Speakers

Rob leads the governance of all UAS (drone) operations at SCE, supported by his team of four. In this role, he oversees enterprise-wide standards, risk governance, operational integration, and strategic deployment of remote sensing technologies across many OUs.

Prior to this role, he supported aviation‑related programs through Contractor Management and Procurement, where his portfolio included drone inspections, aerial LiDAR for veg management, vehicle procurement, and sourcing for specialized field services. His work has long intersected with aviation safety, rotorcraft operations, and UAS technology maturation within utility environments.

Before joining SCE, Robert spent several years as a civil and process engineer designing and constructing LNG, CNG, hydrogen, and alternative‑fuel infrastructure. His accomplishments include delivering the first retail LNG station in North America and more than 20 hydrogen fueling stations. He also brings public‑sector experience from managing the County of Orange’s credit‑card procurement program.

Robert’s background spans higher education, where he supported construction and campus planning at Pepperdine University, and early‑career engineering roles in the United Kingdom with WA Fairhurst & Partners.

He holds a BSc (Hons) in Civil Engineering & CAD from the University of Plymouth, is FAA Part 107 certified, and maintains FAA‑approved waivers for beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight (BVLOS) operations.

Outside of work, Robert is both a national and international dance champion.