Jim Santilli
Jim Santilli is the President of American Air Operations, and serves as the primary instructor.
Santilli
holds an Airman Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) with a small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) rating. He has more
than 9 years of experience flying multirotor and fixed-wing unmanned
aircraft, and also completed private pilot ground school courses. Since
2018, Santilli has trained professionals from 195 agencies (federal, state, county, local, tribal, and college/university) and companies in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. He's flown
numerous public safety missions, which include: auto theft and drug
trafficking surveillance, fatal and severe injury traffic crashes, fire,
home raid, homicide, natural disaster, police involved shooting, and search for
missing and armed persons. During 2023, he searched for safety hazards
after Hurricane Idalia. He also spent several days searching for and
assisting victims after Hurricane Ian during 2022. Santilli is an
appointed FAA Safety Team Representative, member of the Aircraft Owners
and Pilots Association, and lifetime member of the Air & Space
Forces Association. He previously served on the Michigan Aeronautics
Commissions’ Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Advisory Committee, and was
part of a sheriff aviation unit for 4 years.
Santilli has more
than 23 years of transportation safety experience, much of which
includes working closely with law enforcement and other government
leaders to improve traffic safety. He currently serves as the chief executive officer of an
agency; a position he's held since appointed in 2011. During 2024, Santilli received the Richard H. Austin Long-Term Service Award from the State of Michigan for long-term contributions and commitment to traffic safety. Previously, Santilli worked in a variety of public safety positions and as a college criminal justice instructor.
A
lifelong resident of Michigan, Santilli is a graduate of Ferris State
University and Dakota High School. At FSU, he earned a Bachelor of
Science in Criminal Justice, received the Torchbearer Leadership Award,
and an award from the Department of Public Safety for many years
dedicated to traffic safety.
