U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao has formally announced new appointments to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Drone Advisory Committee (DAC).
Secretary Chao named Michael Chasen, chief executive officer for PrecisionHawk USA Inc., as chair of the DAC. New members appointed include Bob Brock, Director of Aviation and Unmanned Aircraft Systems for the Kansas Department of Transportation. He will join David Greene, Bureau of Aeronautics Director for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, representing state aviation agencies on the DAC.
The DAC is a broad-based, long-term federal advisory committee that provides the FAA advice on key unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) integration issues by helping to identify challenges and prioritize improvements. The committee helps to create broad support for an overall integration strategy and vision.
Members of the DAC are executives who represent a variety of UAS interests, including industry, research, academia, retail, technology and state and local government. “Innovation is one of Secretary Chao’s top priorities for the Department of Transportation. Michael and the DAC will help guide the FAA to build flexible, responsive regulatory processes that can keep up with the industry’s creativity while ensuring the highest level of safety,” said FAA Acting Administrator Daniel K. Elwell.
The DAC is chartered to have up to 35 members and today’s announcement will fill 12 vacancies. The new members in addition to Michael Chasen are listed below:
Thomas Karol, General Counsel, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies
David Silver, Vice President for Civil Aviation, Aerospace Industries Association
Joseph DePete, President, Air Line Pilots Association
Bob Brock, Director of Aviation and Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Kansas Department of Transportation
Mark Colborn, Senior Corporal, Dallas Police Department
Michael Leo, Captain, New York City Fire Department
Steve Ucci, Senior Deputy Majority Leader, Rhode Island State Assembly
Mariah Scott, President, Skyward
Lorne Cass, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, American Airlines
Michael Sinnett, Vice President, Product Development and Strategy, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Chris Anderson, Chief Executive officer, 3DR
Peter Cleveland, Vice President of Law and Policy group, Intel Corporation
