Glen Rains received a BS in agricultural engineering from the University of Georgia in 1987 and an MS and a PhD in agricultural engineering from Virginia Tech in 1989 and 1992, respectively. After graduating, he worked in automobile safety, focusing on driver and passenger airbag testing and evaluation for 6 years in Washington, DC, and Marysville, Ohio. In 1998, Rains joined the faculty of the University of Georgia, Tifton Campus, working in precision agriculture and farm safety. He currently works in programs on agricultural and forestry sensors, intelligent and configurable robotic ground vehicles, and UAV scouting. He is a professor, professional engineer, and certified aerial analyst with the National Aerial Applicators Association and co-director of the Agrability in Georgia project, which provides assistance to farmers with disabilities.
