Meet the Instructor Who Commanded Drone Operations in Kandahar
When we designed the Tactical FPV & ISR Certification Program at Clarion Drone Academy, we knew the instructor had to be someone who’d actually done it — not someone who’d read about it.
David MacDonald served 25 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, specializing in Air Defence Artillery. He commanded the Air Space Operations Coordination Centre in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where he directed and coordinated all drone operations across the province during active combat operations. Over 1,000 flight hours supporting Canadian military missions in Afghanistan and naval operations in the Indian Ocean.
After military service, David built 14+ years of private sector experience in large RPAS beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations — from ScanEagle platforms to Drone Delivery Canada to NATO operations in Latvia.
He holds Transport Canada RPAS Instructor and Flight Reviewer designations, and has been awarded Canadian Service Medals, a NATO Commendation, and the United States Army Meritorious Service Medal.
Few instructors in Canada — or anywhere — can match David’s combination of real-world drone operations in active conflict zones and large-scale training program development.
He leads every level of the Clarion Tactical FPV & ISR Certification Program personally.
If your organization is serious about building tactical drone capability, this is who you want in front of your team.
Spring 2026 training dates are booking now. May is nearly full — limited summer availability remains. Reach out to secure your spot.
bruce@clariondrones.com | clariondrones.com
