As regulations and technology change, the need for advocacy in the drone industry has been greater than ever. AUVSI is expanding its department to meet this need.
by DRONELIFE author Ian M. Crosby
Today, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the leading non-profit organization dedicated to advancing unmanned systems and robotics, announced the addition of several new members to its advocacy group. These new members will expand the association’s expertise in all areas and strengthen its ability to advocate for the industry at all levels of government.
Max Rosen joins the AUVSI team as Manager of Government Affairs. Rosen brought bipartisan and bicameral experience and expertise in federal transportation and technology policy, most recently serving as Vice President at Elevate Government Affairs, where he served as an advisor to AUVSI. Rosen previously served on the staffs of the US House of Representatives, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Aviation Subcommittee, where he worked on unmanned systems and other aviation policies.
Scott Shtofman joins AUSVI as the organization’s new Manager of Grassroots Advocacy & Chapter Engagement. A licensed attorney and certified Part-107 remote pilot, Shtofman brings experience supporting drone operations and policies, as well as his perspective as a former member of the AUVSI Air Advocacy Committee and Secretary of the AUVSI Lone Star Chapter. He will help expand AUVSI’s reach at the state and local government levels and expand the association’s grassroots network.
Also on board is Anna Dietrich, who joins the AUSVI team as Policy Advisor to advise on drone and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) policy issues, with a focus on Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) and autonomous operations. AMD Consulting founder Dietrich is an industry-recognized leader in policy, certification and government relations for AAM and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. As one of the original co-founders of AAM company Terrafugia, she brings industry experience from multiple senior-level positions advising private and public sector executives and being a key thought leader in the industry.
“The core of AUVSI’s mission is to promote good public policy at the local, state, tribal, federal and international levels, which is essential for fostering a viable ecosystem for the unmanned systems industry and enabling growth in the commercial , civil and defense markets,” said Michael Robbins, AUVSI Executive Vice President of Government & Public Affairs. “By expanding our ability to shape and respond to policymaking at all levels of government, AUVSI is investing in the future of the industry at a critical moment when economic, societal and geopolitical momentum and technological advances are converging.”
AUVSI’s commitment to expanding its advocacy capacity will enable the association to advance its work on critical issues across fields and sectors. The Air sector will have an increased focus on developing and promoting BVLOS policy and creating a roadmap towards trusted commercial and defense autonomy. Defense acquisition reform for air, ground and naval unmanned systems remains a key strategic goal for AUVSI, which is working with Department of Defense and U.S. Navy stakeholders to work towards significant improvements to equip combatants with new technologies. Recently, the organization also established an Automated Movements of Goods working group focused on policy-enabling automated cargo handling, with a focus on improved supply chain logistics.
Read more about advocacy for the AUVSI drone industry: on Avigation Easements, Type Certification and new rules for Remote ID and Flight Over People.
Ian attended Dominican University of California where he received a BA in English in 2019. With a lifelong passion for writing and storytelling, and a keen interest in technology, he now contributes to DroneLife as a staff writer.
Miriam McNabb is Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a marketplace for professional drone services, and is a fascinated observer of the burgeoning drone industry and drone regulatory environment. Miriam has authored over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam graduated from the University of Chicago and has over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for emerging technologies.
For advice or writing in the drone industry email Miriam.
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