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16–20 Hours — Online Self-Paced

Drone Forensics for Law Enforcement

Court-ready drone evidence workflow for investigators, examiners, prosecutors, and corrections. Eight modules, 67 lessons, 16 downloadable templates, an 8-quiz module set, and a 196-question final exam bank (60 scenario-based questions per attempt, 80% pass). Includes encrypted DJI FlightRecord and .DAT log decryption plus data carving from SD cards and aircraft NAND. Aligned with SWGDE 21-F-002 v1.2 and 14 CFR Part 89.

🌐 Developed by Eric L. Waldrep — U.S. State Dept. ATA Cyber Mentor · MCFE · 17+ Years Active Casework · 100% Expert Witness Qualification Rate
🎉 Founders Launch Price
$497$997
per seat · save $500 during the first 60 days
Duration16–20 hours
FormatOnline Self-Paced
Modules8 modules + final
Lessons68 lessons
Templates16 PDFs
Tools (educational)AXIOM, UFED + Inseyets, Detective, ALEAPP, dji-log-parser, ExifTool, QGIS
Access12 months
CertificateYes · 16 CPE
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Request Agency Licensing (10 / 25 / Unlimited) Government PO / Net-30

Secure checkout via Stripe. Instant access after payment confirmation. Agency licenses, government PO, and net-30 billing available by request.

Learning Outcomes

What You'll Learn

✓Map every drone case to the seven-source evidence ecosystem: aircraft, removable storage, controllers, mobile, cloud, Remote ID, and external corroboration
✓Plan source-by-source legal authority across warrants, consent, exigency, plain view, abandonment, and SCA third-party records process
✓Document a Remote ID broadcast capture defensibly — five 14 CFR Part 89 message elements plus the five required documentation elements
✓Run a safe scene response: priority pyramid, controlled approach, LiPo battery handling, the eight-category photography plan, and per-item chain of custody
✓Apply the six-factor acquisition decision framework across removable media, mobile, controllers, aircraft internal storage, and cloud
✓Cross-validate flight logs and artifacts across commercial and open-source tools to defeat the defense expert's strongest attack
✓Decrypt protected DJI FlightRecord (.txt) and v2/v3 .DAT logs and recognize encryption boundaries on locked controllers and aircraft storage
✓Carve deleted flight logs, video, and SQLite WAL/journal remnants from SD cards and aircraft NAND when active artifacts are missing
✓Reconstruct flights, build multi-source timelines, and assess GPS reliability, spoofing, and jamming indicators
✓Write a defensible drone forensic report with the twelve-section structure, sourced findings, and the defensible-language standard
✓Prepare for direct and cross examination on Daubert and FRE 702 challenges specific to drone forensic methods
Who This Course Serves

Built for Practitioners

Not an academic overview. This course is designed for professionals who will use this knowledge in real cases, real courts, and real investigations.

🚔
Law Enforcement
⚖️
Attorneys & Paralegals
🏛️
Government Agencies
🪖
Military & Intelligence
🏢
Corporate Security
🔍
Private Investigators
🧪
Forensic Examiners
📋
Compliance Teams
Course Curriculum

8 Modules  ·  68 Lessons  ·  Final Exam (200-Question Bank)

01Drone Forensics Orientation▾
  • Why Drone Evidence Matters Now
  • UAS Taxonomy and Terminology
  • The Drone Evidence Ecosystem (Seven Sources)
  • Manufacturers and Platforms (DJI, Autel, Parrot, Skydio, Yuneec, ArduPilot/PX4)
  • Common LE Case Types
  • Attribution and Corroboration Mindset
✓ Module Quiz (10 scenario questions)
02Law, Policy, FAA, and Remote ID▾
  • Legal Authority Planning Framework
  • FAA Registration and Part 107 Basics
  • Remote ID Compliance Pathways
  • 14 CFR Part 89 Message Elements
  • Cloud Records and Manufacturer Accounts (SCA)
  • Mobile Backups and Companion Apps
  • Minimization and Scope Discipline
  • Documenting Remote ID Field Observations
✓ Module Quiz (12 questions)
03Scene Response, Safety, and Seizure▾
  • Drone Scene Priorities (Priority Pyramid)
  • Approaching an Unknown Drone
  • LiPo Battery Hazards and Handling
  • Photography Plan
  • Power-State and RF Isolation Decisions
  • Physical Evidence Preservation
  • Packaging and Chain of Custody
  • Crash Scene vs. Recovered-in-Flight Scene
✓ Module Quiz (12 questions)
04Evidence Sources and Artifact Locations▾
  • Aircraft Internal Storage
  • Removable Storage
  • Standard Remote Controllers
  • Mobile App Artifacts on Android
  • Mobile App Artifacts on iOS
  • Cloud and Manufacturer Accounts
  • Computer-Side Artifacts
  • Battery and Firmware Data
  • Volatile Data and Retention Pitfalls
  • Building the Evidence Source Matrix
✓ Module Quiz (15 questions)
05Acquisition Workflow▾
  • The Acquisition Decision Framework
  • Removable Media Imaging and Hashing
  • Mobile Acquisition for Drone Apps
  • Smart Controller Acquisition
  • Aircraft Internal Storage Acquisition
  • Encrypted Storage and Locked Devices at Acquisition
  • Data Carving from SD Cards and Aircraft NAND
  • Cloud Acquisition Workflow
  • When to Stop and Send to a Specialist Lab
  • Acquisition Documentation Standard
✓ Module Quiz (14 questions)
06Tool-Based Analysis and Artifact Interpretation▾
  • Conceptual Workflow with Magnet AXIOM
  • Conceptual Workflow with Cellebrite UFED + Inseyets
  • Conceptual Workflow with Oxygen Forensic Detective
  • MSAB and Berla iVe Considerations
  • DatCon and CsvView Walkthrough
  • dji-log-parser for Encrypted Logs
  • Decrypting DJI FlightRecord (.txt) and v2/v3 .DAT Logs
  • AirData and Public Online Log Viewers
  • ExifTool, MediaInfo, ALEAPP for Drone Apps
  • SQLite, plist, JSON, mmkv File Review
  • Carving Deleted Flight Logs, Media, and SQLite WAL Remnants
  • Cross-Tool Validation Standard
✓ Module Quiz (17 questions). All tool references educational; not vendor certification.
07Flight Reconstruction and Corroboration▾
  • Timeline Construction Method
  • Time Zone and Clock Drift Pitfalls
  • Mapping in Google Earth Pro
  • QGIS for Advanced Mapping
  • GPS Reliability and Drift
  • Spoofing, Jamming, and Anomalies
  • Corroboration with Remote ID and CCTV
  • Corroboration with Mobile and Vehicle Data
✓ Module Quiz (12 questions)
08Reporting and Testimony▾
  • Report Structure for Drone Evidence
  • Defensible Language Standard
  • Daubert and FRE 702 Considerations
  • Direct Examination Preparation
  • Cross Examination Preparation
✓ Module Quiz (8 questions)
09Final Assessment▾
  • Final Exam Instructions
★ Final Exam (60 questions per attempt drawn from a 196-question bank, 80% pass, two retakes)  ·  Certificate of Completion (16 CPE)
Includes 16 downloadable templates: Drone Incident Response Checklist · Drone Seizure Form · LiPo Battery Safety Form · Controller and Mobile Device Evidence Form · Remote ID Observation Worksheet · Drone Evidence Source Matrix · Legal Authority Planning Sheet · Acquisition Worksheet and Hash Log · Tool Validation Log · Flight Log Analysis Worksheet · Timeline and Corroboration Matrix · Drone Forensic Report Template · Cover Letter and Scope Memo · Defensible Language Quick-Reference Card · Direct and Cross Examination Prep Sheet · Agency SOP Starter Pack.
Your Instructor

Developed by the Practitioner Who Built It

Eric L. Waldrep
Eric L. Waldrep
Director of Training — The Waldrep Company  |  U.S. State Dept. ATA Cyber Mentor  |  MCFE Certified

Eric Waldrep has been in law enforcement for 27+ years and active digital forensics for 17+ years. He has examined 200+ cases in federal and state courts with a 100% expert witness qualification rate. Selected by the U.S. State Department's Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program as a Cyber Mentor, training allied nation law enforcement in digital forensics. Every module in this course comes directly from real casework — not textbook scenarios.

MCFE Certified
State Dept. ATA Cyber Mentor
17+ years forensics
27+ years law enforcement
200+ cases
0 disqualifications
Completion

Certificate of Completion

🎓
Certificate of Completion — The Waldrep Company (16 CPE Hours)

Students who pass all 8 module quizzes (80%) and pass the 60-question final exam (80%) receive a 16 CPE-hour Certificate of Completion. Includes student name, completion date, course version, and a QR code linking to a public verification record.

Note: This is an educational Certificate of Completion. It does not constitute vendor-tool certification (e.g., Cellebrite, Magnet, MSAB, Oxygen, Berla) and does not authorize operational use of any commercial forensic product. Operational use of any tool requires that vendor's training and certification.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What access do I get after purchasing?▾
Immediate access to all 8 modules, 67 lessons, the 16 downloadable templates, and the cumulative final exam after Stripe payment confirmation. 12-month access window from your enrollment date.
Is this self-paced or a live cohort?▾
100% self-paced online. No scheduled live sessions. You enroll, get instant access, and progress at your own pace. Recommended completion window is 30 days; access window is 12 months.
Is this a vendor certification?▾
No. The course is educational. References to commercial forensic products (Cellebrite, Magnet AXIOM, Oxygen Detective, MSAB, Berla, etc.) are conceptual and drawn from publicly available vendor documentation. Operational use of any commercial tool requires that vendor's training and certification.
What standards does the course align with?▾
SWGDE 21-F-002 v1.2 (Best Practices for Drone Forensics, July 2025), 14 CFR Part 89 (Remote ID), and the broader public-source body including INTERPOL guidance, NIST CFReDS, and peer-reviewed research published in Digital Investigation and MDPI Drones / Sensors.
Can my agency purchase seats via purchase order?▾
Yes. Government purchase orders and net-30 invoicing are accepted. Agency licensing tiers (10 / 25 / unlimited seats) priced for procurement and grant cycles. Contact us at (251) 216-1164 or submit an inquiry to arrange PO-based enrollment.
POST / CPE credit?▾
16 CPE hours. The course is structured to satisfy POST continuing education requirements in most U.S. jurisdictions. POST submission packages provided for the top 10 states by purchase volume.
Is a refund available?▾
7-day satisfaction guarantee. If within 7 days of enrollment you decide the course is not for you, contact info@thewaldrepcompany.com for a full refund. See the full refund policy.

This course is provided for educational purposes only. References to commercial forensic products — including but not limited to Autopsy, FTK®, and X-Ways® — are made solely to illustrate concepts, methodologies, and publicly documented workflows that practitioners may encounter in the field.

Discussion of any specific tool is not intended as, and shall not be construed as: (i) an endorsement, recommendation, or comparative evaluation of one product over another; (ii) operational training, certification, or qualification in the use of that product; (iii) an authoritative statement of any vendor's current capabilities, features, version behavior, or pricing; or (iv) the disclosure of confidential, proprietary, or non-public information. This course is not a substitute for the vendor-provided training and certification required to operate any specific tool.

All tool references rely exclusively on information made publicly available by the respective vendors or in published literature. All trademarks, product names, and registered marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification and educational purposes only. The Waldrep Company is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of the tool vendors mentioned in this course.

Certificate Disclaimer. The Certificate of Completion issued by The Waldrep Company evidences that the holder completed the course curriculum and passed the required assessments. It is not a license, an accreditation, a government or POST certification, vendor certification, FAA airman certification, or a guarantee that any specific court will qualify the holder as an expert witness under Daubert, Kumho, Frye, or any state analogue. Whether a witness is qualified in a specific matter is a determination reserved to the trial court in that matter. See our Terms of Service for full details.

Free Field Resource · Law Enforcement

Drone Evidence First Responder Checklist

Preserve a recovered UAS, controller, paired devices, and SD media on scene without destroying evidence. Print-ready field reference.

Get the Checklist →
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Government PO · Net-30 billing · Agency licensing (10 / 25 / unlimited) · POST submission packages for top-10 states · (251) 216-1164