2024_SOA_Program New

PANELISTS

JAMES GRIMSLEY

Executive Director of Advanced Technology Initiatives Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

James Grimsley serves as the executive director for advanced technology initiatives with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma as well as an Oklahoma Transportation Commissioner with oversight and governance responsibilities for the ODT. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Commercial Drone Alliance as well as a variety of other boards. As part of Grimsley’s Choctaw Nation duties, he manages the FAA BEYOND Program. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is the only tribal lead participant in the BEYOND program. He previously managed the FAA Integration Pilot Program for the Choctaw Nation. In October 2022, Grimsley was appointed to the FAA’s

Advanced Aviation Advisory Council. He has also served on multiple FAA Aviation Rulemaking Committees, including the Beyond Visual Line of Sight ARC. Grimsley has degrees in aerospace and mechanical engineering and 32 years of experience in the aviation and defense industries, including corporate executive experience as well as being an associate vice president for research at the University of Oklahoma. He has published papers in both peer-reviewed engineering journals and law journals on issues related to drones and emerging aviation, has testified before Congress on aerospace innovation topics and has appeared before the Oklahoma legislature to discuss aerospace and aviation policy issues.

Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online