Our guest speaker for January is LCDR (Ret) R. George Rey Sr.  LCDR Rey will speak on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

Bio: Lieutenant Commander Rey retired from the U.S. Navy after completing 33 years of active duty in the United States Navy’s Submarine Service. During that period he served on 5 submarines, 3 major staffs, and two tours in the Pentagon.

He started COTS Technology, a consulting company, supporting industry, academic, and government entities in operational and research endeavors with a focus on Robotic systems. Commander Rey was a key member that development and implemented Tulane University’s Long-term Estuary Assessment Group (LEAG) developing biosensors for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles.

Commander Rey’s most recent activities he established the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) program at Nicholls State University’s Geomatics’ program. This program was the first in Louisiana to receive an FAA approved Certificate Of waiver Authorization (COA) to fly in the National Air Space (NAS) in 2005.

Commander Rey established the Louisiana Pelican Chapter of the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and Leads this statewide organization as the founding president.

Commander Rey Continues to work with companies to develop their UAS programs that meet the FAA’s Part 107 requirements. He is The Vice Chair of Louisiana’s Drone Advisory Committee (DAC).

He established a UAS SIG (Special Interest Group), aviation Sector Chief, and Serves as the President of InfraGard Louisiana Member’s Alliance.