Chief Pilot and Owner – FAA-Certified Drone Pilot
31 Years
David Shirley founded Flying Pig UAS following a dynamic 31-year career in Conservation Law Enforcement with the State of Texas. Among his many roles, he served as a UAS (drone) operator and UAS Pilot Instructor, conducting missions that included search and rescue, border security, overwatch, crime scene investigations, and natural resource management. In addition to his aviation work, David owns and operates Wild Thorn Farms, a small livestock operation in Central Texas specializing in meat goats and other animals.
Driven by a passion for both drone technology and agriculture, David launched Flying Pig UAS to help make American farming more efficient and profitable through precision application of agricultural inputs. He is a licensed Commercial Pesticide Applicator with the Texas Department of Agriculture and a certified commercial pilot through the FAA. Outside of work, David enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, and spending time in the outdoors.