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Panel chosen to boost state’s aerospace economy

A state economic-diversification agency has selected a panel of business and government leaders to help build Nevada's aerospace economy.

The Governor's Office of Economic Development announced Monday that 15 people will serve in a group to oversee Nevada's efforts to obtain a Federal Aviation Administration Center of Excellence designation for the development of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones.

The Nevada Autonomous Systems Panel will coordinate the state's pursuit of the designation, which could be awarded by the end of 2012. Center of Excellence status would allow for significant research and development, testing and training of unmanned aerial vehicles to happen in Nevada.

"Nevada has the talent, the resources and a history of excellence in unmanned aerial flight to earn Center of Excellence status," said Steve Hill, director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development, which late last year selected defense and aerospace as a key growth sector for the Silver State. "The policy panel will help us persuade the FAA that we have all that is needed to become the Silicon Valley of unmanned aerial systems."

Nevada already has a presence in the world of unmanned aerial vehicles: The Predator drones used in wars the Middle East are operated from Creech Air Force Base near Indian Springs. But researchers are studying civilian uses for unmanned aerial vehicles, including livestock tracking, police surveillance, payload transport, storm and hurricane tracking and geophysical surveys for natural resources.

Nevada Adjutant and Brig. Gen. William Burks and Hill will serve as the panel's co-chairmen.

Other members are: Krys Bart, president and CEO of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority; Joe Brown, commander of the Nellis Air Force Base support team; Greg Cox, vice president of Sierra Nevada Corp.; Leo Drozdoff, director of the Nevada Department of Conservation & Natural Resources; Jeff Fontaine, executive director of the Nevada Association of Counties; Marc Johnson, president of the University of Nevada, Reno; Raymond Juzaitis, president of National Security Technologies; Susan Martinovich, director of the Nevada Department of Transportation; Neal Smatresk, president of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Randall Walker, director of the Clark County Department of Aviation; Kenneth Witcher, program chairman, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Nevada; Stephen Wells, president of the Desert Research Institute; and Tim Wong, president and CEO of Arcata Associates in Las Vegas.

Contact reporter Jennifer Robison at
jrobison@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4512.

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