The Birdstop team

We are data scientists and engineers.

The Birdstop team is brought together by a vision of pioneering the safe and scalable opening of low altitude airspace. The group draws on past careers from Google, the Earth Institute, Drone Volt, the US Air Force, and NASA.

Keith Miao

Founder and CEO

Keith Miao is the Founder and CEO of Birdstop, an American manufacturer of drone technology for government and industry. Prior to founding Birdstop, Keith led a data science team at Google. His career in remote sensing began with satellite imagery research at the Columbia University Earth Institute.

Jatin Kolekar

VP of Engineering

Jatin Kolekar is Birdstop's VP of Engineering, bringing over a decade of experience building drones for both commercial and military applications. He leads the development of Birdstop's Fealty drone, overseeing hardware, AI, electronics, and software to ensure a fully integrated and high-performing system.

Avinash Narisetty

Senior Software Engineer

Avi is a Machine Learning Engineer at Birdstop with a background in building AI systems, including computer vision-based security solutions for the DHS and DOD. At Birdstop, he focuses on developing the autonomy and perception that allows our drones to understand their environment and respond in real time.

Hunter Pruitt

Senior Manufacturing Manager

With a background in aerospace engineering and high-precision automotive manufacturing, Hunter Pruitt leads Birdstop's manufacturing operations, driving the production and scaling of its hardware for real-world deployment. He focuses on building reliable, repeatable systems and developing the processes that enable fast growth, consistent quality, and manufacturing at scale.

Harry Riggle

Drone Production Engineer

Harry is Birdstop's first Drone Engineer, bringing over a decade of experience flying drones and more than 2,000 hours of flight time. He is hands-on at every stage of development, ensuring each system is built for performance and reliability. At Birdstop, Harry tests new drone designs, builds and programs drones from start to finish, and conducts final assembly quality checks to ensure each unit meets high standards before deployment.

Eric Love

Drone Assembly Technician

Eric Love is an experienced avionics and automotive design specialist with a strong foundation in CAD engineering, system troubleshooting, and technical instruction. He leverages more than 30 years of diverse industry experience to support reliable, forward-thinking engineering solutions.

Doug Muhlbauer

Principal Software Engineer

Douglas Muhlbauer is a software engineer and technology leader specializing in ISR ground systems. With over two decades of experience spanning defense, aerospace, and autonomous systems, he combines deep technical expertise with strategic leadership to deliver mission-critical solutions that advance operational capability in the field.

Sophie Schaffer

Chief of Staff

Sophie Schaffer brings executive experience from fast-growing startups, where she has built operational systems, led strategic initiatives, and supported teams through major scaling phases. At Birdstop, she drives cross-team coordination, strengthens organizational operations, and supports the company's continued growth and execution.

Danial Waleed

Drone Engineer

Danial designs the intelligence that makes drones truly autonomous through algorithms that enable them to sense, decide, and act independently. Before joining Birdstop, he led the Autonomous Engineering Division at InfoBeyond Technology, where he developed AI-driven autonomy systems empowering UAVs and UGVs to make real-time mission decisions without human intervention.

Jacob Balakier

Drone Pilot II

Jacob Balakier supports Birdstop's field operations through operational flights, flight testing, deployment support, and hands-on involvement in aircraft assembly and system readiness. His work focuses on real-world operation and troubleshooting, ensuring platforms are prepared for reliable field use.

Kristi Brewer

Field Engineer

Kristi Brewer is a mechanical technician focused on system assembly, mechanical troubleshooting, and maintaining the reliability of Birdstop's autonomous platforms. As a licensed Part 107 pilot, she bridges engineering and field operations to keep mission-ready hardware performing at its best.

Aaron Moore

Drone Pilot

With over 8 years of experience flying, building, and programming First Person View drones, Aaron Moore has also dedicated time to teaching the community how to build and fly. He also organizes and hosts micro drone races in Detroit. His creative edge and ambition to succeed keeps him thriving in this industry.

Nathan Nouhan

Mechanical Design Engineer II

Nathan Nouhan is a mechanical engineer specializing in aerospace manufacturing and mechanical system development. At Birdstop, he designs reliable, manufacturable hardware for the company's autonomous drone platform, guiding systems from prototype through deployment to ensure consistent performance in demanding environments.

Erin Olejnik

Implementation Manager

Erin Olejnik brings extensive experience in customer success within the world of emerging technology. At Birdstop, she leads the deployment of systems to ensure clients achieve mission success. By bridging the gap between complex hardware and operational needs, she ensures Birdstop's technology delivers reliable, real-time results for every user.

Mohamed El-Abdallah

PCB Design Engineer

Mohamed leads the development of electrical hardware for Birdstop's drones and autonomous perches. Before Birdstop, he was an electrical design engineer for government aerospace projects. At Birdstop, he focuses on designing our custom electronic circuitry to ensure high reliability in complex flight environments.

Alex McGraw

Aviation Compliance Manager

Alex McGraw is a drone pilot focused on refining technology to make life simpler. He began flying UAVs during his 13 years in the Army before branching into the commercial world to guide the development of delivery drones. At Birdstop, he focuses on field validation to evaluate and optimize our drones to continually expand capabilities.

Kaden Rivard

Drone Technician

Kaden Rivard is a Drone Technician at Birdstop, supporting the manufacturing and assembly of autonomous drone perches. With a background in robotics engineering, mechanical design, and hands-on system integration, he helps improve build processes and system performance. He is currently studying Robotics Engineering at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Nick Dufour

Software Engineer

Nick is a computer engineer with experience in full-stack software development and microcontroller integration. Before joining Birdstop, he developed internal software applications to streamline workflows and modernize systems for engineering and operational teams in the commercial vehicle industry with additional experience working on prototype steering systems for automotive suppliers.

Adin Harmon

Drone Pilot

Adin Harmon is a Quality Assurance specialist and Test Pilot for Birdstop. A Northwestern Michigan College UAS program graduate, he helps ensure that safety and quality standards are met with all drones in production. Before working with Birdstop, he operated a drone service company in Northern Michigan.

Mike Bucci

Director of Sales

Mike Bucci focuses on bringing emerging technologies into real-world use, turning complex systems into practical tools organizations can deploy and rely on. He has spent two decades building go-to-market strategies, developing channel partners, and driving adoption across multiple sales verticals. At Birdstop, he leads partner-driven nationwide deployments, focused on high-impact use cases and scalable, long-term value.

Tyler Lucas

Enterprise Account Executive

Tyler Lucas drives enterprise sales at Birdstop, expanding into new markets and building strategic customer relationships. With a background in software and technical sales, he brings experience in developing strategic partnerships and helping customers adopt complex, emerging solutions.