Lewis McNairy is a Chief Excavation Officer of the FBC and was his job to support the Research team. He denied Dr. Ash's request to move a "lightweight, one- or two-man, military-grade helicopter" to the Foundation Sector piece by piece for the purpose of surveying the vast expanse of the columns by air. Lewis considered this request to take too much time, money and effort, he also highlighted the many people that he had lost in trips to the foundation.