The University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering has opened an unmanned aircraft systems test site in St. Mary’s County to host research and development work by industry, academia and government on UAS.UMD said Tuesday former U.S. Navy captain Matt Scassero will lead the test site in honing capabilities and infrastructure in southern Maryland for UAS-related workforce development, job creation and higher education.
“I am pleased that the University of Maryland, College Park will manage the site, and that its educational value extends to all University System of Maryland faculty, staff and students, as well as K-12 students throughout the state,” said William Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland.
The UMD UAS test site is part of the state’s Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership with Virginia and New Jersey to support the Federal Aviation Administration‘s program to integrate UAS into the U.S. airspace.
According to Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), this new facility builds on the region’s contributions to aviation innovation, alongside sites such as Naval Air Station Patuxent River, as well as economic diversification.
Other aviation facilities in the area include the Naval Air Systems Command headquarters and the Naval Air Warfare Center Aviation Division’s Webster Field Annex.
