Vern Shurtz - Owner | Operator
Vern Shurtz is a US Navy Submarine Veteran with 13 years served and has a background in Nuclear Mechanical Engineering, Radiological Controls, and was an Engineering and Submarine Damage Control Instructor.
He has expert knowledge and experience in Unmanned Aerial/Surface/Underwater Vehicle (UAV/USV/UUV) Technology and Services.
Vern began flying Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), rotary and fixed wing, commercially in 2015 and has numerous UAS certifications. He is an AUVSI Trusted Operator (TO) Remote Pilot Instructor and an Adjunct Instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in support of their UAS Professional Education program.
Vern's UAS Certifications and Permits:
● FAA Remote Pilot Airmen Certificate (Part 107)
● NC Commercial UAS Operator Permit
● NC Public Use (Government) UAS Operator Permit
● AUVSI sUAS Trusted Operator Program (TOP) Level 1, 2 & 3 Certifications
● AUVSI sUAS Trusted Operator Program (TOP) Level 3 Instructor Certification
● ITC Level 1 sUAS Applications Certified Thermographer
● Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University sUAS Certifications
○ sUAS 1600 APSA Basic Proficiency Evaluation for Remote Pilots (BPERP)
○ sUAS 4000 Fundamentals of Instruction
○ sUAS 1400 UAS Inspection
○ sUAS 2500 Introduction and Application of UAS Photogrammetry
Searching for the Missing!
Vern dedicates much of his time to searching for missing persons. To date, Vern has helped to locate and recover the remains of 5 missing persons underwater. Two of these missing persons were cold cases dating back to 1992 and 2000 respectively. Both went missing along with their vehicles. The other three were recent cases. A missing jet skier, a missing paddleboarder, and a young boy that fell into a river. Vern has also located 2 recent missing persons on land. Unfortunately, both were deceased.
Vern has located over 75 vehicles and watercraft using custom developed Uncrewed Sonar Search Vessels (USSVs). Vern sonar maps retention ponds, canals, and small lakes and rivers. He then assess his findings with ROVs and Underwater Camera systems and reports his findings to local authorities. Vern also conducts aerial and ground searches.
In 2024, while conducting aquatic search and recovery training, Vern located a kayaker that had overturned in the middle of a reservoir with an aerial drone and directed rescue boats to the kayakers location. The kayaker was pulled from the 55° waters shivering but alive. Once on shore, the kayaker told Vern that as soon as he saw the drone, he knew he was going to be ok. The kayaker was wearing a PFD which saved his life.
Vern's Public Safety Certifications:
● Airborne Public Safety Association UAS Certifications
○ NIST Basic Proficiency Evaluation for Remote Pilots (BPERP)
○ NIST UAS Test Methods Proctor
● NC Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Development
● NC Advanced UAS Operations
● NC Aquatic Incident Management (AIM-100)
● NC Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training Certification
● NC Land Search Field Team Member (NC-8100) Certification
● NC Man Tracking - Tactical Tracking Operations (NC-8122) Certification
Vern's FEMA Certifications:
● FEMA IS-100.C: Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100 Certification
● FEMA IS-200.C: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response, ICS 200 Certification
● FEMA IS-700.B: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System Certification
● FEMA IS-800.D: An Introduction to the National Response Framework Certification