Photo Credit: AX Enterprize | Photographer: Zevi Rubin
To Advance U.S. Leadership in Uncrewed Aerial Systems, BVLOS, and American-Made Defense Innovation
Rome, NY – The Griffiss Institute applauds the signing of Executive Order 14307, a bold and necessary step toward securing America’s leadership in the future of flight. This directive sets a clear national agenda to accelerate the safe and scalable integration of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) into U.S. airspace. From advancing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations to preparing for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, EO 14307 provides a strong foundation to grow the domestic drone industrial base and unlock transformative applications across sectors.
At its heart, the Executive Order affirms what we already know to be true in the Mohawk Valley, American scientists and engineers are ready to help lead the way.
Griffiss Institute manages the Innovare Advancement Center in Rome, NY, co-located with the New York UAS Test Site, one of just seven FAA designated UAS test sites, the only one based at a towered airport with Class D airspace and access to Class A, C, E and G airspace above varied terrain, urban/rural, inland lakes, coastal and maritime areas. The site is operated by local tech firm AX Enterprize, a nationally recognized leader in UAS Traffic Management (UTM), BVLOS operations, and UAS safety systems.
One of AX Enterprize’s flagship products is an extensible UTM capability originally developed in partnership with the FAA and NASA and further refined in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory. The cloud-based capability is data-aware and used to manage autonomous drone flights safely and at scale, enabling smarter, real-time decision-making in increasingly complex airspaces with manned and unmanned systems.
“This Executive Order provides powerful momentum for the UAS ecosystem,” said Heather Hage, President and CEO of the Griffiss Institute. “It affirms the national significance of uncrewed systems and reinforces that the work taking place in Rome, NY is not only timely, but foundational to the future of American aviation.”
The Order’s directives to launch eVTOL integration pilots, deploy AI tools for FAA waivers, and promote U.S. built platforms closely mirror efforts already underway within the Griffiss Institute ecosystem.
“We’ve long believed that innovation needs to be backed by policy if we want to compete globally,” said Patricia Baskinger, co-founder of AX Enterprize and Chair of the Board at Griffiss Institute. “This Order brings urgency and structure to the work we’ve been doing for more than a decade, and we’re excited to contribute to this next chapter of national progress.”
Recent reporting points to rising concerns over foreign-made drones and the vulnerability of U.S. airspace, highlighting urgent national security risks. Executive Order 14307’s emphasis on prioritizing domestic production, securing supply chains, and advancing airspace integration is an essential response to these threats. In that context, the Griffiss Institute, in partnership with AX Enterprize, AFRL/RI, and local leadership, is already delivering trusted, American-built solutions, spanning BVLOS operations, traffic management, and real-time airspace defense from the Innovare campus in Rome.
As the Executive Order becomes action, Griffiss Institute stands ready to support implementation by:
- Cultivating UAS Research and Development and connecting projects with the facilities, partners, and testing environments needed to validate and scale their advancements;
- Developing the UAS workforce pipeline, from STEM education to operational readiness and technical training;
- Attracting and investing in startup companies pursuing UAS solutions for national security applications;
- Accelerating public-private collaboration to bring secure, scalable drone technologies from lab to real-world deployment.
Media Contact:
Pam Mustee
Marketing & Communications Manager
Griffiss Institute
(315) 749-8324
pmustee@griffissinstitute.org
