The Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) has established its first Industry Advisory Board, a strategic move designed to align unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) education and training with the workforce demands of an industry on the cusp of major regulatory and operational change. The board, comprising leaders from across the UAS ecosystem, held its inaugural meeting on September 2, 2026, at the Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas. Its formation signals a proactive effort to prepare professionals for a future where beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations become routine and scalable, driven by the Federal Aviation Administration's proposed Part 108 framework.
The significance of this announcement lies in the timing. Part 108, if finalized as proposed, will not merely introduce new rules but will catalyze a shift from individual flights to repeatable programs involving fleets, remote operations, automation, and UAS Traffic Management services. This transition will demand a workforce skilled in safety management systems, aircraft maintenance, mission coordination, data management, risk assessment, and program leadership. As Josh Olds, President and CEO of USI, explained, "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."
The board's impact will extend beyond commercial operators. High schools and colleges need clear signals about the knowledge and capabilities employers will value, while companies require reliable ways to identify and develop qualified talent. Individuals need pathways that connect learning to credible career opportunities. By 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—the board will help translate industry needs into practical education and workforce-development decisions. USI will remain responsible for curriculum, certification, and program decisions, but the board's feedback will guide where programs should evolve and where new learning pathways may be needed.
The inaugural board members bring a wealth of experience from diverse sectors, including insurance, agriculture, cargo delivery, energy, and telecommunications. Their collective expertise will be instrumental in ensuring that USI's programs remain relevant and rigorous. For instance, Andrew Spiegel of USAIG brings a risk management perspective, while Calvin Rieb of Cargill offers insights from global drone program strategy. Jim Ogletree of Amazon Prime Air provides a view on scaling autonomous UAS operations, and Nate Robie of Dominion Energy contributes experience in complex airspace and regulatory operations. This cross-industry representation underscores the broad impact of UAS integration and the need for a holistic approach to workforce development.
The implications of this initiative are profound. As the industry awaits final action on Part 108, employers and educators face a shared challenge: preparing a workforce for operations that are more automated, distributed, and integrated with the National Airspace System. The USI Advisory Board represents a collaborative effort to meet that challenge head-on, ensuring that education and training evolve in lockstep with technological and regulatory advancements. By fostering a dialogue between industry leaders and educators, USI aims to create a pipeline of talent that is not only technically proficient but also deeply grounded in safety culture. For more information about USI's Advisory Board, visit https://www.flyusi.org/about/advisory-board. To learn more about USI's programs, visit www.flyusi.org.
