Robert Brock, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, has joined the Kansas Transportation Department as that agency’s first unmanned aircraft systems director, The Wichita Eagle reported Tuesday.
Jerry Siebenmark writes the 22-year Air Force veteran previously held responsibilities for intelligence and special operations units that use drones.
Brock will work to educate individuals and companies on the safe operation of UAS and on the privacy implications of drone use as well as help drive the growth of drone-related businesses in the state, the report said.
Siebenmark reports that Brock will be based in KDOT’s headquarters in Topeka and at Kansas State University Polytechnic in Salina and report to Merrill Atwater, Kansas’ director of aviation.
Prior to his role at the state of Kansas, Brock served as a business-to-business promoter, platform instructor and mentor at Global Leadership Summit.
He previously served as a personnel and program manager at the Air Force and has worked with the 3rd Special Operations Squadron and National Reconnaissance Office.
