Pennsylvania Chapter
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Leadership
Tony Gismandi
LEDA Pennsylvania State Chapter President
Tony has been in law enforcement since 2001. Through his years of LE experience, he has held the titles of Patrolman, Criminal Investigations Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Chief Deputy.
Tony grew up building and flying RC planes. He went on to achieve a degree in Electronics Engineering Technology before attending police academy, as well completing a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice. Tony worked for the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department before returning to Pennsylvania in 2008.
After years of recreational RC activities, Tony obtained his FAA Part 107 certification in 2024 and his LEDA Flight Skills 1 and 2 Proctor certification in 2025. He is the founder and Coordinator of the Air Support Unit for South Strabane Township Police in Washington, PA. He also serves as an outdoor and indoor tactical Drone Pilot on the Washington Regional SWAT Team.
Steve Snyder
LEDA Pennsylvania State Chapter Vice President
Steve Snyder has dedicated over 26 years to public safety, startinging as an EMT in 1999 and serving with multiple departments throughout his career. He currently serves as a volunteer Battalion Chief with Greenawalds Fire/Rescue and is a member of the Lehigh County Special Operations Team.
In 2015, while working as a Rescue and HAZMAT Technician for the County, Steve helped pioneer the use of drones in public safety operations, becoming one of the team’s first Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC). By 2018, the success of those early missions led to the formation of the Lehigh County UAS Response Team, a specialized unit under the county based Emergency Management Agency. Today, Steve serves as Chief of the 35-member team, which provides unmanned aerial support to public safety agencies across a two-county region.
Under his leadership, the UAS team has been fully integrated into tactical operations, including supporting ERT (SWAT) units with overwatch and interior movements during high-risk missions. The team also supports law enforcement and first responders at large-scale events, assists with accident reconstruction, and specializes in search and rescue, where Steve has become a recognized expert.
In addition to leading countywide efforts, Steve has advised and mentored neighboring departments in establishing their own UAS programs, helping to advance the role of drone technology in public safety throughout the region.
Jon Short
LEDA Pennsylvania State Chapter Secretary/Treasurer
Jon Short is a Patrolman with the Borough of Coraopolis, a small suburb fifteen miles West of the City of Pittsburgh. Jon began his career with Coraopolis in 2001. Jon obtained his FAA Part107 certification in December of 2024 and was appointed the UAS Coordinator for his department.
He is assigned duties to include Field Training Officer, Use of Force Instructor, Task Force Officer with the PA Attorney General’s Office Narcotics Division and since the implementation of the department UAS program, is a member of the South Hills Area Council of Governments (SHACOG) Drone Response Team.