Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance (NUAIR) announces Ken Stewart as its new CEO

Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance (NUAIR) announced today it has hired Ken Stewart as its new president and chief executive officer (CEO). Stewart most recently served as CEO of AiRXOS, part of GE Aviation, and is a well-known innovator and leader within the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry. He will oversee the organization’s efforts to safely integrate UAS (drones) into the National Airspace System and keep NUAIR at the forefront of the industry.

Stewart will lead the commercialization of New York’s 50-mile UAS Traffic Management (UTM) Corridor and oversee operations of the New York UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport in Rome. His leadership will help solidify NUAIR’s role within the international UAS industry, making the Mohawk Valley and Central New York the go-to place for all things unmanned, contributing to the economic development of the region.

“I am excited to lead the NUAIR team and support the region’s unsurpassed ‘innovation-friendly’ environment for UAS research, testing, and operations,” said Stewart. “NUAIR has all the elements required and the ability to make a lasting impact on the UAS industry. I’m looking forward to changing the world through innovation and empowering our team to do amazing things.”
NUAIR, an organizational partner of CenterState CEO, manages the test site for Oneida County which owns the facility. It is one of just seven FAA-designated UAS test sites in the country. The organizations are strategically aligned in their efforts to build public and private partnerships to advance leading-edge UAS and UTM technologies, attracting international investments, contributing to the economic development of the Mohawk Valley and Central New York.

“Ken Stewart is a fine choice to lead NUAIR into the future,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “His experience and expertise will help usher Oneida County’s Test Site into the next phase of its development as the global leader in UAS research and advancement. Along with our other partners who are taking the industry to the next level with our UTM Corridor, we welcome Ken and look forward to his contributions.”

“We are extremely excited to welcome someone with Ken’s knowledge, experience and passion to the role of CEO at NUAIR,” said Rob Simpson, president of CenterState CEO. “His leadership will enable ongoing collaboration and innovative advancement of NUAIR’s mission, further expanding its engagement with businesses and experts to advance critical research and development of the sector across Central New York.”

New York state has invested $30 million to develop a 50-mile flight traffic management corridor between Syracuse and Griffiss International Airport in Rome, New York to advance the burgeoning UAS industry in Central New York as part of the CNY Rising Initiative. Within the 50-mile corridor, strategic investments have accelerated industry growth by supporting and testing the many emerging uses of UAS in key industries, including environmental conservation, utility and infrastructure inspection, package and medical delivery, and public safety.

“Empire State Development welcomes Ken Stewart as NUAIR’s new President and CEO. With his considerable expertise, Ken will work to further anchor Central New York as a global hub for the rapidly growing UAS industry,” said Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate Eric Gertler. “New York State’s investments in UAS, and the state-of-the-art drone corridor, are reinvigorating and strengthening the Upstate economy through enterprise and innovation.”

Founded in 2014, NUAIR  is a New York-based nonprofit organization that provides unsurpassed expertise in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations, aeronautical research, safety management, and consulting services. Headquartered in Syracuse, NUAIR manages operations of the New York UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport in Rome, NY, one of just seven FAA-designated UAS test sites in the United States and is responsible to the FAA and NASA to conduct operations for UAS and advanced air mobility (AAM) eVTOL testing. NUAIR is responsible for the continued development and advancement of New York’s AAM Proving Grounds and 50-mile UAS corridor between Syracuse and Rome, facilitating beyond visual line of sight testing, commercial operations, and the safe integration of UAS and eVTOLS into the national airspace.

CenterState CEO is an independent and forward-thinking economic development strategist, business leadership organization, and chamber of commerce; dedicated to the success of its members and the prosperity of the region. We serve as an advocate and resource for smart business, catalyze and facilitate regional growth, and promote community prosperity through results-driven partnerships, planning, and problem-solving.