Jim Santilli

Jim Santilli is the President of American Air Operations and serves as the lead instructor.

Santilli holds an Airman Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with a small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) rating. He has more than 11 years of experience flying unmanned aircraft, and completed private pilot ground school courses. Santilli also received training in aviation emergencies for first responders, and drone assessment and response tactics for Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS). Since 2018, Santilli has trained professionals from 398 agencies (federal, state, county, local, tribal, and college/university) and companies in 44 states throughout the United States of America. 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, officer-involved shooting, public demonstration, and search for missing and armed persons. He also flew missions for Hurricanes Milton (2024), Helene (2024), Idalia (2023), and Ian (2022). Santilli has served as a FAA Safety Team Representative since 2023. In 2025, he was honored with a General Aviation Award after being named FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year for the East Michigan Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), recognizing his outstanding contributions to aviation safety, education, and outreach. Santilli previously served on the Michigan Aeronautics Commission's Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Advisory Committee, and was a member of the Macomb County Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit for four years. During his tenure at the Sheriff's Office, he became the agency's first FAA-licensed drone pilot and played a key role in the development of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Unit (UAV).  

Santilli has more than 25 years of transportation safety experience, focused on road and aviation safety. He currently serves as the chief executive officer of the National Transportation Safety Organization; a position he's held since appointed in 2011. Santilli also worked in a variety of public safety positions and as a college criminal justice instructor. During 2024, Santilli received the Richard H. Austin Long-Term Service Award from the State of Michigan for long-term contributions and commitment to road safety. He also was the recipient of Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson’s prestigious ‘Elite 40 Under 40’ leadership award during 2012. 

A lifelong resident of Michigan, Santilli is a graduate of Ferris State University. 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 road safety. He is also a proud graduate of Michigan's largest high school, Dakota High School. His training includes 911 dispatch, several Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) courses, child passenger safety, corporate law and procedures, criminal justice (including criminal law, evidence handling, firearms, Michigan's Law Enforcement Information Network - LEIN, report writing, subject control, traffic procedures, and use of force), emergency management, emergency medical services, nonviolent crisis intervention and crisis management, traffic incident management, and more.

Joe Biggers

Joe Biggers, a seasoned law enforcement professional with more than 32 years of dedicated service to public safety in Southeast Michigan, holds an Airman Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with a small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) rating.

Biggers began his career with the Detroit Police Department (DPD) in 1994, where he served for 21 years before retiring. During his tenure with DPD, he worked in a variety of specialized and high-responsibility roles, including Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer (FTO), Narcotics Enforcement Raid Team member, Underwater Recovery Team/Harbormaster, and Firearms Training Unit instructor. 

Following his retirement from DPD, Biggers continued his law enforcement career with the Clinton Township Police Department, where he has served for 11 years. His roles have included Patrol Officer, Mountain Bike Patrol Officer and Instructor, and most notably, leadership of the department’s Drone Unit.

Recruited by Chief Fred Posavetz, Biggers was tasked with creating and developing the Clinton Township Police Department Drone Unit from the ground up. He has served as Chief Pilot and Unit Coordinator for the past 7 years, overseeing unit operations, training, policy development, and the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into public safety missions.

Biggers’ career reflects a lifelong commitment to innovation, training, and operational excellence in law enforcement, with extensive experience spanning patrol operations, specialized tactical units, and modern aviation-based public safety technology.

Chief (Ret) David Witgen

Chief (Ret) David Witgen holds an Airman Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with a small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) rating.

Witgen previously spent 25 years with the Bruce-Romeo Fire Department.  He began employment as a volunteer firefighter in 1998. In 2005, he was hired full-time as a firefighter and paramedic. Witgen worked his way up the ranks. He served as a Lieutenant, Battalion Chief, then became the Fire Chief in January of 2018.

Witgen is a graduate of Fraser High School and graduated with honors from a fire staff and command executive leadership program.

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