Mitch Cunico’s interest in aviation began in Grand County. It would eventually bring him around the world and back again.

“I’ve always been around aviation, even when I was in high school,” he said.

That passion drove his career, leading him to pursue a position in the United States Navy specializing in naval aviation.

After six years in the Navy working on planes in places like San Diego and Japan, Cunico left to puruse an engineering job. When that fell through, he ultimately discovered he could combine his love of engineering and aviation and bring it all back to the place he grew up.

That, he said, is how Cunicaero, a veteran-owned drone services company based in Grand County, got its start.

“When I was overseas, I saw drones being used a lot,” Cunico said.

He saw a potential market for thermal imaging drones in Grand County, and thought the community could benefit from the technological advances So, he bought his own equipment and began contracting with local organizations for projects. From aerial shots of construction sites to power line inspections, solar farm maintenance and events coverage, Cunico does it all.

The usefulness of drones, he said, is that they can pinpoint highly specific locations with ease and efficiency. The key technology is the infrared camera, which converts heat energy into a visible image, allowing users to see temperature differences that are invisible to the naked eye.

Advanced imaging lends itself to a variety of purposes. Currently, Cunico is spearheading several projects that have never been done in Grand County, as well as work across the state mapping projects for large solar farms. By flying the drones overhead, he can quickly see the precise location of any faulty panels on the property.

In addition to mapping and imaging projects, Cunico hopes to bring drone innovation to the agriculture industry. When it comes to spraying, seeding and fertilizing crops, drones have the advantage of speed and the capacity to get things done much faster than traditional methods, he said.

“That’s the industry we’re getting into next year: to be able to spray, fertilize, and seed,” he said.

Cunico’s business centers around the Grand County community, where he sees a critical need for these high-tech improvements. Founded in 2025, Cunicaero has already seen a significant response from the community and sparked partnerships with local farms and fire departments.

From light detection and ranging to land surveying and topographical mapping, Cunico makes drone services accessible for locals that typically have to outsource work from out-of-state.

“I’m just trying to bring the industry into Grand County, because nobody’s doing it,” he said.

Though the newly-formed company is still growing, Cunico said his roots in aviation and military service continue to shape his mission, by providing an understanding of thermal imaging and advanced drone operations.

“My veteran background has helped me do what I’m doing,” he said. His military education “I just kind of put all that knowledge together with some of my engineering skills and business skills to create this.”

Learn more at Cunicaero.com.