Pallets of Phantoms: How Modern Drone Programs Were Born

Episode notes

Note: This episode was recorded in 2025. At the time of this recording, Kevin Raber was serving as the President of ex Umbra Solutions. Please be advised that Kevin has since transitioned to a new role at a different organization. While his professional affiliation has changed, the strategic insights and intelligence-led methodologies discussed in this session remain a gold standard for the industry. For over twenty years, Kevin Raber served in the US Army’s Special Operations, handling missions that didn't fit neatly into any traditional box. His entry into the world of unmanned systems was just as unconventional: showing up in Turkey and being tasked with figuring out how to use a pallet of 500 Phantom 4s. What began as a military tasking turned into a career standing up drone programs for allies in Syria and Ukraine, where hundreds of drones quickly turned into thousands. Now the President of ex Umbra Solutions, Kevin applies the "intelligence mindset" to industries like telecom, energy, and public safety.