Ryan Capelle
- Title
- WW Adjunct Faculty
- capeller@erau.edu Email
- Department
- Department of Aeronautics
- College
- College of Aviation
Biography
Mr. Ryan Capelle is an adjunct professor with more than 14 years of experience in Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), serving as an instructor, manager and operator within Department of Defense programs.
He holds a Master of Science in Unmanned Systems from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and previously served in the United States Navy, specializing in unmanned operations. During his military tenure, Mr. Capelle held key roles including Training and Operations Lead, Air Vehicle Operator, and Mission Commander for the Navy’s Naval Special Warfare (NSW) UAS units.
His extensive platform experience includes the MQ-27B ScanEagle, RQ-20B Puma II, MQ-35A V-BAT, Skydio X2D and SkyRaider R80D. He played a pivotal role in the testing and development of the Navy’s newest UAS platform, the V-BAT, contributing to initial qualification training and manual development for operational deployment.
Mr. Capelle is also an FAA Part 107 Certified Remote Pilot and actively participates in unmanned systems initiatives outside the classroom. He holds Level 1 through Level 3 certifications through the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Trusted Operator Program, reflecting his continued dedication to excellence in the field.
Education
- M.S. - Master of Science in Unmanned Systems: Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- B.A. - Bachelor of Arts in Intelligence Studies: Cyber, American Military University