Capturing the Corps

By Cadet Gabriel Morales '27

Attendees at recent Corps events may have noticed a new addition: a DJI Air 3 drone. Over the last academic year, Corps of Cadets Communications Director Katie Mallory ’03 and the spring semester's Regimental S‑2 (Public Affairs Officer) Cadet Lily Adams have led the creation of the Corps’ newest organization: the drone team. The team operates within the S‑2 staff and functions as its own unit, with an officer in charge (OIC) and a noncommissioned officer in charge.

Adams, who began in Bravo Company, never planned for drones to become part of her time at Virginia Tech. She has served on the S‑2 staff since her sophomore year and jumped at the opportunity to help found the team when she was first approached by Mallory. Her path to becoming drone certified began with earning a private pilot license (PPL) as she pursued her goal of becoming a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Adams’ PPL marked the first of several steps required to establish Corps drone flight at Virginia Tech.

The next step was obtaining an FAA Part 107 certificate, a process made easier for pilots who already hold a private pilot license.

“I did the accelerated course... you can go through an online refresher course and take a really quick and easy test,” Adams said.

Certification alone, however, was not enough. Virginia Tech also has policies governing drone flights over campus, including an in‑person flight test at the university’s drone park and an approved flight plan for each event requiring drone coverage. Adams completed the additional steps during the fall semester and then turned her attention to recruiting more cadets for the drone team. With drone footage becoming an increasingly important part of Corps event coverage, identifying cadets to carry the fledgling team forward was critical, particularly with Adams’ graduation approaching in May.

Cadet Jacob Pfarr, the new drone OIC, soon followed. Like Adams, Pfarr also hails from Bravo Company and hopes to pursue a future as a military aviator.

“I was just looking at a way to get my feet wet in aviation, and that came up in the FAA Part 107 exam,” said Pfarr.

To earn his FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate, Pfarr passed a 60‑question, in‑person knowledge exam with a minimum score of 70% and completed a Transportation Security Administration background check. He then successfully completed his required flight test at the university drone park.

The final piece was securing a drone. Through a partnership with faculty at the drone park, and at Adams’ suggestion, the Corps was able to check out a drone— named “Timon” by the drone park team —for use during the spring semester.

The result is new aerial content now shared across Corps social media accounts. The drone team would not exist without Adams’ vision and drive, and it is positioned to continue thanks to cadets like Pfarr, who are willing to take on the responsibility the role requires.