Precision Drone Services for North Carolina

MW AIRLIFT™ delivers fast, FAA-certified drone inspection and IoT cold-chain monitoring for North Carolina’s contractors, property managers, businesses, and clinics — and is building a compliant, sequenced path into federal and emergency-management work as the company grows.

Our Vision & Mission

Vision

"To be the most trusted partner in drone logistics, inspection, and IoT monitoring — connecting communities and supporting critical missions, starting in North Carolina and scaling across the Southeast."

Mission

MW AIRLIFT™ connects communities and supports missions — delivering precision drone logistics, aerial inspection, and IoT monitoring to the businesses, healthcare providers, and government agencies we serve, with the operational infrastructure to scale across new markets.

Our Story

Founded in 2019, M.W. Energy Logistics LLC has rebranded and relaunched as MW AIRLIFT™ — a drone logistics and IoT monitoring company built for work where precision and compliance matter most. The premise has been the same since day one: the right information, captured quickly and acted on in time, prevents costly failures.

A roofing contractor who needs storm damage documented before the adjuster arrives. A property manager tracking the condition of buildings across a portfolio. A rural clinic whose vaccine refrigerator can fail overnight. These are everyday realities for businesses and organizations across North Carolina — and each comes down to seeing clearly and responding in time.

MW AIRLIFT™ leads with commercial drone inspection — fast, adjuster-ready roof, storm, and property documentation for contractors, property managers, and insurance professionals. It is the majority of the company's revenue and is delivered today with assets MW AIRLIFT™ already owns. Alongside it, IoT cold-chain monitoring gives clinics and pharmacies real-time temperature visibility and VFC-ready compliance at a price they can sustain. That earned revenue funds a deliberate, sequenced expansion into federal and emergency-management logistics, supported by a certification roadmap — FAA Part 107, an NDAA-compliant fleet (planned), SBA 8(a) (in preparation), and NC HUB (applicant) — that opens contracting doors most competitors cannot.

MW AIRLIFT™ serves the Triangle and communities across North Carolina. A partnership in development with Elizabeth City State University — North Carolina's only 4-year FAA UAS degree program — strengthens the company's operator pipeline. Growth is funded primarily by earned revenue, grants, and operating cash flow rather than equity dilution. Aligned capital partners and investor inquiries are welcomed at [email protected].

Leadership Team

MW AIRLIFT™ is founded and led by Warren Gonsalves, with advisory leadership chaired by Malcolm Robinson. Contact [email protected] for a direct introduction.

Warren Gonsalves, Founder & CEO of MW AIRLIFT
Founder & CEO

Warren Gonsalves

Warren Gonsalves is the Founder & CEO of MW AIRLIFT™ (M.W. Energy Logistics LLC), a North Carolina drone company delivering commercial inspection, last-mile logistics, and IoT monitoring grounded in accurate, accountable data. He spent more than fifteen years leading business intelligence and data-governance transformation across Fortune 500 leaders in global networking, data infrastructure, and biopharmaceuticals.

An FAA Part 107–certified pilot, Warren founded MW AIRLIFT™ as the drone industry matured — regulation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and aviation technology opening new possibilities in unmanned flight. He recognized that the same discipline could bring those capabilities to the communities that stand to gain the most, including rural North Carolina.

His commitment to aviation extends into the community as well, where he serves as President of the Heart of Carolina Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., continuing their legacy, advancing STEM mentorship, and inspiring the next generation of aviators. That same leadership has earned recognition beyond the company — he is a HITEC Emerging Executive Fellow and a recipient of a City of Raleigh Excellence Award (2025).

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Malcolm Robinson, Chairman of the Advisory Board of MW AIRLIFT
Chairman, Advisory Board

Malcolm Robinson

Malcolm Robinson (Ret.) serves as Chairman of the Advisory Board of MW AIRLIFT™ (M.W. Energy Logistics LLC) — a company that carries his initial in its name and his discipline in its operations. He brings more than four decades of supply chain, materials management, and logistics leadership across the international energy sector, the very discipline on which the company was built.

The core of that career was spent with Texaco and Chevron, in senior materials and supply chain roles on some of the energy industry’s largest capital projects — culminating at Angola LNG, a multibillion-dollar megaproject, where he directed materials operations from construction through commissioning as the single point of contact for all project supply chain matters.

That record is the foundation of MW AIRLIFT™. Getting critical assets where they are needed — on time, accounted for, under real pressure in hard places — is the same problem the company now solves with technology, from drone logistics and inspection to IoT cold-chain monitoring and a disciplined, sequenced path into federal work. Multilingual in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French, he brings a steady, proven hand to the company’s next chapter.

Advisory Board · Forming

Three Specialist Seats Open

MW AIRLIFT™ is building a specialist advisory board to guide its next phase of growth. Three seats are open — compensated through standard FAST advisor equity agreements vesting over two years — for advisors with expertise in:

  • Federal contracting and 8(a) program operations
  • ECSU UAS faculty or AeroX drone regulatory experience
  • Rural healthcare or NC DHHS leadership

Interested? Contact [email protected].

Core Values

Compliance First

Every shipment, sensor, and contract clears NDAA, GDP, FAA, and HIPAA requirements before execution. Compliance is a competitive moat, not a checkbox. We have never and will never compromise it for speed.

Last-Mile Bias

We solve problems where supply chains break down — rural roads, disaster zones, the final hour of a temperature-sensitive delivery. Our technology exists to serve the places others find inconvenient.

Documented Performance

Every job produces a record. We treat past performance as our most valuable asset — because it is what earns the next referral, the next contract, and the next client, commercial and government alike.

Long-Term Over Short-Term

We build for durable client relationships and a reputation that compounds — sometimes accepting a lower margin today to earn the trust and track record that win the next decade of work.

Partner-Powered Growth

We grow through alliances — ECSU, NCMBC, NC SBTDC, AeroX, and prime contractors — rather than building every capability in-house. Our model is designed to leverage networks, not duplicate them.

Minority Excellence

We compete on quality, not category. Our minority-owned status opens doors. Our delivery record keeps them open. We are committed to creating economic opportunity for the communities we serve.

Certifications & Compliance

A certification stack that took years to build and cannot be replicated quickly by new entrants

Federal

SBA 8(a) — In Preparation

The SBA 8(a) Business Development Program provides a 9-year certification window once granted. MW AIRLIFT™'s application is in process, with a multi-month SBA processing horizon (the program moved to a more selective, fact-specific standard in 2026).

State

NC HUB Applicant

North Carolina Historically Underutilized Business certification. Filed May 14, 2026. Expected certification end of June 2026. Provides bid preference on qualifying NC state contracts once certified.

Aviation

FAA Part 107 — Certified

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Commercial drone operations. $1M liability insurance. Active LAANC authorization through Aloft (Air Control).

Federal Defense

NDAA Section 848 — Compliant Fleet Planned

All federal operations use NDAA-compliant aircraft — Parrot ANAFI USA GOV (primary) and Skydio X10. Strict dual-fleet separation from commercial DJI fleet. Annual compliance audits documented.

Healthcare

HIPAA BAA Capable

Business Associate Agreement execution available for all healthcare clients. Secure handling of Protected Health Information throughout cold-chain delivery, IoT data collection, and cloud storage. HIPAA training annual.

Procurement

SAM.gov Active — UEI: UDL1T5XAFXC6 · CAGE: 20J80

Active System for Award Management registration with NAICS codes covering nonscheduled air transport (481219, primary), transportation support (488999), warehousing (493110), and computer/IoT services (541519). Updated annually.

Strategic Partnerships

🎓 ECSU — HBCU Partnership

Elizabeth City State University: North Carolina's only 4-year FAA UAS degree program. Will provide Part 107-certified operators, statewide COA, UAS Research Lab access, and HBCU federal grant co-applicant status once the partnership is active. MOU in progress — target signed Q3 2026.

Value: Operator pipeline, research credibility, grant access, statewide flight authorization

🏛️ NC Military Business Center (NCMBC)

Minority Business Development Agency — free contract matchmaking, capital sourcing, federal opportunity identification, and capability statement reviews. Monthly engagement.

Value: Federal contract matchmaking and opportunity identification

📊 NC SBTDC

Small Business and Technology Development Center — free grant writing, financial analysis, market research, and SBA 8(a) application support. Weekly engagement during active grant cycles.

Value: Grant quality review, financial modeling, zero cost

🚁 AeroX Technologies

$5M NC General Assembly-funded UAS traffic management partner. Positions MW AIRLIFT™ for FY2027 C-UAS deployment funding when NC enters eligibility. Quarterly engagement.

Value: UAS traffic management infrastructure, FY2027 C-UAS positioning

🏥 Rural Health Networks

Engagement with North Carolina's rural-health ecosystem, including county health departments, the NC Office of Rural Health, and FQHC networks across the state.

Value: Client referrals, VFC program intelligence, grant credibility

🚨 County Emergency Operations Centers

Developing relationships with county Emergency Operations Centers across North Carolina for disaster medical logistics retainers and FEMA-eligible emergency response.

Value: Recurring government revenue, FEMA EMPG access, past performance

About MW AIRLIFT™ FAQs

Common Questions About Our Company

Background on the founding, leadership, partnerships, and strategic direction of MW AIRLIFT™.

When was MW AIRLIFT™ founded?

M.W. Energy Logistics LLC, doing business as MW AIRLIFT™, was founded in Raleigh, North Carolina in 2019. The company was built to bring precision drone inspection and IoT monitoring to North Carolina's businesses and clinics, and to serve federal, state, and local agencies with compliant drone services.

Who owns and operates MW AIRLIFT™?

MW AIRLIFT™ is a privately-held, minority-owned small business operating under M.W. Energy Logistics LLC. The company is positioning for SBA 8(a) certification, an NC HUB applicant (application filed May 14, 2026), and DBE pursuit currently paused (USDOT interim final rule) — confirming both 51%+ minority ownership and the operational control required by each program. Individual leadership profiles are being published. For direct introduction to the founding team, contact [email protected].

What is the MW AIRLIFT™ partnership with Elizabeth City State University (ECSU)?

Elizabeth City State University is North Carolina's only 4-year FAA-recognized UAS degree program. The MW AIRLIFT™–ECSU partnership, currently in development, is designed to provide four advantages:

  • A steady pipeline of FAA Part 107-certified student operators eligible for paid internships and W2 conversion
  • Indirect access to ECSU's statewide Certificate of Authorization for joint research flight operations
  • Use of the UAS Research and Design Lab and (Summer 2027) the new 4,900 sq ft indoor drone facility
  • Co-applicant credibility on HBCU-set-aside federal grants and NSF/DOT research grants

MOU target: signed Q3 2026.

How is MW AIRLIFT™ different from national drone delivery companies like Wing, Flytrex, or Zipline?

Three structural differences:

  • NDAA compliance: MW AIRLIFT™ is NDAA-compliant and can legally serve federally-funded county and state agencies under the American Security Drone Act — Wing, Flytrex, and Zipline cannot.
  • Certification stack: MW AIRLIFT™ is pursuing SBA 8(a) certification and has filed its NC HUB application — credentials that, once active, unlock sole-source federal contracts and the 10% NC state bid preference not available to national operators.
  • Market focus: MW AIRLIFT™ is purpose-built for rural healthcare cold-chain in northeastern North Carolina — a underserved rural market that national operators are not structured to serve.
Does MW AIRLIFT™ have an advisory board?

MW AIRLIFT™’s Advisory Board is chaired by Malcolm Robinson, a supply chain and logistics leader with more than four decades in the international energy sector, and is forming with three specialist seats open — compensated through standard FAST advisor equity agreements vesting over two years — with expertise in:

  • Federal contracting and 8(a) program operations
  • ECSU UAS faculty or AeroX drone regulatory experience
  • Rural healthcare or NC DHHS leadership

Advisor seats are open to qualified candidates. Inquiries at [email protected].

What is MW AIRLIFT™'s vision and mission?

Vision: To be the most trusted partner in drone logistics, inspection, and IoT monitoring — connecting communities and supporting critical missions, starting in North Carolina and scaling across the Southeast.

Mission: MW AIRLIFT™ connects communities and supports missions — delivering precision drone logistics, aerial inspection, and IoT monitoring to the businesses, healthcare providers, and government agencies we serve, with the operational infrastructure to scale across new markets.

How long does an SBA 8(a) certification last?

The SBA 8(a) Business Development Program is a 9-year certification window — 4 years of developmental stage and 5 years of transitional stage. Once certified, the SBA 8(a) program provides a 9-year window of federal contracting advantages. MW AIRLIFT™ is positioning for the program and will file its application once eligibility criteria are met.

What are MW AIRLIFT™'s core values?

Six core values guide every MW AIRLIFT™ decision:

  • Compliance First — every shipment, sensor, and contract clears NDAA, GDP, FAA, and HIPAA before execution
  • Last-Mile Bias — we solve problems where supply chains break down
  • Documented Performance — every job produces a record because past performance unlocks the next contract
  • Mission Over Short-Term Margin — we accept lower margins on federally-subsidized service to underserved communities
  • Partner-Powered Growth — we grow through alliances rather than building everything in-house
  • Minority Excellence — we compete on quality. Our minority-owned status opens doors. Our delivery keeps them open.
Is MW AIRLIFT™ seeking investors?

MW AIRLIFT™ is actively engaging mission-aligned capital partners to accelerate growth across North Carolina — funded primarily by grants, earned revenue, and operating cash flow rather than equity dilution. The company's financial model targets profitable, organically funded operation with three discrete investor return waypoints at Year 3, Year 5, and Year 7. Investor inquiries are welcomed at [email protected].

What strategic partnerships does MW AIRLIFT™ maintain?

MW AIRLIFT™'s strategic partnerships include:

  • Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) — HBCU UAS pipeline and statewide flight authorization
  • NC Military Business Center (NCMBC) — federal contract matchmaking
  • NC SBTDC — grant writing and SBA 8(a) application support
  • AeroX Technologies — UAS traffic management and FY2027 C-UAS positioning
  • Rural health networks across northeastern NC for clinic IoT client referrals
  • County Emergency Operations Centers across North Carolina (developing)

Join Us in Making an Impact

Whether you're a potential client, strategic partner, investor, or future team member — we welcome the conversation.

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