About The Hidden Pilot Project

The Mission of The Hidden Pilot Project is to teach and train black returning citizens and citizens under the supervision of the criminal justice system how to become licensed drone pilots.

Our Process

In order to transform returning citizens into licensed drone pilots, we take them through our four-step process where we:

1. PREPARE

PREPARE future pilots to pass the part 107 drone certification exam.

2. TRAIN

TRAIN future pilots with our virtual drone simulators.

3. DEVELOP

DEVELOP future pilots' flight skills through extracurricular .drone activities

4. PLACE

PLACE future pilots with employers who provide .sustainable compensation

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Meet the Founder

Sedgrid Lewis, M.A.

Our founder Sedgrid Lewis holds a MA in Criminology from the University of West Georgia. He has worked in the criminal justice field for over the past 20 years developing evidenced based social programs for juvenile courts and state agencies across the United States.

Sedgrid is also the owner operator of Blackhawk Aerial LLC. As a part 107 commercial drone pilot, he has flown for several national construction firms providing progression aerial photos. Sedgrid provides drone technology workshops for at-risk youth across the state of Georgia. He is a certified instructor and coach for US Drone Soccer.

As the son of a third generation farmer, Sedgrid partners with black farmers across the south to provide technical training and farm drone technology demonstrations. Sedgrid promotes precision agriculture in order to sustain black farms and increase profit margins.

Director of Career Services

Tommie Simon, M.A.

Tommie Simon has years of experience as an employment specialist. Tommie specializes in educating and training returning citizens and clients experiencing homelesness. As the resource center supervisor for the Gateway Center, Tommie developed and coordinated employment readiness programs in culinary arts, maintenance tech, floor tech, and security officer training. Tommie has worked with several Atlanta non profit agencies such as Georgia Works and Work Source Atlanta to employ returning citizens. Currently, Tommie has partnered with The Georgia Department of Community Supervision’s Division of Reentry Services to assist in capacity building.

Tom has served as adjunct professor at the University of West Georgia and West Georgia Technical College. He is currently a MDiv student at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

National & International Training Partners

Eno Umoh, Global Air Media

Eno Umoh is the co-founder of Global Air Media, a FAA licensed drone services company headquartered in Baltimore, USA. Eno has coached hundreds of startups and existing businesses on the fundamentals of building a successful drone business. Eno has delivered drone technology workshops in partnership with the US Department of State and U.S. Embassies in Nigeria, Zambia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan. He has provided training to more than 9,00 students in 600 schools in 13 countries.

Sgt. Tony “Frankie” Reed

Commercial sUas pilot Tony Ried has been in the UAV drone industry for 5 years. He received his part 107 UAS certification in September 2016. SInce then he has trained and deployed with the American Red Cross, operating in many missions from mapping in Hurricane Harvey 2017 to damage assessments in Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria 2018

Reid is also Co-Founder, Vice President of Business Development and Drone Instructor for Drone Cadets, a program which exposes and trains drone technology to youths; teaching FAA rules and regulations, repair classes, coding and drone operations. It’s his fervent goal to expose this technology to all Black and Brown communities. Reid has been active in the United States National Guard for ten years. As part of the STEM Careers Program, which showcases the many STEM Military careers in the National Guard, Mr. Reid has been Certified in sUAS Thermography, EPA 608 certified, TWIC, and BOSEIT Offshore Emergency trained.

Senior Advisors

Every member of our board of directors is a thought leader who has made significant contributions to our society. Each one brings a unique set of skills and expertise to our organization.

Raymond Lee Smith MBA. M.Ed

Raymond Smith is the CEO and Founder of Raymond Smith Consulting. Raymond Lee Smith is a skilled and brilliant strategist in workforce development. Raymond worked almost a decade for the US Department of Labor as a federal project officer monitoring programs and analyzing grants. Raymond was instrumental in implementing numerous performance accountability provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. His consulting firm has onboarded 27 executives and customized best practices for over 46 workforce development managers.

Dr. Maxine Cain

Maxine Cain is an award-winning People Leader changing the way women business leaders and entrepreneurs live, work, and play by doing work that matters in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

Maxine is the Founder & President of STEM Atlanta Women, Inc. A non-profit 501c(3) organization created to Enlighten, Educate, and Empower women and girls about the advantages and global opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math and the future skills needed to compete and succeed in the 21st Century.

Dr Maxine also serves as the Oneten Community Development lead for Atlanta. OneTen’s mission is to hire, promote and advance one million Black individuals who do not have a four-year degree into family-sustaining careers over the next 10 years.