The benefits of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones, are vast — providing detailed intelligence and an eye-in-the-sky perspective in a variety of missions around the world. While the military use of UAVs has been well covered, they are increasingly being used in non-military interventions, including to stop illicit poaching, to help fight wildfires, and for civilian protection. As UAV technology develops, the use of UAVs will likely increase — allowing for better intelligence in areas not easily accessed or that may be unsafe for manned aircraft. Stimson’s Managing Across Boundaries Initiative is hosted a panel that took an over-the-horizon look at the non-military use of UAVs and discussed not only the future of this technology, but potential issues and obstacles related to its current use.

Speakers:
Col. Dana A. Hessheimer, commander, 163rd Reconnaissance Wing, California Air National Guard

Maj. Ryan S. Simms, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Policy, Headquarters Air Force, Executive Action Group

  Thomas Snitch, visiting scholar, University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies and founder, GeoQuera
 
Moderated by:
Rachel Stohl, senior associate, Stimson’s Managing Across Boundaries Initiative

To watch the full event, click here.