Stony Brook Southampton recently held an open house focused on career opportunities in drone technology. The event, called “Careers for Tomorrow,” was organized in partnership with the Stony Brook University Office for Research and Innovation, the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), FoodLab, the New York Power Authority (NYPA), and Drone Cadets.
The open house, held on October 18, drew more than 160 participants from across Long Island. Attendees heard from experts at NYPA and Drone Cadets, who led demonstrations on drone piloting and discussed the uses and background of various drones. Faculty and staff from Stony Brook University also gave presentations to provide information and networking opportunities in drone-related fields.
Wendy Pearson, vice president for strategic initiatives and executive director of Stony Brook Southampton, served as the event emcee. She said, “This collaboration reflects the kind of thoughtful, hands-on engagement we’re working to build at Southampton. The event offers a chance to explore how emerging technologies can shape new career opportunities while helping us gauge interest in future workforce development programs. It’s an important step in our continued effort to revitalize the campus as a center for innovation and opportunity on the East End.”
Derek O’Connor, workforce development manager with Stony Brook’s Office for Research and Innovation, said, “As drone piloting becomes more universally adopted by a multitude of industries, events like this are ideal to engage the community about workforce opportunities. At Stony Brook Southampton, the attendees are able to learn about infrastructure projects using robotics in their neighborhoods, student enrichment opportunities for children at local schools interested in drones, and advanced image-capturing with SoMAS and the FoodLab. Regardless of discipline or industry we learned from the presenters that there’s a role for everyone with drones.”
O’Connor opened the event by discussing broader workforce initiatives at the university before introducing speakers. Peter Kalaitzidis, NYPA senior robotics program manager, explained how drones are used for dam inspection, security, and wildlife monitoring, making fieldwork safer and more efficient. Tony Reid, founder of Drone Cadets, spoke about training programs for youth and adults in drone careers, with a focus on reducing barriers for underserved populations.
Christopher Paparo, manager of the Marine Sciences Research Center at Stony Brook Southampton, presented drone footage of marine wildlife and discussed how drones support research in local bays. Judiann Carmack-Fayyazz, executive director of FoodLab, highlighted agricultural uses for drones, such as detecting plant disease, assessing soil quality, and monitoring irrigation to help sustain crop yields.
After indoor presentations, guests watched live demonstrations of various drones, including a power-washing drone, a fertilizer-spreading drone, and other industrial and recreational models. Many attendees remained after the scheduled end time to ask questions and explore career and training options. Among the guests was Lars Clemensen, superintendent of the Hampton Bays Union Free School District, who attended with students.
