Peter McNall

Mr. Peter McNall has spent the last 30 years managing key military and civilian aviation operations from concepts to operations and has extensive leadership experience and knowledge in the complex field of aviation operations and security.

Mr. McNall most recently served as Director of Air Operations for the Unmanned Aerial Surveillance (UAS) program for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS), where he helped spearhead the deployment of the first sustained civilian use of a UAS platform in the border security and U.S. national security effort. A qualified Predator B pilot himself, McNall oversaw coordination efforts between CBP and the Federal Aviation Administration to integrate UAS into the National Airspace System and managed the program’s budget in excess of $100 million dollars. He also led the development and execution of a pilot and sensor training syllabus, software testing, and validation program, and helped finalize the creation of the UAS command structure, rapid deployment protocols, and implemented the collection, tasking, production, exploitation, and dissemination (CTPED) standards for CBP UAS operational support. He supported the establishment of a CBP and U.S. Coast Guard joint program office and was a major contributor to the maritime concepts of operations for the first maritime variant of the Predator B platform.

Prior to heading up the UAS program, Mr. McNall served as the Deputy Director of the Tucson, Arizona Aviation Branch for U.S. Customs and later CBP, following the creation of DHS. In this capacity, he had oversight responsibility for the daily flight operations of over 100 pilots, numerous aircraft, and five detached operating locations. As Deputy Director on 9/11, McNall directed the U.S. Customs’ rapid air response and logistics support to federal agencies.. He has also played critical roles in securing key National Special Security Events (NSSEs), such as serving as Deputy Director of Air Security Operations for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, where he was responsible for conceiving and executing a comprehensive air security plan for one of the first NSSEs following 9/11. Before being named Deputy Director, Mr. McNall was a senior pilot at the Tucson Aviation Branch, flying multiple fixed wing and rotary platforms.

Mr. McNall began his aviation career as a pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps, and ultimately rose to serve as a pilot for HMX-1, the Presidential Helicopter Squadron, where he provided executive air transportation and security for the President and Vice Presidents of the United States, and foreign heads of State. While at HMX-1, McNall oversaw a program to upgrade the avionics on HMX’s VH-3D aircraft.

Following active duty, Mr. McNall continued his military career in the reserves, where he was Director of Operations for the 305th Rescue Squadron for the U.S. Air Force reserves, where among many responsibilities he coordinated and integrated the squadron’s air support plan to deploy to Kuwait in support of the Iraqi no fly zone enforcement.

Mr. McNall received his Bachelor’s Degree from Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky and has attended programs as the Air Force Command and Staff College, the University Of Southern California Institute Of Safety and Systems Management and the Defense Contract Management Agency. He is a recipient of the DHS Secretary’s Award for Excellence, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, and the Presidential Service Badge.