Warren County Community College, in partnership with Embry-Riddle University’s Worldwide Campus Department of Flight, has been named a finalist in the Workforce Development Category of the International XCELLENCE Awards by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicles Systems International (AUVSI). Winners will be announced at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2023 on May 8-11, at the Colorado Convention Center, in Denver, Colorado.

The two colleges have collaborated on numerous projects over the past few years, and with an articulation agreement that allows graduates of Warren’s drone program to transfer directly to Embry-Riddle University.

“Just being nominated for this prestigious award is saying something about our program,” said Dr. Will Austin, Warren’s Chief Pilot, “The relationship we formed with Embry-Riddle has been incredibly beneficial to Warren and its students. A relationship such as this is rare in higher education.”

Warren’s uncrewed systems program has drawn national attention from the FAA and other major players in the industry. The FAA, in fact, is hosting a major conference at Warren at the end of April, and Embry Riddle will play a major role in educating teachers, emergency responders, and the community on the safe integration of drones into the national airspace. Warren’s partnership with Embry-Riddle has played a big part in the recognition of WarrenUAS.

“We are honored to be a finalist for the Workforce Development XCELLENCE Award,” said David Thirtyacre, chair of the Worldwide Campus Department of Flight. “Worldwide works closely with Warren County Community College to produce experts in uncrewed systems that excel in the industry’s most demanding jobs.”

The AUVSI XCELLENCE Awards honor individuals and organizations that are innovators in the uncrewed systems industry, with a demonstrated commitment to advancing autonomy, leading and promoting safe adoption of uncrewed systems, and developing programs that use these technologies to save lives and improve society. Winners will be announced at XPONENTIAL, which offers a broad-based and balanced educational program brimming with cutting-edge content and inspirational insights, ranging from policy implications and technical challenges to use cases and best practices across vertical markets and everything in between.

“This year, XPONENTIAL is all about designing a shared plan for the future of autonomy,” said Brian Wynne, president and CEO of AUVSI. “There’s no better place to announce the 2023 XCELLENCE award finalists. Together, they’re redefining what’s possible with uncrewed and robotic technology.”

“Really, just a fantastic feeling to know that we continue to receive recognition for the great things we are doing at Warren,” said Dr. Austin, who was named the AUVSI Member of the Year at the 2022 Xponential Conference. For more information about XPONENTIAL and the XCELLENCE Awards, visit xponential.org.