Chris Tonn
Owner | Founder
As the founder of Pelican Drones and co-founder of Rocket Drones, Chris Tonn brings vision, leadership, and entrepreneurial drive to the commercial drone and unmanned systems industry.
In 2014, recognizing the transformative potential of drone technology and aerial imaging, Chris launched Pelican Drones – one of the first licensed commercial drone service providers in the Florida Panhandle – with the goal of bringing professional aerial services and innovative visual solutions to the Gulf Coast.
Chris’s diverse professional background includes spearheading major event promotions such as the Memphis and Nashville Auto and Truck Show, as well as serving as Director of Sales for two national telecommunications companies. His experience in leadership, sales strategy, business development, and large-scale project execution helped establish the foundation for Pelican Drones’ growth into a multi-industry media, mapping, inspection, and content creation company serving clients across the Gulf Coast and throughout the United States.
Chris’s diverse professional background includes spearheading major event promotions such as the Memphis and Nashville Auto and Truck Show, as well as serving as Director of Sales for two national telecommunications companies. His experience in leadership, sales strategy, business development, and large-scale project execution helped establish the foundation for Pelican Drones’ growth into a multi-industry media, mapping, inspection, and content creation company serving clients across the Gulf Coast and throughout the United States.
A graduate of the University of Memphis with a degree in Marketing Sales, Chris also serves as Vice President of the Emerald Coast AUVSI chapter, where he supports the advancement of unmanned systems technology, drone education, and emerging career pathways within the industry. Outside of work, Chris has a deep appreciation for everything water-related, especially boating, and approaches both life and business with initiative, creativity, and forward momentum.
As he lives by the words of Mark Twain, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
Who we
work with
Our Team
A small, experienced team focused on delivering reliable visual production across every project
Operations Manager
FPV Drone Pilot
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