U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has selected Mayor Wade O. Troxell, Ph.D., of the City of Fort Collins, Colorado, to serve on the Federal Aviation Administration’s Drone Advisory Committee (DAC) which convened this week for the first time under its new two-year charter in Santa Clara, California.
The DAC represents a cross-section of technology and aviation leaders, providing a forum to provide the FAA with advice on key drone integration issues by helping to identify challenges and prioritize improvements. Mayor Troxell is the only elected city official appointed to the committee; other representatives include Amazon Prime Air, Google X, CNN, Garmin, Air Traffic Controllers Association, Helicopter Association International, Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and others.
“Cities across America are leading the way by using drones to assist with fire and rescue missions, infrastructure inspections and other innovative applications. We applaud Secretary Chao and the FAA for appointing Mayor Troxell to the FAA’s Drone Advisory Committee,” said National League of Cities (NLC) President Mark Stodola, mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas. “From Memphis to San Diego to Reno, cities are working in partnership with the FAA to advance pilot projects that integrate drones into municipal operations, which makes the city perspective essential to national drone deliberations.”
Mayor Troxell has served as an elected city leader since 2015, and a Colorado State University mechanical engineering faculty member since 1985. An active member of NLC’s Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee, Mayor Troxell has led the Transportation Technology subcommittee that creates federal policy recommendations on issues like drone integration on behalf of the nation’s 19,000 cities, towns and villages.
“As city leaders, we look at new technology opportunities from many angles — our citizens, our city operations and our local businesses. We know that drones can bring tremendous benefits to our communities if we can solve some of the integration challenges together with the FAA,” said Mayor Troxell. “I look forward to sharing my perspective and engaging with the FAA and other aviation technology leaders to strike the right balance so this emerging industry takes off.”
NLC has produced several resources on drones including Cities and Drones and Cities and Innovation Economy: Perceptions of Local Leaders.
