What Would The World Miss if Drone Education Services Didn’t Exist?

When people think about the drone industry, they often picture cutting-edge hardware, flight demonstrations, or flashy marketing videos. What they don’t always see is the work behind the scenes—the time spent educating, correcting misinformation, navigating regulations, and building something that lasts. That’s where I come in. My name is Lamar Ellis, and I didn’t set out to build drones—I set out to build a foundation. Since 2014, I’ve been on a mission to help professionals see the world from above, not just for the view, but for the value. Through Drone Education Services, I’ve dedicated my career to training, safety, compliance, and turning new technology into practical, repeatable operations that serve industries like real estate, construction, and infrastructure. If I hadn’t shown up for this space, I believe the industry would’ve missed one of its most needed voices: the one that asks, Are we doing this the right way?

The Moment That Changed Everything

My journey didn’t start with drones—it started with real estate valuation. I’ve spent my career in real estate as a valuation expert and educator, trained to see properties with a critical eye. But everything changed one summer afternoon in 2014, sitting in my grandfather’s living room in southwest Florida. As was his routine, he watched local, national, and international news—always with a cocktail in hand before dinner. That evening, a segment aired about drones and how they might infringe on our privacy. The reporter launched a DJI Phantom 2 from the front yard of a multi-million-dollar home, capturing video as it flew overhead and revealed the backyard where people lounged by the pool. But what struck me wasn’t the story—it was the view. I had never seen a property from that angle before. It wasn’t an airplane flyover. It was close, detailed, intimate. I could count the tiles on the roof, see the accents on the windows, spot the gazebo, the tennis court, and the shimmering water of the pool. I was floored. I turned to my grandfather and said, “This is what I want to do with my life.” That was the spark. Not to build drones—but to build something bigger: a path for professionals to understand and use this powerful technology in a way that’s safe, ethical, and meaningful.

Helping Real Estate See More Than Just the Surface

Early on, real estate was one of the first industries to recognize the potential of drones for photography and marketing. But I saw a deeper value: drones weren’t just a flashy new tool—they were a new way to see. My mission became helping others understand that this perspective could inform decisions, improve documentation, and transform inspections and appraisals.

As the industry matured and regulations like Part 107 came into place, I pivoted toward something even more essential: safety. Before 2016, commercial drone operations were a bit of the Wild West. I had the privilege of working with FlyWorx, a company that held one of the early 333 exemptions, allowing us to operate commercially before Part 107. It was an eye-opening time. We saw the good, the bad, and the dangerous. That experience shaped my commitment to teaching others how to operate drones safely, legally, and responsibly.

Over the years, I’ve expanded my focus to include education on career pathways. Drones aren't just tools—they're doorways to opportunity. Whether it's in infrastructure, inspections, public safety, or construction, this technology is changing the landscape. And if I can help someone recognize that and take their first step, then I’ve done my job.

Why I Chose the Harder Road

If I had to sit through a roast, I know exactly what they'd say: “Lamar talks about safety way too much.” For years, I heard it from colleagues and critics alike—“Why aren’t you just teaching people how to pass the Part 107 exam and be done with it?” It’s true. I didn’t build a course to simply help people memorize answers and get their certificate. I went deeper. To me, the exam was just the beginning. The Part 107 covers the what—but I wanted to focus on the how and why: How do you actually fly a mission safely? How do you maintain compliance on a real-world job site? How do you develop repeatable systems that build trust with clients?

So yes, while others were riding the wave of quick Part 107 prep, I was quietly building curriculum around pilot proficiency, operational standards, and risk mitigation. And I’ll admit—they weren’t wrong in their criticism.  There wasn’t a huge market yet for advanced drone education. People didn’t fully understand why safety, standards, and repeatability mattered. But I kept going. I filmed every project. I documented every lesson. I built a knowledge base piece by piece. And over time, that foundation turned into a unique strength—something I’m incredibly proud of today. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. The deeper I dug, the more I grew into someone people now turn to because of that early insistence on doing things the right way.

Turning Setbacks into Strength

I’ve never called them failures—only challenges. But some challenges are so daunting they make you question everything. Mine came right after I held my very first seminar in 2014, titled “Drone Technology and Its Impact on the Appraisal Industry.” The goal was simple: introduce real estate professionals to a new tool that could change how we view and value property. During the session, one attendee challenged me hard on airspace regulations. It was tough, but manageable. What I didn’t expect was the aftermath. That attendee—and her husband—filed a complaint with the FAA, accusing me of illegally teaching people how to use drones for questionable purposes. I got the email on a Friday night. I didn’t sleep that weekend. Here I was, just beginning to find my voice in this space, and now I was being investigated by the FAA. By Monday at 10:00 a.m., I left a message on the phone with the FAA Program Manager. Later that day, I followed up with an email. Silence. A full week of anxiety passed before I got the call back.

Turns out, the manager had been out training all week. He told me he reviewed the letter, didn’t find anything concerning, and said not to worry about it. But I was worried. That response wasn’t enough. I needed clarity—not just for me, but for anyone I planned to teach in the future. So, I invited him to my next seminar in March 2015. That day was a make-or-break moment. Either the FAA would shut it down, or I would go full steam ahead. The Program Manager showed up, addressed the class, and afterward told me, “You’re doing it right. Call me anytime you need anything.” And I did. He ended up on my speed dial. We had countless hour-long conversations about rules, standards, and use cases. That early scare turned into one of the most valuable relationships of my career. What started as a near-derailment became the foundation of everything I’ve built since.

Education, Advocacy, and the Future of Flight

I’m in education, I don’t believe in “dumb” questions.  One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that if one person has a question, chances are others are thinking the same thing. Even when a question sounds shortsighted or misinformed, I always try to find an answer that brings clarity. That’s what education is: helping people move from can’t to can, from I don’t get it to I’ve got it.

Why So Many Give Up (And How Not To)

The advice I would give to someone who is just starting in this space is to be passionate or don’t bother.  Since I started in drones back in 2014, I’ve watched over 80% of the people I came up with leave the space entirely. Many of the ones still standing have reinvented themselves multiple times to stay relevant. The number one reason I’ve seen people fail is in a lack of planning and tunnel vision. They build a business plan around a single solution without realizing how broad this industry really is. Drones are a tool and if you stay open to the crossover opportunities—construction, inspections, real estate, public safety, education—you’ll find that your drone doesn’t just fly… it opens doors. Adaptability is key. But it has to be grounded in something deeper than hype. If you're not driven by curiosity, purpose, or a genuine passion for what drones can do, then when challenges hit—and they will—you won’t have the fuel to keep going. This isn’t a space for shortcuts. But it’s absolutely the space for those who are all-in. There have been a lot of moments where I’ve had to dig deep and figure things out along the way.  Early on, my drone education courses were rough—I didn’t have much material, and I was still finding my footing. But I kept showing up, kept learning, kept networking. Over time, the quality of the education improved because I improved.

But the moment I’m most proud of—the one that really tested everything I had—was organizing the first Kickoff Party for AUVSI XPonential in 2021.

It was a fragile time. COVID had rocked the drone industry. People were just beginning to gather again, cautiously re-entering spaces that once felt normal. I had just been elected President of the Atlanta Chapter of AUVSI when I heard that AUVSI wouldn’t be hosting a formal party for the conference that year. So I decided to do it myself. The idea was born in May. XPonential was in August. Not exactly a lot of runway. I partnered with outgoing chapter president Brian Spratt—we made a plan: I’d handle logistics, he’d line up sponsors. We secured a local brewery with a 4-acre open space and turned it into a safe, designated drone flight zone. We roped it off, got clearance, and set the stage. We brought in barbecue, a blues musician, and handed out drink tickets. The event was dubbed Flight Time.

I served as the Air Boss for the event, giving a formal flight briefing to some of the top remote pilots in the country. We ended up with 15 companies showcasing their drones and products under a clear, hot sky in Atlanta. It was a huge success—professionally, logistically, and personally. That moment didn’t just prove to me that I could pull something off under pressure. It set a new tradition. Flight Time became the model for future AUVSI Chapter kickoff events, and it reminded all of us how powerful it is to bring a community back together after hardship.

Every Flight Has Its Problems—That’s the Point

There’s one joke that never gets old: ask a remote pilot what problems they’ve encountered while flying. If they say, “None,” we know they don’t actually fly. Every real pilot knows—there’s always something. Whether it’s wind, interference, sensor glitches, airspace issues, or just the unexpected—every operation brings a new challenge. That’s why it’s a running joke: if you claim it’s always smooth sailing, either you’re extremely lucky… or you’re not logging much airtime. But here’s the truth behind the joke: problems are where the learning happens. And experienced operators aren’t just great flyers—they’re great troubleshooters.

The Wow Moment That Saves Thousands

It’s always the same reaction when my clients see their property from the air for the first time: Wow.  It’s like they’re looking at it with new eyes. But that wow often turns into, Wait—this just saved us thousands. One client stands out. There was no rooftop access, but I flew my drone up for a quick inspection. What we found were hidden issues—ponding water and fallen tree limbs—that would have gone unnoticed until they became major, costly problems. Because we caught it early, they were able to make simple fixes before any real damage occurred. That’s the power of aerial data—it doesn’t just look good. It saves money, prevents headaches, and turns the invisible into actionable insight.

Fighting Misinformation

The myth that worries me most is this: that social media is a substitute for real drone education.

There’s so much misinformation being spread online—from YouTube “experts” to viral drone myths—that it genuinely scares me. I’ve seen new pilots following bad advice that can lead to serious compliance violations or even crashes. I know, because I’ve been there. Early in my journey, I made a decision based on something I saw online—and I got lucky. The drone failed before it ever got off the ground. That moment changed how I approached this work forever. Now, I’m on a mission to raise the standard. If you’re serious about being a remote pilot, you need more than clicks and comments. You need education, mentorship, and a foundation built on facts.

What the World Would Miss Without Drone Education Services?

The one thing the world would absolutely miss if this company disappeared tomorrow is…A passionate voice for safety—and someone who truly wants to see the uncrewed industry thrive. There are others like me, but I’ve carved out my space in the real estate world, where aerial insight can make a real difference. I’m here not just to teach people how to fly—but to teach them why it matters, how to do it right, and how to build something sustainable, safe, and scalable. That’s what Drone Education Services stands for. And that’s what I show up for every day.

Looking back, my journey has been defined by questions: How do we fly safer? How do we teach better? How do we grow this industry with purpose? The answers didn’t come from overnight success—they came from seminars, setbacks, flight logs, and honest conversations. If Drone Education Services disappeared tomorrow, it would leave a gap in the mission to build not just better pilots, but better practices. I’m here to advocate, to educate, and to lead with intention—because I believe drones aren’t just shaping the sky; they’re shaping the future. And I’m proud to be one of the people helping to guide that flight path.