The Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) has announced the formation of its first Industry Advisory Board, a strategic move to align education, training, and industry-recognized credentials with the workforce demands of a rapidly evolving unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry. The board held its inaugural meeting on September 2, 2026, at the Commercial UAV Expo and Conference in Las Vegas, NV. This initiative comes at a critical juncture as the Federal Aviation Administration's proposed Part 108 framework aims to create a predictable pathway for routine, scalable beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. The proposal addresses not only piloting but also operating authorizations, aircraft airworthiness, separation from other aircraft, security, recordkeeping, third-party services, and organizational responsibilities. As the industry awaits final action, employers and educators face a shared question: how should the workforce prepare for operations that are more automated, more distributed, and more closely integrated with the National Airspace System?
According to Josh Olds, President and CEO of USI, the board is designed to be hands-on. "The strongest training programs are built with the people responsible for putting technology to work safely. This board is not ceremonial. We are asking these leaders to examine our assumptions, challenge our priorities and help us keep education aligned with what employers and operators will actually need as the industry moves into its next phase," Olds said. The board will provide strategic insight, practical guidance, and candid feedback as USI evaluates existing programs and develops new pathways for students, educators, operators, and employers. Members will be tasked with challenging assumptions, identifying emerging skills and roles, and ensuring that learning outcomes remain connected to real-world operating environments.
The timing is significant because Part 108, if finalized broadly as proposed, could accelerate the transition from individual flights to repeatable programs that use fleets, remote operations, automation, and UAS Traffic Management services. That transition will require professionals who can operate within safety management systems, maintain aircraft and systems, coordinate missions, manage data, assess risk, and lead accountable programs. These needs reach beyond commercial operators. High schools and colleges need clearer signals about the knowledge and capabilities employers will value. Companies need reliable ways to identify and develop qualified talent. Individuals need pathways that connect learning to credible career opportunities. The advisory board will help USI interpret those signals and translate them into practical education and workforce-development decisions.
The board's charge includes advising USI in four primary areas: validating curriculum against current operating practice; identifying emerging job roles and skill gaps; strengthening the connection among education, credentials, and employer expectations; and maintaining an aviation-grade focus on safety as technology and regulation change. USI will use the board's feedback to evaluate where programs should evolve, where new learning pathways may be needed, and where industry expectations are still unsettled. The board will serve in an advisory capacity; USI will remain responsible for curriculum, certification, and program decisions.
The inaugural board members bring a wealth of experience from across the UAS ecosystem. They include Andrew Spiegel, Senior Vice President and Head of Unmanned Aircraft Underwriting at United States Aircraft Insurance Group (USAIG); Calvin Rieb, Senior Director and Global Remotely Operated Systems Leader at Cargill; Drew Talley, Head of Flight Operations at Skyways; Jim Ogletree, Chief Pilot at Amazon Prime Air; Joseph Keck, Aviation Safety and Drone Manager at MGM Resorts International; Kyle Miller, Head of Infrastructure Markets at Censys Technologies; Matt Gulsvig, technology innovator and UAS aviation leader who pioneered drones at American Tower; Nate Robie, who leads unmanned systems strategy and operations at Dominion Energy; Rita Castonguay-Hunt, pilot and program director specializing in crewed and uncrewed aviation operations; Toni Drummond, Founder and Managing Director of Future Flight Global; Will Dawson, Founder of the Agricultural Drone Initiative; and Will Wheeler, Principal, UAS for Southern Company.
For more information about USI's Advisory Board, visit https://www.flyusi.org/about/advisory-board. To learn more about USI, visit www.flyusi.org.
