Michael Robbins Appointed as President and CEO of Drone Advocacy Group Following Unanimous Board Vote
The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) has named Michael Robbins as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, following a unanimous decision by the Board of Directors. This announcement marks a significant leadership transition at AUVSI, an international advocacy organization in the uncrewed systems and autonomy sector.
William Irby, Chair of the Board and President of AgEagle Aerial Systems, praised Robbins’s appointment, stating, “Michael has proven himself as an effective advocate and leader in the industry. With his extensive background in government, military, and industry sectors, he was the natural choice for AUVSI’s President and CEO. Michael has dedicated years to cultivating strong relationships with our members, government stakeholders, and the broader uncrewed systems community. The Board is eager to collaborate with him to further AUVSI’s strategic goals and enhance our industry’s reputation and value.”
Robbins brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Since joining AUVSI in 2020, he has spearheaded advocacy, communications, and cybersecurity initiatives as the Chief Advocacy Officer. His previous roles include co-founding the business consulting firm Intrepid, where AUVSI was a client, and serving as its COO. His extensive experience also encompasses a tenure as Managing Director of Government and Public Affairs at the Air Line Pilot Association, International (ALPA), and over a decade of service on Capitol Hill as Chief of Staff to the late U.S. Congressman John Dingell.
On accepting his new position, Robbins expressed his vision for the organization, “This is a critical time for the uncrewed systems and autonomy industry, across both commercial and defense sectors. AUVSI must lead the charge for our growing membership through our core pillars of advocacy, education, and connection building. I am excited to lead this fantastic team to advance initiatives that tackle our community’s challenges, shape the industry’s future, and deliver tangible results for our members.”
Robbins’s current roles include co-chair of the Federal Aviation Administration’s UAS Detection and Mitigation Aviation Rulemaking Committee and memberships on several influential advisory boards, including the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Aerospace Supply Chain Resiliency Task Force and the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency’s Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council sUAS Security Working Group.
The previous President and CEO Brian Wynne led the organization from 2015 – 2024.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
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