Founder
Joseph Riedel
C-UAS
Advisory
Louisiana's First Dedicated Counter-UAS Readiness Advisory
Meridian Defense helps law enforcement agencies, public safety organizations, and critical infrastructure operators build lawful, effective counter-UAS capability through training, planning, policy development, and operational readiness support.
Why Meridian Defense Exists
New counter-UAS authorities create an unprecedented opportunity for state and local agencies to protect public gatherings, critical infrastructure, and public safety operations from emerging drone threats.
Authority alone does not create capability.
Agencies need trained personnel, operational procedures, risk-managment frameworks, and practical experience to safely and lawfully conduct counter-UAS operations.
Meridian Defense was founded to close that gap.
Founder Joseph Riedel combines operational air defense experience, federal-site drone operations, acquisition support, and curriculum development to help agencies move from policy to operational capability.
As a former U.S. Army Air Defense Officer, Joseph served across Patriot, Avenger, Counter-Rocket Artillery Mortar, and Army AI3 programs while supporting integrated air and missile defense operations. He later worked alongside government requirements and acquisition teams supporting emerging defense capabilities.
After military service, Joseph built and operated a successful Louisiana-based services company that executed federal contracts and conducted lawful drone operations on secured government facilities. That experience reinforced a critical lesson:
Operational success depends on training, planning, and disciplined execution—not simply having authority or equipment.
Meridian Defense brings that perspective to agencies seeking practical, scalable counter-UAS readiness.
Counter-UAS Training
Operator training, tabletop exercises, scenario-based instruction, Red Force Drone Demos, and readiness evaluations.
Policy & SOP Development
Operational procedures, legal considerations, escalation frameworks, and agency governance.
Strategic Advisory
Program planning, capability assessments, grant alignment, and long-term force development.
Meridian Defense
Louisiana-based counter-UAS readiness for agencies, facilities, and operators