In February 2015, five recognized experts in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology, management, and science applications agreed to form the ARM UAS Advisory Group to provide scientific and technical advice to Sandia National Laboratories and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory leadership, who are jointly managing ARM’s UAS efforts. New member, Matt Fladeland, NASA Ames Research Center, recently joined existing members, allowing one of the founders, Randy Berthold, to step down.

“I’m honored to be invited to participate in this advisory group,” said Fladeland in his acceptance email.

Fladeland is currently serving as Airborne Science Manager in the Earth Science Division at NASA Ames, in addition to managing the NASA Sensor Integrated Environmental Remote Research Aircraft (SIERRA) Unmanned Aircraft System. Fladeland’s research background is in forest ecology and carbon cycle modeling.

Through activities at the ARM Facility, the Department of Energy Climate and Environmental Sciences Division, within the Office of Science, is at the forefront of using UAS research to address science questions relating to Arctic research. Presently, the ARM site at Oliktok Point on the North Slope of Alaska maintains special use airspace in the Arctic, which makes it ideal for conducting UAS operations on a routine basis.