Join us for our regular chapter meeting on March 3rd. Social time starts at 6pm.
We will hear from Dr Luke Hall on Basic Med and Jim Williams on drones.
Hope to see you there!
Jim Williams Bio
Jim Williams is the Founder and President of JHW Unmanned Solutions
LLC. Jim advises his clients on issues related to aircraft and space
operations with specific emphasis on all things related to uncrewed aircraft
systems (UAS)—a.k.a. drones.
With over 40 years of experience in the Aerospace sector, Jim recently served
as Manager of the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Office
at the Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This office functions as the
single agency focal point for all UAS-related activities and is uniquely positioned to develop and
coordinate solutions to UAS challenges across the FAA and with external organizations.
UAS are often described as the most disruptive aviation technology since the invention of the jet
engine, and the FAA’s UAS Integration Office has the daunting challenge of accomplishing the safe,
efficient and timely integration of this technology into the National Airspace System (NAS), while
balancing the political pressure and economic needs of the nation. In early 2015, Jim testified before
the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology on UAS integration issues.
Before taking the helm of the UAS Integration Office in March 2012, Jim spent six years as the
Director of Engineering Services in the FAA’s NextGen Organization, where he led the coordination
and integration of all systems engineering work needed to move the NAS toward NextGen. This
work gave him a deep understanding of how FAA research progresses into a mature concept and
eventually into the many technologies that become operational in the NAS. His office also led the
development of the NAS Enterprise Architecture and NAS-level Requirements. Together these
engendered a great appreciation for the interrelationships of the many systems which will be
touched by the UAS integration effort.
During his lengthy career with the FAA, Jim led the organization tasked with lifecycle management of
all FAA communications systems and the implementation of the Safety Management System in the
Technical Operations Service Unit. He has also worked with the FAA Command Center to transition
personnel into the Air Traffic Organization, directed the team that developed, procured and installed
all air/ground communications services for the FAA, and led the team that designed, procured and
fielded the FAA’s prototype Air/Ground Data Link Communications System. Jim also led the FAA
Team that negotiated with other federal agencies to create a second civil GPS frequency.