Wade is an award-winning educator, researcher, entrepreneur, executive and conservationist with over 28 years of experience in the Geomatics, Academic, Research and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) sectors.
Wade assisted in the instructional design, curricula development and instruction in the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Bachelor of Applied Technology Geographic Information Systems program for 18 years. During that time, he was an instructor while simultaneously fostering strategic partnerships with industry leaders in Geomatics and supporting industry sectors.
During his time as faculty, Wade co-developed the RPAS lab within the Applied Research and Innovation Services (ARIS) department in 2010. For the following 8 years, he developed industry partnerships, helped to secure research funding through non-grant and grant contracts, and lead applied research partnerships to solve industry problems integrating drones, sensors and analytics.
In 2018, Wade took a lead role in transitioning the RPAS lab into what is known today as the Centre for Innovation and Research in Unmanned Systems (CIRUS). Most recently, Wade has been appointed as the Centre’s Co-Research Chair, leading National operations, and assisting in the development of the Remotely-Piloted Aviation Training Centre. The Centre focuses on training, certification, research and development for heavy-lift and beyond-visual-line-of-sight Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). Wade also holds an Advanced Pilot Certification with Flight Reviewer Designation.