Good morning, everybody. It’s nice to be right here with all of you in Houston within the nice state of Texas, a state main the best way within the deployment of uncrewed and autonomous automobiles. Thanks for becoming a member of us as XPONENTIAL, the world’s main occasion for the autonomy trade that AUVSI is thrilled to ship to you with our companions at Messe Düsseldorf North America.
Throughout this room and the XPO corridor are 7,000 alternatives to attach with trade friends.
We’re thrilled to have you ever with us and know it will likely be an awesome week for you, your groups, and your prospects
As I start my second 12 months main AUVSI, I’m excited to share what’s forward.
However first, I need to acknowledge the unbelievable AUVSI crew – devoted, mission-driven professionals on workers, together with our large Board of Administrators, chapter leaders, Advocacy committee leaders, XPO programming committee and different volunteers.
Thanks all for the work you do every single day to advance this trade. It’s an honor to be a part of this crew.
Final 12 months, in San Diego, I talked about how my cost to the AUVSI crew is to search out factors of friction and transfer to them to resolve issues for our members and the trade.
And when you’ve interacted with the AUVSI crew over the previous 12 months, you’ve most likely heard that phrase – transferring to factors of friction – greater than as soon as. It’s as a result of it drives the whole lot we do.
Each development on this trade has required laborious conversations, grit, and a dedication to collaboration. Brick by brick, collectively, we’re constructing this trade.
We don’t retreat when challenges come up; we face them head-on.
In the present day, I need to discuss a number of the challenges our trade faces, and the alternatives that come together with these challenges – and extra importantly, how AUVSI is main the best way to form the longer term.
As all of you recognize, we’re working in an surroundings of uncertainty and instability. Navigating shifting tariffs, bureaucratic regulatory delays, DOGE, and constrained capital markets – it’s requiring quite a bit from all of us.
In response, AUVSI has been sharing extra actual time and actionable intelligence with our members than at any time in our 53-year historical past – this distinctive second has required extra of us, the place the energy of our crew and transparency in our communication have been vital.
Understanding the capital constraints a lot of you face, we’re additionally dedicated to raised join our members with the funding group and educate traders group in regards to the alternatives that exist inside this trade.
AUVSI is launching a brand new trade intelligence effort to assist bridge the hole between our trade and the capital group. We have now additionally invited the funding group into XPO, and there are a selection of VCs right here this week, collaborating in panels and strolling the present flooring to see your expertise on show.
That very same dedication to our members is entrance and middle as we have interaction with the brand new Congress and the Trump Administration, guaranteeing your priorities are mirrored in latest Government Orders and laws. Speedy-fire government orders, a really energetic Congress, and a busy spring session on the state stage the place we’ve been placing numbers on the boards with our Drone and AAM Ready mannequin legislations. We’re additionally working carefully with the White Home, DOT, and the FAA on enabling laws.
AUVSI wrote the roadmap to autonomy, and now we’re laborious at work executing to convey the plan to actuality.
To completely unlock the advantages of autonomy, coverage momentum should be matched by technical progress and regulatory modernization. Plane certification processes should be streamlined and trade experience leveraged, and air visitors management applied sciences should be modernized to make the most of new software-defined instruments to complement and increase the FAA workforce and make radar knowledge obtainable to extra customers. Common digital conspicuity for legacy plane should be a nationwide precedence to enhance airspace security and assist allow extra autonomous operations.
BVLOS is vital to unlocking the complete potential of the drone trade, and whereas waivers and exemptions are being issued, attending to an operational BVLOS rule has felt a bit like Sisyphus eternally pushing the rock up the hill.
We’re going get there, however it’s going to require extra laborious work. Extra grit.
It was nice to see the FAA and DOT transfer the draft rule to the White Home Workplace of Administration and Funds final week, the place it’ll endure overview. Once more. The lengthy awaited 2209 rule – effectively, it seems we’re ready somewhat longer, however once more, good to see the draft rule transfer ahead with BVLOS final week to OMB.
Like with the 2 draft guidelines transferring to the OMB collectively, more and more, drone safety and enabling laws are being carefully tied collectively. Accordingly, UAS Detection and Mitigation authorities should be up to date and expanded. The final replace was in 2018 – an unacceptable timeframe for a quickly remodeling panorama.
Distant ID compliance is beneath 50%. Houston, we’ve got an issue. Clearly, some issues want to alter.
AUVSI is engaged on every of those key points shaping outcomes that can strengthen our trade. However once more, there’s lots of work forward. The surroundings is difficult. And we’d like you with us.
You’ll hear extra about these key challenges and alternatives proper right here tomorrow morning from FAA performing Administrator Chris Rocheleau. And we’ll proceed this dialog instantly with policymakers and regulators on the Drone & AAM Coverage Symposium in July in Washington, DC at Nationals Park. It’ll be nice enjoyable.
AUVSI continues to push the DOT & FAA, DHS, Congress, and the broader Administration to ship the insurance policies and frameworks that can enable protected, scalable operations to take root in all domains – air, floor, and maritime. And we’re laborious at work working with the White Home on extra government actions associated to enabling laws for drone operations, increasing counter UAS authorities, and reindustrializing the availability chain.
With out regulatory progress, innovation is being unnecessarily slowed down as different nations race forward. With regulatory progress, we’ll unlock huge financial, societal, and public security advantages.
As you recognize, uncrewed methods are saving lives immediately. I used to be honored to inform that story to Congress final 12 months earlier than two completely different Congressional committees, constructing belief in our trade. And shout out to our pal Sgt. Dooley with Florida Freeway Patrol who’s testifying earlier than the U.S. Senate proper now to assist construct belief. He’s flying right here tonight to be at XPO tomorrow, so be sure you give him some love if you see him.
These alternatives are so necessary as a result of with out clear communication and constant efficiency, belief may be fragile. Final December, the media and social media surroundings helpfully reminded us of that when “drones” over New Jersey grew to become a high trending story. The frenzy not solely uncovered the gaps in our nation’s low altitude airspace consciousness but in addition showcased that public belief can evaporate shortly within the face of a disaster – actual, imagined, misidentified, or contrived.
That’s why AUVSI, and our companions like Dr. Will Austin at Warren County Group Faculty in New Jersey, are laborious at work elevating the tales of accountable, protected, forward-leaning operators. We’re main conversations with communities, policymakers, and the general public to indicate how this expertise enhances, reasonably than threatens, their each day lives.
We’re additionally telling the story of job alternative and rising the longer term workforce. That is additionally important for public belief, as some individuals mistakenly assume extra autonomy equals much less jobs. Not true. The truth is, autonomous methods increase productiveness, open new industries, and permit employees to give attention to higher-value, extra rewarding duties as an alternative of repetitive or harmful ones.
AUVSI can also be a agency believer {that a} well-trained workforce is required to construct and keep the general public’s belief. That’s the reason we’ve got lengthy overseen the drone pilot coaching program, Trusted Operator, and this 12 months launched our coaching effort with maritime operators.
To remain forward, we should pair public belief with readiness – guaranteeing the workforce just isn’t solely knowledgeable however geared up to steer on this new period of autonomy. Let there be little doubt, we’re in a brand new period.
The robotics race is underway, and America can not afford to fall behind. America stands at a pivotal second the place management in superior robotics, autonomy, and embodied AI will outline our financial energy, nationwide safety, and international competitiveness. That’s the reason AUVSI will lead the trouble to forge a daring nationwide robotics technique – uniting authorities, trade, academia, traders, and innovators to make sure the US wins the combat for financial management, technological dominance, and nationwide safety.
We might be launching our marketing campaign on this entrance quickly, and we’re excited to have a lot of you on the desk with us already, forging this plan for motion.
One other main situation going through our trade immediately: provide chain resiliency. The Folks’s Republic of China’s restrictions on uncommon earth parts are impacting each section of the U.S. expertise trade, and focused sanctions on U.S. drone and autonomy corporations must be a wake-up name for everybody on this room. These aren’t simply geopolitical headlines – they’ve direct penalties on our means to construct and scale the uncrewed methods our economic system and nationwide safety rely upon.
A few of you could select to not hear this. But it surely must be mentioned. Too many on this trade are staying silent, turning a blind eye, or – extra troubling – aligning with applied sciences developed by our adversaries reasonably than supporting innovation inside democratic nations.
To these making that alternative, perceive that the trade is transferring on. The longer term belongs to those that stand for accountable innovation, strategic alignment, and nationwide safety. Those that don’t will discover themselves more and more irrelevant. There is no such thing as a ambiguity right here. Counting on adversarial nations for vital sources and applied sciences isn’t just short-sighted, it’s harmful. Harmful each to nationwide safety and to your organizations.
The PRC routinely makes use of financial techniques to undermine U.S. trade and that of our allies, from flooding markets with backed merchandise to sanctioning U.S. corporations and stealing mental property. Halting uncommon earth exports is the most recent transfer, threatening U.S. financial stability, protection readiness, and demanding sectors like aerospace and autonomy.
At AUVSI, we’re not simply elevating alarms. We’re providing options. We’ve launched working teams centered on battery standardization and different key parts – together with one right here at XPO. We’re internet hosting trade roundtables with the DoD on industrial base capability centered on motors, batteries, and provide chain resiliency. We’re constructing out vital sources like our Uncrewed Techniques & Robotics Database to trace parts and assist establish vulnerabilities earlier than they develop into crises.
We’re working every single day to make sure that American producers, and people of our allies, can entry the supplies and parts they want with out counting on adversarial sources. The problem isn’t nearly components – it’s about manufacturing. We should make intentional investments and execute upon a broader industrial coverage agenda to make sure that we will construct, and construct at scale.
America must reindustrialize and increase its industrial base. We have to increase manufacturing, however in new ways in which play to our strengths, as an alternative of merely attempting to convey again outdated methods, or replicating what different nations are doing.
And trade wants manufacturing incentives to spur that reindustrialization and provide constraints for these dishonest the principles. We should finish bureaucratic gridlocks to enabling laws to permit the trade to develop and scale. We have to make investments sooner or later workforce. We should improve partnerships with allied nations that may provide extra resilient and safe provide chains and assist us collectively scale manufacturing.
AUVSI and our members are working with the White Home and Congress to leverage industrial coverage instruments just like the Protection Manufacturing Act, superior market commitments, manufacturing tax incentives, allowing reform, and enhancing international partnerships. It is a significant industrial coverage agenda. All of that is attainable and inside attain.
Whereas strengthening home and allied manufacturing capabilities is crucial to countering the financial aggression being exerted by our adversaries and profitable the longer term, it’s just one battlefield.
As we’ve got repeatedly emphasised, we’re seeing higher persistence and complicated cyber threats to our vital infrastructure, telecommunications and our transportation methods. Photo voltaic Winds. Volt Hurricane. Salt Hurricane. Backdoors deliberately programmed into software program and rogue communication units in {hardware}. That risk has not gone away. The truth is, it has grown. Due to this fact, cybersecurity stays a key focus of our work.
That’s why AUVSI continues to drive Inexperienced UAS and work with DIU on reforms to Blue UAS to make sure trusted, safe expertise is on the middle of each our protection and business ecosystems. That’s the reason we’re launching our Trusted UGV program for cybersecurity and provide chain transparency right here at XPONENTIAL.
At XPO ‘24 final 12 months, we introduced a partnership with DIU to share data between Blue and Inexperienced UAS frameworks. I’m proud to report that this collaboration has already led to 2 drones transitioning from Inexperienced to Blue and 6 from Blue to Inexperienced. We’ve added dozens of parts to the accredited frameworks, giving each trade and authorities extra trusted choices.
Have there been challenges? Completely. We have now listened to trade issues, and we’re working with DIU and our members to create a system that’s extra agile, extra clear, and extra user-friendly.
DIU introduced final Friday that Inexperienced UAS might be used for compliance for Blue UAS Cleared. This step is a significant validation of our shared work to speed up entry to safe, compliant uncrewed methods and remedy issues for our trade and the warfighters we serve. DIU will discuss extra about these coming reforms tomorrow proper right here on this stage and in a follow-on session on Thursday.
And let’s not lose sight of the larger problem: final 12 months, DoD purchased lower than 4,000 drones throughout your complete division. That’s not a Blue UAS downside. That may be a funds downside. And it’s one AUVSI is working to repair by pushing for stronger funds commitments, extra agile acquisition, and a higher emphasis on uncrewed methods and robotics throughout protection planning.
That is private for all of us at AUVSI. Robots don’t bleed. Each safe autonomous system we put into the sector reduces threat to human life and extends our operational attain. And we all know the warfighter needs extra of what you might be producing throughout the air, floor, and maritime domains. Tomorrow you’ll hear from MG Hyperlink from Military Future’s Command, and on Thursday, you’ll hear from LTG Donovan, the Vice Commander of U.S. Particular Operations Command.
I don’t know particularly what he’ll say, however I’ve heard GEN Fenton, the Commander of SOCOM, discuss what he needs – the 4 A’s: Autonomous, Attritable, Inexpensive, A-Loads. I like that. To satisfy this demand from the warfighter, we should be sooner and smarter about how we transfer ahead.
The truth is: Acquisition reform stays elusive with no clear correction in sight. Accordingly, AUVSI is advocating for efforts to prioritize various pathways to acquisition that may function a workaround, reasonably than attempting to repair a system that’s past restore. This isn’t our concept, or perhaps a new concept, however it’s gaining new momentum – together with from a White Home government order – after some very tangible successes using Business Options Choices, Different Transaction Authorities, and different non-traditional acquisition pathways.
AUVSI can also be main efforts to reform the International Navy Gross sales course of, serving to safe language in a brand new Government Order that revisits outdated guidelines treating drones as missiles—guidelines which have lengthy hindered exports.
We’re serving to form the way forward for U.S. maritime energy by ensuring autonomous vessels are a part of the dialog—each by means of the Trump Maritime Dominance EO and in shaping the SHIPS for America Act now transferring on Capitol Hill.
Moreover, it additionally comes all the way down to {dollars}. As I mentioned, the DoD just isn’t shopping for practically sufficient autonomous methods. 4,000 drones final 12 months. 300 autonomous small boats this 12 months. Virtually nothing within the floor area but. These aren’t spectacular numbers.
Consequently, warfighters have solely restricted entry to the instruments, which leads to a dearth of coaching and familiarity, which implies if the ballon goes up tonight, we’re not as prepared as we must be. That is extraordinarily difficult and fairly dire.
Congress isn’t serving to – they didn’t go any appropriations payments for FY25, which implies the DoD and the broader USG is working by Persevering with Decision. This isn’t good authorities, however we are attempting to make the very best of a nasty state of affairs by working with Congressional committees to redirect funds in direction of autonomous methods within the funds reconciliation invoice.
AUVSI has efficiently advocated for billions within the reconciliation package deal to construct the uncrewed industrial base, with recreation altering investments in autonomous air, counter UAS, and maritime methods. We have now additionally set the muse for important will increase in autonomous system spending in FY26 protection funds. Additional, the Marine Corp’s Assault Drone crew, the Navy’s addition of a brand new robotic ship squadron, the Air Pressure’s Fight Airpower for All Airmen program, and the $36 billion Military Transformation Initiative are all direct recognitions of the necessity to disrupt the established order and take classes from the battlefield in Ukraine and apply them to the way forward for U.S. warfighting.
We can not enable adversaries to outpace us just because we failed to purchase, plan, prepare, and execute. In only a few minutes, you’ll hear from Dr. Rush Doshi and Sue Gordon, two of the foremost minds on the nationwide safety panorama. They’ll dig deeper into the threats we face and the methods we have to counter them. There are clear alternatives for these of you smart sufficient to heed their recommendation.
As my pal Rush has outlined, authoritarian rivals like China & Russia are executing coordinated plans to construct “Arsenals of Autocracy.”
They’re utilizing expertise, provide chains, and cyber operations to increase their affect and undermine free societies. We should reply with equal willpower. We should align with companions and democratic allies.
AUVSI has been main the best way, advocating for our trade’s priorities in AUKUS and dealing to construct upon that mannequin with different nations. Moreover, we’re delighted to have prolonged the XPONENTIAL model to Europe – launching XPO EU this previous February in Germany with our companions at Messe Dusseldorf.
We’re honored to be internet hosting the U.S. Taiwan Autonomous Techniques Cooperation Discussion board, which takes place right here immediately on the AUVSI Protection stage. We’re proud to have worldwide pavilions on the present flooring from Germany, Korea, Spain, and Taiwan and to have our pals from the Africa Drone Discussion board and the Armed Forces of Ukraine right here with us. Our democratic allies and companions are important to constructing scale, resilience, and a shared technological benefit.
If our rivals can coordinate to undermine democracy, we should coordinate to defend it. Collectively, we should construct an industrial and operational base that spans the American system and of our trusted allies – an Uncrewed Arsenal for Democracies.
At AUVSI, we’re not ready for others to outline the longer term. We’re serving to to construct it. Shifting to factors of friction to resolve issues. And progress is just attainable due to the leaders who dedicate their time, power, and experience, stepping ahead to hold the mission even additional.
In the present day, marks an necessary transition, one which honors the service of our outgoing Chair of our Board of Administrators and welcomes the imaginative and prescient of our new Chair. Please be part of me in welcoming each Invoice Irby and JC Coffey to the stage.
Invoice – thanks to your tireless management and deep dedication to this group. You’ve helped AUVSI develop stronger, extra resilient, and extra future-focused. We’re grateful. JC – your ardour and perspective might be vital as we tackle what’s subsequent. We’re excited to have your management and the regular power you convey to each dialog, each problem, and each alternative.
In the present day it’s my pleasure to introduce Nationwide Safety Chief and the Former Principal Deputy Director of Nationwide Intelligence, Sue Gordon. Gordon was the nation’s quantity two rating intelligence official who oversaw the innovation and transformation of your complete intelligence group. Having led at each stage of the intelligence group and throughout varied organizations and disciplines, she has discovered to “see the world as it’s, not as she prefers it to be.”
Becoming a member of Sue onstage is Dr. Rush Doshi, the C.V. Starr Senior Fellow for Asia Research and Director of the China Technique Initiative, Council on International Relations and a professor at Georgetown College. Rush is the creator of The Lengthy Recreation, China’s Grand Technique to Displace the US. He’s additionally a pal.
I urge you to hear carefully to the dialog – as their intention is to spotlight threats but in addition uncover alternatives for this group.
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