About Me
Internationally-recognized expert on drone technology, novel threats from small drones, spatial data, disaster response, and data protection and privacy. Highly experienced analyst, strategist, and GIS data manager with global experience and an extensive academic and media publication and speaking record on drones, technology, and risk. Well-versed in quantitative and qualitative research methods, as well as statistical research techniques.
Skills
Analytical: Internationally recognized expert on small drones in conflict and humanitarian aid, with multiple academic and popular media publications. Adept analyst of open source (OSINT), academic and grey literature for intelligence, security, and policy. Developer of large-scale OSINT research databases on small drones in modern conflict. Well-versed in quantitative and qualitative data analysis and statistical methods.
Spatial: Highly experienced manager and analyst of very large drone-collected datasets for intensive drone-data collection programs, including orthomosaic, LiDAR, multispectral, and video data. Tools include ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Image Server, ArcPy, QGIS, Drone Deploy, Pix4D, Agisoft Photoscan, LidarMill, CloudCompare, LASTools, and Google Earth. Certificated Remote Pilot under the U.S. Part 107 Rule.
Code: Well-versed in Python, R, and Javascript for GIS, data science, and OSINT applications.
Policy: Recognized producer of data-driven policy papers, investigative journalism, and grant applications for federal and foundation funding.
Experience
2024
UAS Technical Consultant/University of Vermont Spatial Analysis Lab and FAA ASSURE (Center of Excellence for UAS Research).
Led production of technical research document evaluating the secure storage and dissemination of drone-collected disaster response data for FAA-funded project “A11L.UAS.68: Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Phase II,” intended to provide government agencies with crucial insight into the safe and secure integration of drones into disaster preparedness and emergency response and recovery.
2019 – 2024
Senior Spatial Data Scientist/Massachusetts Department of Transportation Drone Operations Program.
Led the development of GIS data analysis and storage solutions for the MassDOT Aeronautics Drone Operations Program, building out a comprehensive set of analytical, database, and server solutions for processing, managing, and drawing operational conclusions from large quantities of drone-collected spatial data.
Produced impactful drone data products for DOT end-users, conducted research into user experience and outcomes flowing from drone data, and developed strategies and trainings for organizational data security and privacy protection. Managed large-scale drone-collected EO, LiDAR, multispectral, and video datasets, and worked extensively with relevant software and programming languages for drone data processing and management in Esri and open-source ecosystems. Provided core technical assistance and support for federal and state grant applications.
2022
Founder and Chief Researcher/Drone Incidents in the Ukraine War Database.
At the start of the 2022 onset of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, created open-source and publicly available research database focused on small, consumer drones and their rapidly-expanding applications in conflict. From 2022 to 2024, updated database with relevant information drawn from OSINT data, the media, and other resources. Published articles based on this research with Foreign Policy and the ICRC, among other outlets: database continues to benefit other researchers and stakeholders.
2022
UAS Research Consultant/PLACE.
Provided technical expertise and support for the development of standardized UAS operating procedures for a new international drone mapping and data collection nonprofit NGO, geared towards collecting and stewarding crucial spatial information in the form of data trusts.
2022
UAS Technical Consultant/WeRobotics, Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative (DPPI).
Led the development of a technical research study capturing core challenges to the broader implementation of drone technology in disaster response in Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative (DPPI) member states in South Eastern Europe. Developed core research strategy, carried out stakeholder interviews, and interpreted data with qualitative research techniques. Led workshop presenting key findings.
2019 – 2020
UAS Consultant/World Bank; World Economic Forum.
Worked with the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, and the African Drone Forum to complete case study analyzing the role of drone technology in the response to typhoons in Mozambique. Developed comprehensive overview of the current state of the unmanned traffic management (UTM) landscape on the African continent. Assisted with development and running of African Drone Forum event in Kigali, Rwanda in February 2020.
2019 – 2020
UAS Consultant/American Red Cross.
Led research review focused on how Red Cross organizations around the world are using drone technology to further disaster response and humanitarian aid goals. Created research methodology and project strategy, conducted interviews with dozens of practitioners around the world, and coordinated qualitative and quantitative analysis of research results. Findings published as a white paper by the American Red Cross.
2018 – PRESENT
Regular Correspondent/Foreign Policy.
Regular specialist contributor to Foreign Policy, producing investigative reporting and opinion pieces related to drone technology, spatial data, humanitarian aid, international drone regulations, and other technology policy matters.
2016 – 2019
Researcher/Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Harvard School of Public Health.
Researcher specializing in drones and remote sensing at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative’s Signal Program. Produced original research related to the ethical use of data and technology in humanitarian response, how small drones fit into customary international humanitarian law, and practical barriers to wider small drone use in disaster response. Lead author and researcher of academic case study on drone use during Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in 2017, published by PLOS One in 2020. Spearheaded development of Harvard’s first educational course for humanitarian practitioners focused on drones and remote sensing, led organization of Harvard’s first-ever conference dedicated to drones in academic research, and worked with Harvard University to develop institutional policies on drones and drone data.
2015 – 2016
Field Analyst/New America
Developed one of the first field manuals defining and describing the global rise of civilian drone technology. Produced first-of-their-kind databases documenting the spread of international drone regulations and civilian drone use-cases around the world. Conducted project field research on the use of drones for archaeological and academic research in Peru. Key role in developing workshop and event summarizing findings of publication at New America.
2010 – 2012
Reporter/Cambodia Daily
Report and editor based in Phnom Penh with a special focus on the rise of social media and the Internet in Southeast Asia, and their collective impact on democracy and political movements in the region. Regular correspondent from the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) Khmer Rouge War Tribunal.
Selected Media and Conferences
- Appearance on WBUR’s “On Point” radio show with Meghna Chakrabarti – 2/2025
- Panelist at Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) event on threats to civilians from small drones – 12/2024
- Presenter on novel threats from small drones at multiple Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) events, as invited by the Asser Institute in the Netherlands – 4/2024 and 10/2024.
- Expert talk at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, regarding kinetic and data-based threats to civilians from small drones. 4/2024.
- Interviewee on NPR’s “All Things Considered” concerning small drones in the Ukraine conflict – 3/2023.
- Key-note presenter at Interdrone, a leading international drone conference – 9/2019
Education
Certificate in Geospatial Programming and Web Development at Penn State University.
MA Journalism at Stanford University.
BA English at Tulane University.
Selected Publications
Greenwood, Faine. “China’s Top Drone Maker Removes Security Features at a Very Weird Time.” Foreign Policy. 2025. Retrieved from: https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/09/11/suicide-drones-killing-civilians-syria-ukraine-gaza/
Greenwood, Faine. “Suicide Drones Are Killing Civilians From Syria to Ukraine.” Foreign Policy. 2024. Retrieved from: https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/09/11/suicide-drones-killing-civilians-syria-ukraine-gaza/
Greenwood, Faine. “Drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).” The Routledge Handbook of Geospatial Technologies and Society, edited by Doug Specht, Routledge, London, 2023. Taylor & Francis, https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780367855765-17/drones-unmanned-aerial-vehicles-uavs-faine-greenwood?context=ubx&refId=db4de66b-164c-4b8c-af92-f0405c1999c9
Greenwood, Faine. “The Drone War in Ukraine Is Cheap, Deadly, and Made in China.” Foreign Policy. 2023. Retrieved from: https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/02/16/ukraine-russia-war-drone-warfare-china/
Greenwood, Faine. “Consumer drones in conflict: where do they fit into IHL?” 2022. ICRC Humanitarian Law & Policy. Retrieved from: https://blogs.icrc.org/law-and-policy/2022/03/15/consumer-drones-conflict-ihl
Greenwood, Faine. “Ukraine War Is Being Watched From the Sky.” Foreign Policy. 2022. Retrieved from: https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/04/02/russia-ukraine-war-drones-risks/
Greenwood, Faine. “Drones and distrust in humanitarian aid.” 2021. ICRC Humanitarian Law & Policy. Retrieved from: https://blogs.icrc.org/law-and-policy/2021/07/22/drones-distrust-humanitarian/