Mark Kahanding

Mark Kahanding is the Founder and CEO of Cobalt Academy, a veteran owned drone education and defense technology company providing flight training, aircraft prototyping, workforce development, consulting and research for students, first responders, military organizations, and industry partners. During more than twelve years in the California Army National Guard, Mark progressed from enlisted combat medic to commissioned Field Artillery officer and Air Defense Battle Captain, leading crews responsible for protecting coalition personnel and critical infrastructure across Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait; during Operation Inherent Resolve, he became the first officer in the California Army National Guard to shoot down a Shahed attack drone in combat, helping protect more than 100 American and allied personnel while earning the Combat Action Badge and Army Commendation Medal with C Device. Mark has produced more than forty intelligence products on hostile drone threats, created the international publication Eyes in the Skies for 2,500 readers, and worked with allied militaries, universities, and defense companies; he serves on the Board of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council Young Professionals and holds a Master of Arts in Government from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University, Los Angeles. Today, Mark leads Cobalt Academy in closing the gap between passing a certification test and developing real capability by teaching people to fly, build, test, and understand drones for careers in aviation, public safety, business, defense, and national security; outside of work, he is an enthusiastic fan of Helldivers 2, anime, Harry Potter, and Star Wars, interests that help him connect with students and encourage them to turn imagination, curiosity, discipline, and bold ideas into practical skills, meaningful service, and technology that can improve the world.