Tad McGeer stands as a pioneering aerospace engineer who revolutionized unmanned aerial vehicle technology through practical innovation and visionary leadership. He currently serves as Founder President and Chief Engineer of Aerovel Corporation where he continues to advance civilian applications of drone technology. His career began at Simon Fraser University as one of the founding faculty members of the engineering school before he transitioned to Aurora Flight Sciences in Virginia in 1990 where he first engaged with unmanned aircraft development. In 1992 McGeer founded Insitu in a Silicon Valley garage pioneering compact reliable UAV systems that would transform multiple industries. Three years later he relocated the company to the Columbia River Gorge establishing what would become a major center for drone innovation in the Pacific Northwest.
McGeer's most significant technical contribution was the development of the ScanEagle drone system which evolved from his earlier SeaScan platform originally designed for tuna tracking in commercial fisheries. His innovative approach produced factory-produced flying robots with a ten-foot wingspan capable of reaching 92 miles per hour launched via pneumatic catapult a technological breakthrough that enabled reliable data collection in challenging environments. While the military applications of his technology gained prominence during the Iraq War McGeer departed Insitu in 2005 due to ethical concerns about weaponized drone systems remaining committed to peaceful civilian applications. His foundational work propelled Insitu to substantial commercial success with Boeing acquiring the company for 400 million dollars in 2008 shortly after McGeer had sold his remaining stake. This period marked the culmination of his first major venture while setting the stage for his continued focus on non-military drone applications through subsequent innovations.
McGeer has consistently advocated for the beneficial civilian applications of unmanned aerial systems including environmental monitoring natural disaster response wildlife protection and pipeline inspection as alternatives to military uses. In 2013 he addressed Washington State lawmakers to dispel misconceptions about drone technology emphasizing their potential for geological surveying search and rescue operations wildfire monitoring and weather tracking. His current work at Aerovel focuses on the Flexrotor a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft designed specifically for commercial applications that can operate from small vessels in rough maritime conditions. Throughout his career McGeer has maintained a principled stance prioritizing humanitarian and scientific applications of drone technology over military contracts despite the significant commercial success of his innovations in defense contexts. His legacy endures as a thought leader who demonstrated that unmanned aerial systems could serve vital peaceful purposes while transforming multiple industries through practical engineering solutions.
