Speakers
Kenny Maldonado is a Special Agent and investigator with the FAA's Law Enforcement Assistance Program (LEAP), part of the agency's Office of Security – National Security Programs, Southwest Region, based in Fort Worth, Texas.
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He joined the FAA in 2011 and leads regulatory investigations into airmen, aircraft and certificated entities suspected of criminal activity.
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His branch handles cases ranging from drug and alcohol violations to the falsification of aircraft registration and airman documentation, with aviation safety as the throughline in every file.
That regulatory authority gives LEAP a distinct role in the aviation enforcement landscape, sitting between the FAA's certification powers and the criminal jurisdiction of its law enforcement partners.
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Kenny also partners closely with federal, state, local and tribal agencies on aviation-linked investigations covering drug smuggling, money laundering, airman prison matches and DUI/DWI matters, while providing investigative support and document inspection training to those same agencies.
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More recently, he has trained and assisted hundreds of Texas law enforcement officers on unmanned aircraft systems.
Kenny Maldonado
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Federal Aviation Investigator
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Aviation Crime Enforcement
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UAS Law Enforcement Training
Robi Sen
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Leading Scientist
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Engineer of Counter-UAS
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Advanced Defence Tech
Robi is a leading scientist, inventor, engineer and futurist at the forefront of counter-drone, artificial intelligence and advanced defence technologies.
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With a career focused on solving complex security challenges through disruptive innovation, Robi’s expertise spans counter-autonomy and AI, biodefense and advanced electronic warfare systems.
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In 2008, he co-created Mesmer, a pioneering technology designed to safely take control of and land hostile drones, anticipating the Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (C-UAV) market years before it became an established sector.
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Throughout his career, Robi has collaborated with leading organisations including DARPA, NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of Defense, contributing to cutting-edge programmes pushing the boundaries of what is technically and operationally possible.
He is also the holder of a portfolio of patents and an author of publications influencing the development of defence and dual-use technologies.
Jon "JT" Taylor is Vice President and Director of Public Safety at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, where he leads law enforcement, aircraft rescue and firefighting, emergency management and security operations across one of the busiest airport campuses in the world.
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With a career at DFW spanning nearly three decades, Jon's expertise covers aviation security, anti-air piracy, special operations and large-scale emergency response in an environment that moves tens of millions of passengers each year.
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JT joined the department in 1997 and rose through the ranks, serving as a Traffic/SWAT Sergeant, Bomb Squad Commander/K9 Sergeant, and multiple roles as a Police Lieutenant. JT served as the Assistant Chief of Special Operations until his promotion to Chief of Police in 2020, and Director in 2024.
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Jon has been a visible advocate for community-centred security, championing initiatives such as DFW's "See Say" reporting platform and the expansion of the airport's fire and rescue capability.
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He holds a BA in Criminal Justice from Lindenwood University and a Master's in Professional Development from Amberton University, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, FBI LEEDS, the National Preparedness Institute-Harvard University, and the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration's Management College.
Jon Taylor
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Vice President of Public Safety
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Aviation Security Leader
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Emergency Response & Policing
Joshua
Cousins
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Airport Policing Leader
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Counter-UAS Operations
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Aviation Threat Response
Joshua Cousins is Assistant Chief of Police at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, where he leads public safety operations at the front line of the airport counter-drone challenge.
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He began his career in law enforcement in 2010 following service in the U.S. Army, and has progressed through the ranks at DFW in roles spanning field training, corrections, patrol and specialist command, including leadership of the department's SWAT and traffic units.
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Joshua is the architect of COBRA (Combined Officer Broad Response Action Team), a counterterrorism unit that brings DFW airport police together with airport security, TSA officers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents under a single command to provide a visible, integrated presence for the tens of millions of passengers passing through DFW each year.
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He is a recognised voice on counter-UAS policy and operations, testifying before the Texas Senate on the authority gaps facing airport police in an environment where DFW detects thousands of drones in and around its airspace every month.
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Joshua holds a master's degree in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School and has contributed to applied research programmes including PARAS and the Center for Homeland Defense and Security. He was named to the IACP's 40 Under 40.