Photo above – Students from Pryor High School, Jenks High School, and Oklahoma State University participate in the UAS/AAM Symposium student panel, discussing their innovative contributions to the future of unmanned aerial systems and advanced air mobility.
The Thunderbird Drone Festival launched its 2024 event with a highly successful UAS / Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Symposium, hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics. The symposium, presented in partnership with Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE), brought together industry leaders, students, and technology enthusiasts for engaging discussions on the future of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility.
Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell kicked off the event by emphasizing Oklahoma’s strategic focus on advanced mobility. “Oklahoma’s advanced mobility strategy is set to bring $8.9 billion in economic benefits and create over 9,000 jobs by 2045,” Pinnell stated. “Our state is becoming a hub for innovation in UAS and AAM, and the benefits will be felt across every sector of our economy.”
The symposium’s keynote address was delivered by former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, who highlighted Oklahoma’s pivotal role in the future of defense-related mobility technology. “Our military installations, like Tinker Air Force Base, Fort Sill, and Camp Gruber, are central to the nation’s future in advanced air mobility and unmanned systems,” Bridenstine remarked. “Oklahoma is well-positioned to lead in this space, leveraging both its aerospace history and forward-thinking strategy in UAS technologies.”
ODAA Executive Director Grayson Ardies shared insights on the economic impact of Oklahoma’s aerospace sector. “The aviation industry in Oklahoma supports 206,000 jobs and generates $44 billion in annual economic activity. Today’s symposium and the Thunderbird Drone Festival showcase how we are driving innovation and workforce development to remain at the forefront of these emerging technologies,” Ardies said.
In addition to the keynote, the event featured presentations from Kinsley Jordan on Tulsa’s growing tech hub status and Dr. Johnny Stephens of OSU, who discussed Oklahoma’s role in preparing the next generation of aerospace professionals. The symposium also featured a student panel led by Dr. Jamey Jacob, highlighting emerging talent from Oklahoma’s next generation of aerospace innovators.
The panel included Nicholas Rowland from Pryor High School, robotics students from Jenks High School, and Aaron Patrick, a freshman at OSU majoring in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. These students represent the future of UAS and AAM technology, showcasing their innovative work and academic achievements.
The UAS / AAM Symposium, presented by the UAS Cluster Initiative, marked the beginning of the Thunderbird Drone Festival, which continues over the weekend with drone showcases, film screenings, and live demonstrations of cutting-edge UAS technology.
For more information about the Thunderbird Drone Festival, visit https://www.thunderbirddronefestival.com/
