Staff

John Yeast is an esteemed public safety veteran with a career spanning over three decades of unwavering dedication.  Today, he serves as the UAS Commander for the St. Charles County Police Department, leading their regional, multi-disciplined UAS team. Additionally, he is attached as the dedicated tactical drone operator for St. Charles County Regional SWAT. John is the Director of Technology and Chief UAS Pilot at the St. Charles County Ambulance District. He initiated and cultivated their inaugural UAS team there, supporting the Region Urban Search & Rescue team and the Region Homeland Security HAZMAT Response Team.

John is widely revered as an authority in the realm of UAS operations. He initiated and spearheaded the establishment of the Eastern Missouri Public Safety UAS Working Group, convening over 30 local, county, state, and federal agencies to address shared challenges, strengthen programs, and host annual large-scale training events.  John actively contributes to the Law Enforcement Drone Association (LEDA), serving on the Leadership Steering Committee.  Furthermore, John’s pioneering spirit extends to education and training. He developed and delivered the country’s first Missouri POST-certified Tactical Interior UAS curriculum accredited through the Missouri Eastern Police Academy.

With his extensive background in public safety, innovative role in UAS operations, and unwavering commitment to training and collaboration, John remains at the forefront of utilizing advanced technologies for the betterment of his community and the public safety field.  Accumulating thousands of UAS flight hours throughout his career, John has responded to many critical incidents, while his steadfast dedication lies in fostering collaboration among team managers and elevating UAS pilots to the highest proficiency levels in their craft.

Travis has over 16 years of sworn law enforcement experience and has achieved several sUAS-specific accomplishments, including serving as a Steering Committee Member for the Law Enforcement Drone Association (LEDA) and as a Field Application Specialist for Unmanned Vehicle Technologies (UVT). He is also the Lead sUAS Instructor for the Papillion Police Department and a Certified NIST sUAS Proctor for APSA and LEDA.

Travis has completed both remote and residential Drone Assessment and Response Tactics (DART) courses through New Mexico Tech’s Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center. He introduced Valmont Industries to sUAS technology in 2017 and remains as an on-call pilot and advisory source for projects, R&D, and mapping and modeling expertise.

Travis has prepared over 150 students for their Part 107 test and implemented sUAS technology into crash and crime scene documentation for Sarpy (NE) area agencies. He received the Life Saving Award by using a drone in 2020 and has real-world experience utilizing cUAS technology for detecting sUAS at large-scale events. Travis has also worked with Meta, Google, Amazon, Hormel Foods, NFL, and other private industries on sUAS-related concerns. Throughout his career, Travis has assisted multiple agencies in setting up or refining their own sUAS programs through consulting and hosting joint training opportunities.

Matt Young joined the Kearney Police Department in 2013, starting his career in road patrol before becoming an FTO in 2015. He served in the Emergency Services Unit (ESU) as a Sniper from 2015 to 2019 and became an Accident Reconstructionist & FARO laser scanner operator in 2016. Transitioning to the Criminal Investigations Bureau (CIB) in 2020 as a major crimes investigator,

Matt previously served as a Police Motor officer from 2017 to 2020. He is also a SCALES (South Central Area Law Enforcement Services) member, supporting surrounding agencies in investigations involving homicides and officer-involved shootings.

Additionally, Matt is a skilled aviator, having been a Private Pilot since June 2008 and certified under Part 107 since February 2020. He is a founding member of the KPD UAS program, utilizing drone technology for enhanced police operations. Matt is also dedicated to education, having instructed courses on investigations using cell phone data and mapping, served as a guest instructor at NLETC for accident investigations, and been a guest speaker at UNK for Criminal Justice students and the citizen’s academy.