Robert Pappas Email & Phone Number

Rob is currently posted to the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) section of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations. As a Technical Officer, Rob supports the development of risk-based international standards for RPAS, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), and UAS Traffic Management (UTM). Rob played a key strategic role in developing the structure and program of the recently established AAM Study Group.Prior to his ICAO posting, Rob was the Director of Special Programs in the FAA UAS Integration Office, where he oversaw management of special programs and coordinated UAS project activities within the FAA. Working with internal and external stakeholders, he ensured programs aligned with the myriad of regulatory, policy and standards development activities to safely and efficiently integrate UAS into the NAS.Joining the UAS Integration Office in 2014 as the Special Rules Coordinator, Rob managed implementation of Section 333, paving the way to granting authorizations to more than 5000 UAS operators. Section 333 greatly influenced development of the Small UAS Rule, part 107, and continues to influence the part 107 waiver process, airworthiness assessments, and development of regulations. Following the Section 333 program, he managed the UAS Focus Area Pathfinder Programs with CNN, PrecisionHawk and BNSF, implementing additional UAS integration firsts: operations over human beings and beyond visual line of sight.Rob also implemented and managed the UAS Integration Pilot Program (UAS IPP). Initiated by a Presidential Memorandum, the UAS IPP accelerated safe UAS integration by partnering state, local, and tribal governments directly with private sector entities. The UAS IPP enabled immediate opportunities for new and expanded commercial UAS operations and fostered a meaningful dialogue regarding state, local, and tribal vs. national interests related to UAS integration.Rob has been with the FAA since 1999. As the Aviation Safety RE&D Manager, he managed a $70 million portfolio of aviation safety research. He also supported the Director of Aircraft Certification, managed the Aging Aircraft Research Program, and led the development of Arc Fault Circuit Breakers. Before FAA, he worked at the Naval Air Systems Command as a System Safety Engineer and as the manager of System Safety Branch.

Listed skills include Aircraft, Aviation, Airports, and Airlines.