Ryan Kao

Director Ryan Kao focuses on developing public safety strategy with Skydio’s law enforcement partners, including establishing Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs, throughout the United States. Prior to joining Skydio, Director Kao served as Director of Crime Strategies for the San Francisco Police Department, where he supervised the Department’s crime analysts and developed crime reduction and prevention strategies for the San Francisco Bay Area. Many of those crime strategies included pioneering law enforcement and commercial technologies, including a 400-camera stationary ALPR system, the first citywide public safety sensor system in San Francisco, and a prototype oral fluid testing device that detects fentanyl in saliva. Director Kao has also served as an Assistant District Attorney for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted a wide range of cases, including robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, and homicide. He is recognized as an expert on firearms and was embedded in the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC), where he worked with a team of SFPD officers and ATF agents to remove armed and dangerous criminals from the community. He also specialized in DUI enforcement, particularly drug-impaired DUI and vehicular manslaughter, including cross-training as a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) and receiving the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Outstanding Prosecutor Award for his work.