FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 31, 2017
Contact: Tom McMahon, tmcmahon@auvsi.org, (571) 255-7786

AUVSI Statement on Senate Confirmation of Elaine Chao as DOT Secretary

ARLINGTON, Va. — Brian Wynne, president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), today issued the following statement on the confirmation by the U.S. Senate of Elaine Chao as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation:

“AUVSI congratulates Secretary Chao on her Senate confirmation and looks forward to continuing our collaboration with the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration to foster a favorable policy environment for the unmanned systems industry and work to safely integrate unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace.

“An AUVSI report projects the UAS industry will create more than 100,000 jobs and generate more than $82 billion in economic impact during the next 10 years. Under the right circumstances, there’s no question these numbers could be even higher.

“Sustained industry-government collaboration is key to advancing the innovation needed to create jobs and keep the U.S. at the forefront of this growing and exciting field. We look forward to working with Secretary Chao and her team to realize the many societal and economic benefits that the unmanned systems industry is poised to bring to our nation.”

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The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) — the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics — represents more than 7,500 members from more than 60 countries involved in the fields of government, industry and academia. AUVSI members work in the defense, civil and commercial markets.