The nation’s skies have grown busier each year, with a surge in personal, commercial and military drones taking flight. With this in mind, a panel of experts discussed how this rise in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology is reshaping public space, privacy and regulation.
The event was held at Florida Polytechnic University on Tuesday, April 7, and was the fourth and final installment of the Office of Public Policy Events’ 2025-2026 forum series, “Fantastic Forces: Elements in Action.” Throughout the academic year, the series examined how earth, fire, water and sky affect the environment, economy and everyday citizens.
“The most important thing we can do is use a little common sense as we think through these issues and try to protect innovation and people to the greatest extent possible,” said panelist state Rep. Jennifer Canady, who represents House District 50, which encompasses the Lakeland area.
Canady was the lead sponsor of House Bill 1121, passed in 2025, which regulates drone use to public safety and national security concerns.
Panelists also included Aaron Murray, Florida Poly’s police chief and executive director of university safety and security, and Justin Shore, chief of staff for government and aviation affairs for Wing, a provider of drone delivery services.
Kelli Stargel, the University’s vice president of strategic initiatives, development and external relations, moderated the discussion.
“UAVs are transforming how we live and work. What was once airspace has become a layer of critical infrastructure,” Stargel said.
Market research company Imarc forecasts the U.S. drone market could reach $19.6 billion by 2034, more than double its $8.3 billion valuation in 2025.
Shore said Wing’s commercial delivery drones are designed with safety, security and privacy in mind. The company’s drones serve customers such as Walmart and DoorDash in several major U.S. markets, and it plans expansion into Tampa and Orlando.
“There are ways to do this with machine learning and fast cameras to protect the privacy of people but still actually see where a drone is going. Our pilots don’t see the cameras on the drones at all,” Shore said. “People have the right to not be spied on in their own backyards, and that’s something we take very seriously.”
Murray said that alongside drone technology advancements are new law enforcement tools, including some that identify who is operating a drone and where they are.
“We’re learning as technology rapidly grows. We’re trying to stay in front of it to keep people safe,” Murray said.
The panelists shared advice for Florida Poly students preparing for careers in the drone industry.
“They’re entering a world where you no longer have to be a coder to get things done fast and at a high level,” Shore said. “You need to understand how to think through the entire process and understand it all around so that you can put that end-to-end system together.”
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