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👤 The Operator

Part Technician.
Part Strategist.
All Professional.

SkyGator isn't a drone company that learned business. It's a business operation that mastered drones — built on a decade of insurance management, law enforcement discipline, and an obsession with aerial data science.

Work With Me Read My Story
Michael Smithkey — SkyGator
Michael Smithkey
Founder & Lead Operator · SkyGator Aerial Intelligence
The Origin
From the Desk to the Field

For years, my career was defined by the relentless pace of the corporate world. As an Insurance Claims Adjuster and Manager, I led a national team of adjusters across the country — navigating spreadsheets, analyzing liability, and managing remote operations from behind a dual-monitor setup.

I was successful. But I was restless. I craved a career that produced tangible results in the real world — something that would put my analytical mind to work in the field, not just behind a screen.

That change came through an unexpected obsession. What started as a hobby — purchasing a drone to explore the Florida landscape — quickly became a calling. I didn't just want to fly; I wanted to master the science of the sky. I spent countless hours studying FAA regulations, devouring technical manuals, and diving deep into the world of photogrammetry and 3D reconstruction.

"I no longer sit behind a desk managing a remote team. Today I am in the field, doing what I love — providing clients with a perspective of their business they have never seen before."

— Founder, SkyGator Aerial Intelligence

That obsession eventually led me to leave the desk behind entirely and found SkyGator — a UAS services company built not on hobbyist enthusiasm, but on corporate discipline, data integrity, and a genuine understanding of what enterprise clients need from aerial intelligence.

Education & Foundation
✓
B.S. Business Management
Florida Southern College — Foundation in ROI-driven decision making, operations management, and organizational strategy
✓
Customer Service Excellence
Cornell University — Two-year professional certification in enterprise client communication and service delivery
✓
FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot
FAA-certified commercial drone operator — all operations fully compliant with federal airspace regulations
✓
Florida FWC Duty Officer
Former Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Duty Officer — high-stakes regulatory compliance and situational command
✓
Insurance Claims Manager
National team leadership in claims adjustment, liability analysis, and forensic documentation across multiple verticals
What Sets SkyGator Apart
Three Backgrounds.
One Unfair Advantage.
🏢
The Insurance Edge

My background as a national claims manager is SkyGator's secret weapon. I don't just see a roof or a construction site — I see a liability landscape. I understand exactly what adjusters, risk managers, and engineers need in their documentation because I spent years being the one reviewing those files.

When you hire SkyGator for an inspection, you receive forensic-level documentation — the specific angles, metadata, and resolution required to substantiate a claim or engineering report. Not just good imagery. Defensible evidence.

🛡️
The Safety Discipline

Before the insurance career, my roots were in public safety. As a Security Officer and Florida FWC Duty Officer, I operated within complex regulatory frameworks and high-pressure environments where situational awareness wasn't optional — it was survival.

That experience is now hardwired into every flight operation. Strict FAA compliance, thorough hazard assessment, rigorous flight logs, and the professional poise to handle any site environment with authority and transparency. Your flights are never an experiment.

🔬
The Technical Obsession

As my command of drone technology deepened, I moved beyond photography into the technical realm of geospatial data science — specializing in photogrammetry, orthomosaic generation, and 3D reconstruction workflows used by engineers and facility managers.

SkyGator's YouTube channel teaches the next generation of UAS operators the business-first mindset that separates professionals from hobbyists. Teaching forces me to stay at the absolute cutting edge. When you hire me, you hire someone who lives and breathes this technology.

Certifications & Credentials
Fully Certified. Fully Insured.
✓
FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
Federal certification for commercial UAS operations. All flights conducted in full regulatory compliance.
✓
LAANC Authorized Operator
Authorized to operate in controlled airspace through the FAA Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability system.
✓
Commercial General Liability Insurance
Full commercial liability coverage. Certificate of Insurance available upon request for all project engagements.
✓
Hull & Payload Insurance
Aircraft and payload covered for all commercial operations. Your project is protected from mobilization to delivery.
✓
DJI Enterprise Certified Operator
Certified on DJI's enterprise platform including the Matrice 4E — SkyGator's primary aerial mapping platform.
✓
Rigorous Flight & Maintenance Logs
Every flight logged with full mission data, weather conditions, and equipment status. Documentation available for client or regulatory review.
Where We Operate
Based in Central Florida.
Available Statewide & Beyond.

SkyGator is based in Central Florida and serves the greater Orlando metro as our primary market. For the right project, we travel statewide and beyond — contact us to discuss mobilization for your location.

Orlando Metro
Primary service area
Tampa Bay
Regular coverage
Space Coast
Regular coverage
Jacksonville
Available on request
South Florida
Available on request
Statewide FL
Project-based travel
Southeast US
Enterprise projects
National
Contact us to discuss

Ready to Work Together?

Every SkyGator project is handled personally — from the initial site assessment through final data delivery. Let's discuss what your project needs.

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