Tony Dirks, American Aerospace Technologies & Charlton Evans, End State Solutions | Dawn of Autonomy | Ep. 86

August 22, 2025 | Dawn Zoldi

This week The Dawn of Autonomy podcast concludes “Bigger & Better” month, sponsored by Meadowlark Aircraft Company, with Charlton Evans, Founder and CEO of End State Solutions (ESS), and Tony Dirks, COO at American Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (AATI).

Charlton brings over 35 years of aviation experience as a commercial pilot and Marine Corps veteran. ESS supports manufacturers through type, production, and operational approvals, helping them meet strict regulatory requirements. Charlton played a key role in efforts like the ScanEagle deployment for ConocoPhillips, the FAA Pathfinder BVLOS flights with BNSF, and Matternet’s recent Type and Production Certification. ESS recently supported Chevron and AATI in securing a historic BVLOS 91.113(b) waiver and Section 44807 exemption, enabling pipeline patrol operations in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

Tony brings decades of leadership across law enforcement and aerospace. He drives operations at AATI, a leader in long-endurance UAS and intelligent airborne sensing. Since 2010, AATI has flown hundreds of FAA-approved BVLOS missions in national airspace. The team supports defense, homeland security, and critical infrastructure through real-time data solutions and platforms like the AiRanger™.

Tune in on August 27 as Charlton and Tony explore certification, operations, and what it takes to scale global unmanned flight successfully.