Brooks is the director of Mississippi State鈥檚 Raspet Flight Research Center and also serves as the associate director of the MSU-led Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE), a coalition of 22 of the nation鈥檚 leading aviation and unmanned systems research universities tasked with developing technical solutions to address the challenges of safely integrating UAS into the national airspace.
 
He investigates, evaluates, proposes, selects and directs UAS research projects and initiatives to be executed under the FAA鈥檚 UAS Center of Excellence. He also evaluates research results and makes recommendations to the FAA on proposed standards for UAS system design, construction, performance, flight standards and operational procedures that are designed to enhance the safety of UAS operations nationwide and around the world.
 
A recognized national leader in unmanned systems integration, Brooks engages and coordinates with national and international regulatory, support and administrative agencies to help ensure that the tremendous capabilities of unmanned systems are realized.  His aviation and technical experience spans over 30 years, more than 20 of which were in service to America鈥檚 armed forces at home and overseas. 
 
A 26-year U.S. Air Force veteran, he held key leadership positions in aviation and communications, including serving as the USAF鈥檚 chief of UAS integration. He also served as the chair of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Airspace Integration Integrated Product Team for the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. In this role, he led a joint team working to enable UAS access to support Department of Defense operational, training and R&D requirements.
 
Brooks earned a bachelor鈥檚 and a master鈥檚 degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the fields of aeronautics and aviation/aerospace operations. He also holds a master鈥檚 degree in telecommunications management from Webster University and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration from Auburn University at Montgomery. For more on Brooks, see http://www.raspet.msstate.edu/director/.