Public forum on Unmanned Aerial Systems at RMIT next Tuesday

Defence, security and industry leaders from the US and Australia will discuss the latest developments and future visions for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in a free public forum at RMIT University on Tuesday, 24 January.

Key speakers include Major General Michael C Kostelnik, Assistant Commissioner at US Customs and Border Protection, and Dr Peter Maguire, Director Emerging and Integrated Systems, Department of Defence (Australia).

Hosted by Professor Aleksandar Subic, Head of RMIT’s School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, the forum will hear presentations on:

Unmanned Aircraft Systems and the Homeland Security Mission

Major General (ret USAF) Michael C. Kostelnik, Assistant Commissioner at US Customs and Border Protection, Office of Air and Marine (the world’s largest aviation and maritime law enforcement organisation)

Defence UAV Capability Development

Dr Peter Maguire, Director of Emerging and Integrated Systems for Capability Development Group and leader of the Defence UAS Planning Team (coordinating UAS acquisition and experimentation across the Department of Defence)

The March to UAV Autonomy

Walt Kreitler, Director of Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) UAS Business Development at Northrop Grumman

Technology Development of Small UAS

Jack Kormas, Chief Operating Officer, Aerosonde Pty Ltd (Australia’s only fully productionised commercial small UAS company)

The forum will be moderated by Professor Kevin Massey, Discipline Head of Aerospace and Aviation in the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, and will be followed by a question and answer session.

This is a public forum with free entry. It will be held at Level 3, Room 7, of the RMIT Emily McPherson Building, corner of Russell and Victoria Sts, Melbourne, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.