While AI and cybersecurity may be taking center stage on many media outlets in terms of priorities, these should not be the only pressing concerns for government. Looking to take advantage of deep experience within DOD and Homeland Security, and a unique perspective on the application and potential malicious use of drones, OS AI sat down with KSA Integration’s CEO Bryan Altmire; Ret Lt General and President Keith Stalder; and Senior Advisor Dean Patterson to learn more about this growing risk; why agencies beyond DOD and DHS should be paying more attention, and the opportunity for industry to partner with this growing team.
The Threat
As of April, 2025, the FAA had registered over one million recreational and commercial Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) . UAS incursions over US military installations are occurring every day, and with the proliferation of inexpensive, mass-produced UAS, the threat to U.S. government facilities, critical infrastructure, airports, and other key sites will continue to rise, posing threats r to physical security to privacy violations, crime and terrorism related activities, aviation safety and disruption of events.
“The business of drones is growing. It has moved out of the hobbyist world into commercial spaces and the business of crime and war fighting. Drones are cheap, plentiful, easy to operate, extremely lethal and hard to defeat. The business of control has also evolved and drones can now be both autonomous and enabled by AI. We are in the age of massed, robotic, AI enabled warfare and democratized lethality.”
While their deployment as a weapon of war is being reported more frequently, there is still a lack of understanding or appreciation for the deadliness of this platform on US soil. “We have worked with a number of State, local and Federal agencies, but have not seen a broad understanding of the risk to things like critical infrastructure, or the challenges to protecting every inch of American airspace and the need for proactive, forward-thinking understanding and preparation.”
That understanding and threat assessment needs to consider both the current environment and where the technology is headed. “It is looking at what is there now, which in many cases is nothing, and what do we need to build towards.”
Beyond DHS and DOD
Outside of the obvious agencies who may have an interest in protecting against drones – agencies across DOD, Customs and Border Protection, Federal Protective Service (FPS), the Secret Service, US NORTHCOM and its Service Components, and other operational agencies who may have nascent capability, there are those agencies owning vulnerable infrastructure including energy systems, roads and airports. There are also those more local and state agencies which may have oversight of large public events and gatherings.
“Think of a large football stadium filled with people, a rally, an event at which public personalities are present…These are things customers need to be aware of and the public should be concerned about.”
Countermeasures
While countermeasures are being developed, there is no one-size-fits-all mechanism or solution so understanding gaps and vulnerabilities, knowing the state of the technology and working with a partner who has deep knowledge of all of this is key.
“It’s important to be able to match the threat with what’s available in the market, or what we know will be available soon which might be a better long-term fit. We’re seeing the domains in which systems are being employed growing and each has its unique challenges. It requires looking at resources, what should ideally be done and what can be with existing resources, or how resource may be reallocated.”
Small Business at the Cutting Edge
While government may tend to lean toward large OEMs, out of convenience or habit, in this sphere of development the strength of knowledge and expertise typically resides with the smaller businesses, those who can draw on experience from the commercial space and multiple layers of government.
“Supporting initiatives focused on drones is good civic responsibility. If there are preventable incidents, how could you not want to be proactive? There are definite gaps in understanding that are no one’s fault but we do need to get those in decision-making roles to look more broadly at their specific responsibility and potential risks.”
KSA Integration fully understands the potential they have to inform and help mitigate these risks and invites any organization, government or industry partner to reach out for information, to tap into this team’s insights and perspective for potential partnering opportunities. “We bring years of experience and understanding the threat, in the operational considerations needed to counter the threat and are happy to drive a common cause with others who recognize the challenge and are looking to develop a reasonable level of protection.”
The Partner Lens
KSA Integration has a clear understanding of what it seeks in partners. “We are looking for partners who will travel the path with us to not just identifying the problem, but solving it; to not just recommend solutions but deliver those solutions to clients to actually solve problems.” KSA has successfully partnered with both large and small companies to deliver innovative and effective solutions for a variety of DoD customers. “We pride ourselves on being good teammates to build lasting relationships and create shared value.”
Thriving with more than 70 percent of its team comprised of Veterans, KSA also looks to an alignment in mission focus, a high value on teamwork, and a commitment to customer service. “We benefit from a strong leadership which is highly people-focused; committed to doing the right thing for our customers and our team. It’s not always instantly obvious what the right thing is, but we’ll figure it out and we’ll always do the right thing, whatever that is.”
About KSA Integration
Building on their deep expertise within DHS and the Marine Corps, SDVOSB KSA Integration was founded in 2015 with a goal to provide business solutions based on root causes with services that include Business Process Improvement (BPI), Warrior Care, and Data Analytics. KSA provides expert analyses of current and emerging unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to multiple US Government organizations. We have the necessary background, training, and expertise to provide threat, gap, and counter UAS recommendations to assist owners (and other responsible parties) in protecting critical infrastructure, public safety, airports, and events through services that include threat assessment, gap analysis, technological capabilities, operational readiness, personnel training, regulatory compliance and resource allocation. Please contact David Hitchcock, David.hitchcock@ksaintegration.com, for more information regarding how our services can assist your organization.
About the Interviewees
Keith J. Stalder is a retired Lieutenant General from the United States Marine Corps. He led the United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific from 2008 to 2010. During his service, he was an early adopter of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Keith is the founder of KSA Integration, a company that specializes in improving business processes, data analytics, and warrior care.
Dean Patterson is a retired Marine Corps Colonel who has led aviation command and control units at both the Squadron and Group levels. His experience includes managing UAS operations within these units. From 2000- 2001, Dean was instrumental in the early integration of UAS into a Marine Corps Air Control Group. Dean is currently KSA Integration’s Senior Advisor for Ground-Based Air Defense.
Bryan Altmire is the CEO of KSA Integration and a seasoned expert in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with extensive experience in integrating UAS technology into military and civilian operations. His work includes strategic research and analysis on the evolving capabilities and applications of unmanned systems. Bryan’s expertise encompasses policy development, operational integration, and advancing the technological frontier of UAS. With a strong background in defense and national security, he is dedicated to leveraging unmanned systems to enhance operational effectiveness and innovation.
