Grit, Policy & the Future of Autonomy: A Conversation with Michael Robbins, President & CEO of AUVSI
Transcribed excerpt from the 360 Pulse Podcast
Michael Robbins is the President & CEO of AUVSI, the world’s largest association dedicated to advancing uncrewed systems, autonomy, and robotics across defense, civil, and commercial domains. A seasoned leader in government affairs and public policy, Michael has been instrumental in advocating for critical regulatory updates such as BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations. With decades of experience across Capitol Hill, trade associations, and as a Navy Reservist, his leadership bridges national defense, aviation safety, and emerging technology. He has successfully launched strategic initiatives like the Trusted Cyber Program and Green UAS to accelerate industry innovation. Robbins is passionate about aligning policy with the pace of technology to ensure U.S. leadership in autonomy and aerospace.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Robbins shares his leadership philosophy, discusses the urgency of BVLOS reform, and outlines the industry’s responsibility to build trust through security, readiness, and cross-sector collaboration.
Q&A with Michael Robbins
Q: What leadership principles have guided you throughout your career?
A: Three principles shape my leadership: One-Team Mentality, Active Communication, and Service.
The one-team mentality is about creating a culture of accountability and resilience where everyone is seen as a leader. Active communication is about listening, articulating vision, and building trust through transparency. And service—whether in uniform or leading AUVSI—means moving toward points of friction and solving problems. That’s where progress really happens.
Q: AUVSI has a remarkably diverse membership. How do you align the needs of defense, commercial, and civil stakeholders?
A: Our mission is to help the entire autonomy ecosystem—across air, ground, maritime—solve problems that limit adoption and scalability.
There are common challenges across sectors. In defense, autonomy isn’t yet fully integrated into concepts of operations. On the commercial side, enabling regulations like BVLOS are still evolving. And across all sectors, we’re working to build public trust—which is critical for long-term success.
That said, there’s huge value in our diversity. A ground robotics CEO recently shared how lessons from our UAS policy work are helping shape his strategy. That’s the kind of cross-pollination we want to foster.
Q: BVLOS reform is a key policy issue. Can you explain why it’s such a critical inflection point for the industry?
A: Right now, most drones in the U.S. operate under Part 107, requiring them to stay within visual line of sight. To go beyond that, operators need waivers—which are resource-intensive, time-consuming, and inconsistent. This model simply isn’t scalable.
We’re advocating for a new Part 108 rule that allows standardized Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. This would unlock use cases across public safety, infrastructure inspection, disaster relief, and logistics. The technology is safe—the problem is regulatory.
We’ve worked closely with the FAA since 2021, when the Aviation Rulemaking Committee began its work. Now, in 2025, we’re on the cusp of seeing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Getting a final rule in place will be a catalyst for industry transformation.
Q: How does public acceptance influence the pace of regulation?
A: Public sentiment plays a huge role in shaping regulatory outcomes. If people don’t understand the benefits of drones—both economic and societal—they won’t support broader use.
That’s why we’ve made it a priority to tell the story of drones as life-saving tools, not just flying machines. Medical delivery, disaster response, search and rescue—these are all critical functions that drones can perform. If we lead with those stories, we can build the kind of trust that moves policy forward.
Q: AUVSI has also taken a proactive role in cybersecurity. Tell us about the Trusted Cyber and Green UAS initiatives.
A: After the Colonial Pipeline hack, we saw what can happen when an industry isn’t prepared for cybersecurity threats: economic disruption followed by overregulation.
To avoid that, we launched Trusted Cyber, starting with Green UAS, which certifies drones for cybersecurity, hardware assurance, and organizational practices. It’s aligned with the DoD’s Blue UAS, but adapted for commercial needs—including connectivity and cloud services.
Initially, demand was slow—no one was requiring cybersecurity compliance yet. But that’s changing rapidly. We’re now expanding Trusted Cyber to ground and maritime platforms. This work isn’t about checking a box—it’s about helping companies prove their systems can be trusted at scale.
Q: Your Navy Reserve experience has clearly shaped your leadership. How does that background influence how you navigate industry and policy challenges?
A: I grew up in Detroit. Nothing was handed to me. I worked multiple jobs, was the first in my family to go to college, and built a career with grit. That same persistence is vital in our industry—because what we’re doing is disruptive. We’re changing how transportation, defense, and logistics have worked for decades.That takes a lot of grit.
The Navy has taught me readiness, responsibility, and the urgency of being mission-ready at all times. Given today’s global threats—from cyberattacks to geopolitical instability—readiness is everything. That mindset applies to how I lead AUVSI and how I encourage our members to prepare for what’s coming.
Final Thought
The autonomy ecosystem isn’t just evolving—it’s accelerating. But speed without alignment creates fragmentation. What leaders like Michael Robbins make clear is that sustainable innovation requires coherence across policy, public trust, security, and vision. As the regulatory and geopolitical landscape shifts, industry must meet the moment with not only technical excellence, but also resilience, integrity, and readiness to learn.To learn more about AUVSI’s mission, advocacy work, and programs like Trusted Cyber and Green UAS visit www.auvsi.org.
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These engagements are a sliver a sliver of Robbins active involvement in advocating for and shaping the future of uncrewed systems and drone technology.
Airspace Link Interview (December 2024): Robbins discussed the anticipated impact of the FAA’s upcoming Part 108 rule on Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations, highlighting its potential to significantly advance the drone industry.
C-SPAN Appearance (December 2024): He addressed drone sightings along the Eastern United States, emphasizing the importance of public awareness and regulatory measures. C-SPAN+1C-SPAN+1
AUVSI Defense 2024 Opening Remarks (February 2024): Robbins delivered opening remarks at the AUVSI Defense 2024 conference, focusing on the integration of autonomous systems in defense operations. AUVSI
Congressional Testimony (May 2024): He testified before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Homeland Security, discussing the role of uncrewed systems in public safety and the need for supportive legislation. AUVSI
