Meet the Team

Kevin padilla

Founder/ CEO

Kevin Padilla is the Co-Founder and CEO of AeroVis, bringing over 20 years of global aviation operations and leadership experience across military, interagency, and multinational environments. A U.S. Army Veteran and former Standardization Pilot, Kevin has led complex missions requiring precision planning, operational discipline, and coordination across diverse teams and stakeholders.

His background includes more than 1,700 flight hours in demanding operational settings—ranging from urban and mountainous terrain to jungle and austere environments—supporting senior military, diplomatic, and interagency leadership. Kevin is certified in both Traditional and Agile Project Management (PMP) and is known for translating operational complexity into structured, scalable execution.

At AeroVis, Kevin focuses on shaping the company’s vision, operational foundation, and technical direction—bringing aviation-grade rigor to the development of photogrammetry, aerial data workflows, and emerging drone-enabled capabilities. His leadership philosophy centers on responsible growth, mission clarity, and building systems that scale with integrity.

Brian Johnson

Director of Research & Development

Brian Johnson serves as Head of Research & Development at AeroVis, where he leads innovation across aerospace systems, advanced materials, and emerging manufacturing technologies. With a multidisciplinary foundation in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, and IT systems integration, Brian specializes in bridging traditional engineering rigor with forward-thinking, data-driven development.

His experience spans aerospace design, structural analysis, propulsion concepts, advanced materials, and systems prototyping. By integrating computational simulation, automation, and next-generation modeling tools into the R&D pipeline, Brian helps accelerate development cycles while maintaining performance, reliability, and scalability.

At AeroVis, Brian leads cross-functional teams in exploring hybrid manufacturing methods, rapid prototyping, and advanced simulation techniques to deliver practical, high-impact aerospace solutions aligned with the company’s strategic vision. He is dedicated to building a culture of innovation, technical excellence, and continuous learning—positioning AeroVis at the forefront of modern aerospace research and development.

Shane Manning

UAS Mitigation Lead

Shane Manning leads AeroVis’s Counter-UAS (C-UAS) detection and mitigation efforts, bringing over 15 years of U.S. Army experience in Electronic Warfare and counter-unmanned systems. His background spans aviation, airborne, and light infantry units, with deep expertise in RF-based solutions, rapid product iteration, and cloud-enabled system integration.

Shane has trained U.S. and multinational partners on C-UAS, electronic warfare, and communications, and has designed and supported mitigation efforts across complex environments—including dense urban areas, jungle, desert, forest, and littoral regions. His experience includes protecting airfields, fixed sites, and mobile VIP operations. He is a certified RQ-20 PUMA and RQ-11 RAVEN Master Trainer and brings a pragmatic, low-risk approach to scalable C-UAS system development.

Ron Christopher Rivera

Chief Pilot & Director of Standardization

Ron Rivera leads AeroVis’s flight operations, standardization, and safety programs, bringing more than 21 years of Army aviation and UAS experience. He specializes in building disciplined, aviation-grade systems that enable scalable operations, regulatory resilience, and enterprise credibility.

Ron’s career includes senior roles within one of the U.S. Army’s premier UAS organizations, supporting Group 1–4 UAS missions across training, operational readiness, and force-generation environments. He has directly influenced the qualification and development of hundreds of operators and instructors through standardized training, evaluation, and safety frameworks.

At AeroVis, Ron focuses on translating military-grade rigor into repeatable commercial practice—developing SOPs, training pipelines, certification pathways, and QA/QC systems designed to scale without compromising safety or professionalism. He holds a B.S. in Aeronautics with a minor in Cybersecurity from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and has over 2,000 hours across Group 1–3 UAS platforms.