Details to be added as they become available.
Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Opening Keynote
“Beyond NextGen”
Paul Fontaine, Acting Associate Administrator for NextGen, FAA
Paul Fontaine is the assistant administrator for NextGen (acting) and is responsible for championing the evolution of the National Airspace System (NAS). He provides strategic direction and executive oversight to more than 800 federal employees in the Office of NextGen (ANG) and is responsible for implementing the air transportation system modernization, executing the aviation research portfolio, and delivering results to support the overall advancement of aviation. Mr. Fontaine has experience harmonizing the implementation of aviation technologies with stakeholder priorities and ensuring risks are collaboratively addressed to facilitate delivery of Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) capabilities and benefits.
Previously, Mr. Fontaine was the director of ANG Portfolio Management & Technology Development. He led the FAA Enterprise Planning effort in collaboration with aviation stakeholders, identified strategies, developed integrated solutions, coordinated investments to evolve and sustain a world class aviation system, and established NextGen integration goals, strategies, budgets, and priorities.
Mr. Fontaine was also responsible for the formulation, management, and coordination of the agency’s research and advanced technology development program in human factors, communications, navigation, surveillance, and air traffic management.
As the former manager of the Safe Flight 21 Program, his work led to the current nationwide deployment of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) program.
Mr. Fontaine has more than 30 years of FAA and Department of Defense program management experience. He earned his commission as a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He holds an MBA in finance from Marymount University and a Bachelor of Science in managerial economics from Rhode Island College.
Plenary I: ICNS Accelerating Operational Change – Challenges & Opportunities
Description
Co-chairs
Paul Bosman, Head of Infrastructure Division, Network Manager Directorate, EUROCONTROL
Paul Bosman has been with EUROONTROL for nearly 30 years, working in many different technical and managerial positions in different locations. He is currently the head of the Network Manager – Infrastructure Division. He is responsible for planning, deploying, and monitoring European infrastructure and aiming to digitise the SES European Sky through activities such as CNS, information management, AI and overall resilience (cyber, interference), as well managing major pan-European common services such as ARTAS/SDDS/SASS-C, EAD, NewPENS and air-ground datalink common procurement.
Dave Knorr, Division Manager, NextGen Systems Analysis, FAA
Panelists
Chris Collings, Director of Business Development for Air Traffic Management Technology, L3Harris, “TBD”
Chris Collings is director of Air Traffic Management Business Development for the Mission Networks Sector of L3Harris Technologies. Mission Networks specializes in managed networks, surveillance, and air traffic management systems for the Federal Aviation Administration and global air navigation service providers. Mission Networks reports into the Space and Airborne Systems Segment of L3Harris.
Collings assumed the position of director business development for Mission Networks Global Air Traffic Management portfolio including airground communications, networks, surveillance, and information management. Collings continues to be responsible for the customer and industry engagement on the FAA’s Data Communications program. Previously, he served as program manager supporting multiple projects within L3Harris’ portfolio of FAA programs.
Collings is a subject matter expert in Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CDPLC) having supported projects in this technology since joining L3Harris in 2006. He has held various technical and management roles including software engineer, systems engineer, program manager, operations manager, and business development director.
Didier Delibes, Head of ATM Deployment at Airbus, “TBD”
Dr. Martin Durbin, Operations Research Analyst, FAA, “Measured Benefits and Improvement Opportunities for CNS”
Plenary II: Advanced Air Mobility
Description
Chair
Brandon Suarez, Vice President of UAS Integration, Reliable Robotics
Panelists
Tamara Casey, President, AURA Networks, “TBD”
Usmaan Javed, Technical Officer, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)
Air Navigation Bureau, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), “TBD”
Sponsors and Exhibitors Reception
Evening Keynote
“The Promise and Perils of AI and Autonomy in Aviation”
Dr. Missy Cummings, George Mason University
Dr. Mary (Missy) Cummings is a professor in the George Mason University College of Engineering and Computing and is the director of the Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center (MARC). She is an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Fellow, and recently served as the senior safety advisor to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Her research interests include the application of artificial intelligence in safety-critical systems, assured autonomy, human-systems engineering, and the ethical and social impact of technology.
A naval officer and military pilot from 1988-1999, Dr. Cummings was one of the U.S. Navy’s first female fighter pilots. She received a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1988, a Master of Science in space systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1994, and her doctorate in systems engineering from the University of Virginia in 2004.