About Us

Vision

AKDRONE will pioneer the future of industrial drone operations in Alaska, becoming the state’s #1 enterprise drone solutions provider and proving that Alaska is the ultimate testing ground for UAV technology in the harshest environments.

Alaska’s Drone Task Force

Core Team

Rafael Alfaro

Lead UAV Pilot

BVLOS Pilot / NIST Instructor

Levi Rowland

Lead NIST Instructor

Sales / Air Boss / NIST Instructor / Part 107

Thomas Tapp

Co-Founder, CEO

Sales / Air Boss / NIST Instructor / Part 107

About

Our Story

Our story starts with a deep love for Alaska—its people, its natural resources, and its industries. With this passion, my business partner and I founded Seed Media, which began as a video production company and evolved into a full-service creative agency. Working alongside the industries that power Alaska—Oil & Gas, Utilities, Commercial Fishing, Native Corporations and Organizations, and Local Governments—we gained invaluable insight into how these organizations think, work, and operate.

Training and education have always been core to our business. Whether producing thousands of hours of training content for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company or leading youth media camps in partnership with Native organizations and nonprofits, our goal has always been to serve well and support those we work with.

Seed Media is our parent company, and AKDRONE is the natural evolution of our journey.

Aerial Imagery Has
Always Been in Our Blood

2003
L
2003

Seed Media Aerial Division

We pioneered aerial cinematography and photography in Alaska, specializing in helicopter operations for the Oil & Gas industry, heli-skiing operators, and remote exploration projects. Our team spent countless hours in helicopters, mastering the art of capturing dynamic aerial visuals in harsh conditions.

2012
L
2012

Seed Media Unmanned Aerial Division

The arrival of quadcopters marked a new era. We were early adopters. We built and flew our Xaircraft drone, one of the first UAVs of its kind, to push the boundaries of aerial imagery and video capture.

2019
L
2019

AKDRONE Brand Founded

Recognizing the growing commercial drone industry, AKDRONE was established as a DBA under Seed Media, focused on providing drone services to industries across Alaska. Our mission expanded beyond media to operational support.

2025
L
2025

AKDRONE, LLC is Formed

AKDRONE becomes its own independent LLC, with a refined focus on three core areas:

Beyond 107 Training
Elevating Alaska’s drone workforce through standardized pilot training and certification.

Enterprise Drone Solutions
Supporting industries with the right drone platforms for their operations.

Oil Spill Support Drone Solutions
Providing specialized aerial capabilities to support spill prevention, preparedness, and response.