Strengthening its management of how unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) will be incorporated into routine use in the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday named two officials to executive positions to guide UAS integration efforts.
Marke “Hoot” Gibson will become senior adviser on UAS Integration and focus on external outreach and education, interagency initiatives and an enterprise approach to FAA management of UAS integration efforts, the agency said.
Gibson, who previously served as executive director of the NextGen Institute, which provides professional services to the UAS Joint Program Development Office, will report directly to the FAA Deputy Administrator. Gibson has also owned his own aviation consulting firm and held different senior command and staff positions during a 33-year career in the Air Force.
Earl Lawrence, who has been director of the FAA Small Airplane Directorate for five years, will become director of the UAS Integration Office within the FAA’s Aviation Safety organization. Lawrence is charged with leading agency efforts to safely and effectively integrate UAS into the national airspace.
Before joining the FAA in 2010, Lawrence was vice president for Industry & Regulatory Affairs at the Experimental Aircraft Association since 1994.
Gibson and Lawrence will assume their new positions later this month.