so they make fun of me for listening to New Orleans jazz and Mardi Gras music all the time. They’re all like Chris is listening to smooth jazz again, and I’m like hell no man, it’s not smooth jazz. It’s not the same thing,” says Chris Lewis with a laugh.

“No Lady Gaga or Katy Perry?” I asked him. “That’s what I play with my headphones on,” he says.