Virginia UAS is the leading provider of small unmanned aircraft training and operational integration in Virginia.  Veteran owned, our team is comprised of industry leading subject matter experts with more than 90 years of combined unmanned aircraft experience.  We have more than 28,000 hours of professional manned aviation experience and a team that is actively engaged with the FAA creating standards for the unmanned aviation industry.  Our leadership has actively participated as a commissioner with the Governor’s Unmanned Systems Commission and is involved firsthand promoting the growth and proliferation of safe and efficient operation of small unmanned aircraft in Virginia.  With industry leading knowledge, training and experience rooted in professional manned and unmanned aviation flight operations, Virginia UAS is well positioned to assist Public Sector entities and Fortune 1000 companies with the safe deployment of sUAS technology leveraging operational efficiencies.

 

 

Scott Strimple  B.S. Flight Operations & Computer Science – Southern Illinois University

Chief Executive Officer

As a Captain and FAA Check Pilot for United Airlines, Scott Strimple’s extensive leadership and subject matter expertise in flight training bring an industry leading perspective to the world of unmanned flight. He holds all FAA flight instructing and remote pilot certifications and is the ASTM F38 sUA pilot and visual observer training sub-committee chair developing international standards for the unmanned aviation industry. Scott has more than 26,000 flight hours in manned aircraft as well as more than 44 years of operational small unmanned aircraft experience.  Scott’s leadership & experience in unmanned aviation was recognized by Governor Terry McAuliffe when he was appointed to the Governor’s Unmanned Systems Commission in 2015. He frequently contributes written material for several media resources as well as presenting at many industry events on the importance of developing operational proficiency and professional standards to assure a safe unmanned aircraft operation. Scott is a senior flight instructor with the Unmanned Vehicle University and facilitates hands on flight training workshops across the country. His leadership and unique ability to blend the best practices from manned aviation with those of unmanned aviation provide Virginia UAS with the exclusive ability to offer industry leading education to those entities and individuals seeking to deploy unmanned aircraft. Additionally, Scott was an early adopter of aerial cinematography as a filmmaker and is the recipient of multiple Emmy awards.

 

 

Robert H. Klenke Ph.D. Electrical Engineering – University of Virginia

Chief Technical Officer

A licensed commercial pilot, Bob graduated from Virginia Military Institute and started his career with the United States Navy Civil Engineer Corps. He attended University of Virginia where he received his Ph.D in Electrical Engineering and currently presides as a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He brings a wealth of technical subject matter knowledge on UAV systems as well as a plethora of UAV operational experience. Bob started flying small unmanned aircraft in the 1970’s and is actively involved in the Academy of Model Aeronautics to this day as a contest director flying all types of aircraft including helicopters. He is the president of the “Jet Pilot’s Organization” and acts as an instructor certifying pilots for their turbine waiver. A master builder himself, Bob has also been approved by the AMA as an inspector for “Large Model Aircraft” allowing AMA members to fly aircraft that exceed the normal 55lbs. once they have passed a rigorous inspection procedure.  He has built numerous small unmanned aircraft for several government agencies. Dr. Klenke and his students have been developing flight control computers (autopilots) for small unmanned aerial vehicles since 2002. He has facilitated and been the project lead for several Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) sponsored events where he and his team placed first in the competition using a system of their own design against groups using commercial autopilots costing in excess of $10,ooo.  Bob has participated in UAV related work with both government and industry corporations such as:

  • NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton VA collaborating on the Generic Transport Model Project.
  • Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen MD and the Small Collaborative UAV Project.
  • NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton VA collaborating on the Aerodynamics/Controls Research Project developing flight control systems for UAV.
  • U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command consulting on the Tactical Performance Evaluation of Standard Common Data Link Transceivers.
  • NextGen Aeronautics, Danville VA Cognitive UAV Project investigating methods required to dock two airborne UAVs in a wingtip-to-wingtip configuration.
  • Barron Associates, Charlottesville VA and the Glide Away Precision Sonobouy project developing a proof-of-concept bolt on “glide kit” for Navy Sonobouys dropped from high altitude.

 

 

Harry E. Gregori B.S. (Community Development) &

M.R.P. (Regional Planning), M.P.A (Public Administration)

President

Harry E. Gregori Jr, President of Virginia UAS, has more than 35 years of experience working with federal, state and local governments, military, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), tribal organizations, as well as business and industry. This includes four years of active military service in Korea and Germany with the Unitesd States Army.  Harry has a diverse background in the management of government affairs programs, as well as experience in government law and regulatory procedures as a state agency liaison to the Virginia General Assembly. He was a Virginia State Agency Head gubernatorial appointee and has extensive experience in managing complex, multi-faceted programs with an emphasis on the use of technology and innovation in problem solving. Harry has been a state agency representative for the National Governor’s Association and for the United States Environmental Protection Agency.  Harry is also a faculty fellow at Virginia Tech, and has been adjunct faculty in the undergraduate and graduate programs for the Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia. He is a trained lead auditor for development and implementation of programs associated with the International Standard for Environmental Management Systems (ISO14001).  He has earned two masters degrees: Master of Regional Planning (MRP) from The Pennsylvania State University, and Master of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a guest lecturer for the Industrial Studies Program at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He brings a strong leadership capability and has developed extensive professional and collegial contacts in many sectors which will benefit our clients.