WHO WE ARE
Meet Us
Tactien takes pride in our exceptional team of aviation technology experts. Collectively, the team spans the entire spectrum of aviation technology, from cutting-edge research to practical implementation. While everyone at Tactien brings a unique skillset to your table, the modality is synonymous; realism with an appetite for pushing the boundaries of possible.
NATE ERNST
Founder & President
A visionary leader at the intersection of aviation technology and innovation. With a career spanning over 15 years, working with both manned and unmanned technology for critical infrastructure across the country. Nate has assembled a congregation of leading experts who share his passion for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the aviation industry. Armed with insatiable curiosity, Nate’s passion is to engineer the flight paths of tomorrow, ensuring safer skies and more effective technology for all infrastructure types.

ED CELIANO
VP, Strategic Operations
Ed’s expertise is the management of complex multidisciplinary organizations and partnerships supporting the Department of Defense, federal agencies, industrial and academic partners. 40 years of experience directing vertically integrated engineering and support operations consisting of RDT&E, systems design, manufacturing, integration, test and systems qualification.

NICK CANTAGALLO
SME,
Electric Utility
Nick is a seasoned professional specializing in the power utility industry, boasting a robust background as an electrical engineer, MBA holder, and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. With a career spanning over a decade, Nick has traversed through various roles, from his beginnings as a substation design engineer to his tenure as a power utility construction manager, consultant, and executive.
_edited.png)
Larry Barnard
SME,
Oil & Gas
Larry recently retired from Chevron after 34+ years where he's held a variety of domestic and international positions. Larry is responsible for Chevron's first in-house small UAS program (2017) for the corporations El Segundo Refinery located 1.4 miles south of KLAX. The Chevron UAS program now extends globally with well over 200 employees trained to operate their own systems 24/7 both onshore & offshore. Larry was instrumental in engaging with a broad segment of facility employees to identify the "dull, dirty, and dangerous" tasks requiring field inspection data without the need to shut down or otherwise disrupt normal oil & gas plant operations. Larry has been a frequent presenter and member of numerous roundtable discussion groups at several UAS & Robotic conferences as well as UAS manufacturer webinars for online audiences.

CHRIS CORGNATI
Advisor,
UAS Economics & Business
Chris is a retired Navy Captain and business executive with extensive experience in both the federal and private sector. As a C-Suite leader he led two startup UAS manufacturing and service companies, the second focused on infrastructure inspections.
