Strong Leads Unmanned Aircraft Systems Hearing, Leveraging Huntsville Capabilities and Expertise

WASHINGTON— This week, Chairman Dale W. Strong invited unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) subject matter experts and industry leaders from Huntsville to testify before the Committee on Homeland Security on the use of UAS in support of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) mission.  

“Huntsville, Alabama, is renowned for its leadership in cutting-edge research and development. As home to Redstone Arsenal, the nation's second-largest research park, and several universities, Huntsville is a thriving hub for American innovation. I am pleased that Alabama’s fifth district is well represented on the witness panel,” said Chairman Dale Strong. 

The joint hearing, entitled, “Exploring the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Across the DHS Enterprise” was led by Representative Dale Strong (AL-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, and Representative Michael Guest (MS-03), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.

The hearing examined the Department of Homeland Security’s use of UAS for purposes such as disaster mitigation, emergency management, border protection, and drug interdiction.

“Emerging technologies like UAS are reshaping the way we respond to disasters. Drones enable the protection of emergency management personnel in high-risk situations, while at the same time increase the effectiveness of the work they do.

“DHS also utilizes UAS to safeguard our borders. They leverage this technology to protect our homeland from illegal crossings and combat illicit activities such as human and drug smuggling. Customs and Border Protection face tremendous challenges, from dangerous environments and a broadening mission set to adversaries that continue to evolve their tactics and capabilities,” said Chairman Strong.  

Two witnesses from Huntsville— Dr. Michael Ledbetter, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, of COLSA Corporation, and Jerry Hendrix, Executive Director of Rotorcraft Systems Engineering and Simulation Center, the University of Alabama in Huntsville— shared the work they are doing in this space.

“COLSA has designed and developed highly reliable and resilient UAS, and manufactured thousands of units currently deployed worldwide. We also developed software to coordinate UAS swarming. COLSA is now a leading provider of low-cost, non-developmental, deployable Group 1 and Group 2 Swarm UAS. As the Prime contractor, the primary objective of drone program is to provide realistic responses to emerging battlespace threats from UAS by rapidly designing, manufacturing, producing, and delivering representative threat capabilities,” said Dr. Michael Ledbetter.

The hearing also examined the Department’s efforts to develop these systems by collaborating with academia and industry to integrate emerging technologies into the DHS mission.

“UAH is part of a tier 1 research university that ranks 6th in federal investment in aeronautical and aerospace engineering research. The center specializes in autonomous research focusing on uncrewed systems and counter-uncrewed systems. Our unmanned aircraft system (UAS) disaster research has been recognized nationally by the Commercial Drone Alliance in testimony to the House Space, Science, and Technology Committee in 2023. UAH’s research was specified as one of the top 8 UAS programs to ‘Bring benefit to the American People,’” said Jerry Hendrix.

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The full hearing can be watched HERE.