Awards presented to Former FAA Senior Executive John Walker and several AUVSI Chapters

DALLAS, May 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International named John Walker of The Padina Group as AUVSI Member of the Year, and presented several new Chapter Awards, during ceremonies today at XPONENTIAL 2017, the largest trade show for the unmanned systems and robotics industry, which is taking place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.

Walker is co-founder of The Padina Group, an aerospace consulting company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He previously held Senior Executive Service positions within the Air Traffic Operations and Aircraft Certification Service at the Federal Aviation Administration. The firm represents many companies involved in the development and deployment of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and related operations.

He is also a long-standing member of the AUVSI UAS Advocacy Committee and regularly participates in government, industry, and academic conferences around the world in the aerospace and business communities.

"John is an active member of the AUVSI UAS Advocacy Committee and continues to provide valuable feedback on the pulse of the industry, its regulators and international stakeholders," said Brian Wynne, AUVSI president and CEO. "John's commitment to the industry started many years ago during his time inside the FAA. He has a wealth of institutional knowledge and is a tremendous subject matter expert on UAS policy matters for AUVSI."

AUVSI also presented awards recognizing its chapters and members for their support of the association: Chapter of the Year, AUVSI New England; Chapter Leader of the Year, Peter Blocker, vice president of MCR, for his role as president of AUVSI Pathfinder in Alabama; Chapter Communications, AUVSI España-Spain; Chapter Development, AUVSI San Diego Lindbergh; and Chapter Recruitment, AUVSI Louisiana Pelican.

More than 7,000 industry leaders and professionals from over 55 countries are attending XPONENTIAL 2017. The exhibit hall is showcasing more than 650 cutting-edge companies, representing more than 20 industries.

About AUVSI
The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) — the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics — represents more than 7,500 members from more than 60 countries involved in the fields of government, industry and academia. AUVSI members work in the defense, civil and commercial markets.