About Us
Meet Our
Team
Read Barnhill
Owner/SalesAs the owner of Tex-Air Drone, Read Barnhill provides industry-leading aerial intelligence through high-precision Agras Spray Drones, LiDAR, Thermal, RGB mapping, & Asset Management. He specializes in delivering actionable data for complex inspections and land analysis, ensuring every project is backed by technical excellence. Read also leverages cutting-edge drones to provide specialized solutions for our customers. His commitment to combining advanced technology with clear communication makes him a trusted partner for clients across Texas & New Mexico. I didn’t inherit momentum. I built it — from the ground up. Not with hype. Not with outside capital. Not with a marketing engine. With cold calls. Trial and error. Long days. Equipment upgrades paid for by completed jobs. Systems built one decision at a time. Tex-Air Drone didn’t begin as a polished operation. It began as a commitment: If we were going to do this, we were going to do it at a level that made us irreplaceable.
Ben Burks
Operations ManagerBen Burks is the Operations Manager at Tex-Air Drone , where he oversees daily operations, technology integration, and service execution across the company’s drone-based mapping, imaging, and application services. He is responsible for optimizing workflows, training pilots and technicians, and ensuring every project is delivered safely, efficiently, and to a high professional standard. Ben holds a B.S. in Agricultural Business & Economics with a focus in Animal Science. He brings a lifelong, hands-on agricultural background shaped by 4-H livestock showing and involvement in his family’s ranching operations, giving him firsthand insight into animal management, land stewardship, and the operational realities producers face. With extensive experience in advanced drone platforms, sensors, and data-processing workflows, Ben bridges field operations with actionable data. His expertise includes precision mapping, LiDAR, thermal and multispectral imaging, and operational logistics—allowing the company to provide accurate, reliable insights for clients across agriculture, construction, energy, and land management sectors. Ben is driven by continuous improvement and innovation, focusing on adopting new technologies and refining internal processes so clients receive dependable service, efficient turnaround times, and results they can trust.
Jon Tolleson
PilotJon Tolleson brings a wealth of agricultural expertise and is a Certified Crop Advisor, serving Tex-Air Drone as a pilot.. With 40 years of experience as a corn, sorghum, wheat, and cattle farmer in Hutchinson and Moore Counties, he possesses a wealth of experience with firsthand understanding of the farmers’ needs. Jon is also a proud graduate of Panhandle State University, holding a Bachelor of Science in Ag Business with a minor in Agronomy. Outside of his professional life, he is a dedicated family man, married with two children and two grandchildren.
Derek Clifton
PilotDerek Clifton brings a uniquely diverse, technically creative background to Tex-Air Drone, drawing from 10 years of experience across video game level design, photography, videography, photogrammetry, and 3D modeling. Formally trained at The Guildhall at SMU in Level Design and 3D Modeling, Derek blends innovative problem-solving with a sharp visual perspective to tackle complex aerial projects. Derek’s passion for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) is driven by the power of high-resolution visual data to deliver real-world insights and bottom-line savings. He strongly believes that drone technology is fundamentally transforming how modern industries operate—whether through precision mapping, infrastructure inspections, post-disaster assessments, construction tracking, or environmental monitoring. By streamlining data collection, drone solutions dramatically accelerate decision-making and uncover crucial operational efficiencies. At Tex-Air Drone, Derek leverages his technical expertise, creative eye, and data-driven mindset to deliver the highly accurate, actionable data that helps clients make ground-truth informed business decisions. He enjoys flying drones and holds his FAA 107 Remote Pilot Certification.
Proud Member Of
Tex-Air Drone is proud to be a member of multiple Chambers of Commerce and other Associations, supporting local business growth and professional services throughout Texas.
