Hello, and welcome to ResQOps!

I’m Eric Duckwall, owner and lead pilot for ResQOps Drone Services, LLC. I’m a husband and father of four, a 19-year veteran of the United States Air Force West Virginia Air National Guard, and a lifelong Paramedic and Firefighter dedicated to serving others.

The concept behind ResQOps began several years ago during an emergency incident involving a missing child.  I remember thinking how valuable a thermal drone would have been to quickly search the area and assist first responders. Since then, I’ve continued to monitor emergency calls and incidents where drone technology could dramatically improve efficiency, situational awareness, and ultimately outcomes for patients, families, and responders.

That idea became personal in the spring of 2025 when our family adopted a rescue dog. One evening, a loud noise startled her and she ran off into the woods. Like most pet owners, we immediately began searching, contacted friends and neighbors, posted on social media, and reached out to animal control. Someone suggested contacting a thermal drone operator after hearing about another successful pet recovery using a drone.

We eventually located our dog and safely brought her home, but the experience reignited the idea that had been in the back of my mind for years. A thermal drone could have drastically reduced the search time and stress involved in locating her.

From that experience, ResQOps Drone Services was born.

Since then, we have helped reunite lost pets with their families, assisted with recovering escaped livestock, supported searches for missing hikers, and provided assistance during fire department and law enforcement operations. In addition to public safety support, we also offer drone services for inspections, real estate, and commercial applications.

Many people think of drones only for photography or inspections, but thermal drone technology has become an invaluable tool for search operations and emergency response. Our goal is not only to provide professional drone services, but also to help educate communities on how this technology can assist during critical situations.

We are available 24/7 for requests and manage call-outs around weather conditions and our full-time careers. Like many small businesses, ResQOps was built around a passion for helping others while balancing the realities of startup operations and everyday responsibilities.

We are deeply rooted in public service and always strive to help those in need. Because of that, we intentionally keep our pricing below many market rates whenever possible, especially for members of our local communities. Operating enterprise-grade thermal drones is costly, but our mission has never been solely about business — it’s about providing a service that can truly help people when they need it most.

If you are outside our service area and we are unable to assist directly, we will gladly help connect you with another reputable drone service that may better fit your needs.

We appreciate you taking the time to learn more about ResQOps Drone Services. If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to reach out at any time. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Thank you for your support.

Eric Duckwall

Owner & Lead Pilot

ResQOps Drone Services, LLC