Tara's husband, John Zagi Jones—FAA Part 107 Licensed Drone Pilot, AI Robotics Education Leader &
Autonomous Systems Speaker—has dedicated 15+ years to mastering drones and teaching autonomous systems. Students work hands-on with autonomous systems, reinforcement learning and navigation challenges as graduate-level technical work.
A Pittsburgh Technology Council member, John spoke on Feb. 25th at
Carnegie Mellon (CMU), sponsored by the World Affairs Institute & Rotary Districts, at ‘The AI Effect’ Conference 2026 on AI workforce development and ethics.
As a licensed drone pilot, he specializes in aerial photography/videography for weddings, corporate events, sports, celebrations, real estate, construction, golf courses, utilities and agriculture.
Keynote topics: Al workforce development, STEM education innovation, autonomous systems integration
ABOUT
Bold Journey magazine has featured my journey as a Part 107 licensed Drone Pilot.
In the article, I delve into my passion for drones, a fascination that’s been soaring for over a decade. My YouTube channel chronicles this adventure, capturing the breathtaking views and technical challenges that come with flying these incredible machines.
The article provides a detailed look at how I’ve honed my skills, embraced cutting-edge technology and explored the world from angles most people never get to see.
Beyond my personal journey, I’ve been dedicated to turning this passion into something impactful, particularly by inspiring and educating underprivileged children in Pittsburgh through M-Powerhouse. It’s been a rewarding experience to use my platform to uplift and empower the next generation of tech enthusiasts.
I invite you all to read about my story, where passion meets purpose, and hopefully, it resonates with you.
Check out the full article:
www.boldjourney.com/meet-john-zagi-jones
SPEAKER AT ‘THE AI EFFECT’ CONFERENCE 2026 AT CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY (CMU)
John is set to speak at ‘The AI Effect’ Conference 2026 at Carnegie Mellon on February 25th, hosted by the World Affairs Institute.
As a panelist for “Global Careers: “AI and the Future of Work,” he’ll be unpacking the power of autonomous aerial systems — AI-driven drones — and their role in reshaping STEM education, workforce agility, and Pittsburgh’s emergence and permanence as a global hub for autonomous innovation.
John’s presentation, ‘From Classroom to Skies,’ will explore how these technologies are not just tools but catalysts—unlocking potential in unexpected places, accelerating scalable learning models, enabling real-time operational deployment and forging strategic advantages in high-stakes sectors like manufacturing, infrastructure and national security.
This is about harnessing frontier tech to build resilient, future-proof ecosystems that redefine industry standards.
Details:
www.worldpittsburgh.org/institute
Scholarships available:
www.tinyurl.com/WAI55-Scholarship
DRONE EDUCATION
Teaching the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT) how to build their own drones and earn The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) certification.
DRONE AND ROBOTICS INSTRUCTION
I am privileged to guide young minds as a Drone Instructor and Robotics Coach at University Prep Milliones through M-Powerhouse, Inc. Working with these middle school students has been a journey of discovery and innovation, where each day brings new opportunities to nurture their technological curiosity and problem-solving abilities.
Moving into position for our last match of the qualifying rounds! Milliones Mechacats #9004 in the Red 3 position for the final round.
This achievement reflects not only their growing mastery of robotics and programming but also their ability to apply these skills to address community challenges with creativity and purpose.
DRONE VIDEOGRAPHY
Fall Leaves in Sewickley
Observatory Hill
Ohio River View from the North Shore
FAA PART 107-LICENSED
The FAA Part 107 license is a certification required for commercial drone pilots in the United States. It grants individuals the legal authority to operate drones for commercial purposes, subject to certain regulations and restrictions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration.