This year’s program will include an exciting collection of technical papers covering a wide array of aviation-related topics grouped into the six technical tracks described below. ICNS receives abstracts from authors in many countries, representing government organizations, industry, and academia.
These are exciting times! We look forward to your participation and encourage your active engagement throughout the conference.
Technical Program Co-chairs
- Dr. Dongsong Zeng, The MITRE Corporation
- Dr. Rainer Koelle, EUROCONTROL
- Email: technical.chair@i-cns.org
Track 1. Traffic Management (ATM, UTM, STM)
Co-chairs
Bernd Korn, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Carmo Kluenker, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Description coming soon.
Track 2. Operational Efficiency
Co-chairs
Dr. Rainer Kölle, EUROCONTROL
Max Li, University of Michigan
Description coming soon.
Track 3. CNS for UAS and UAS Applications
Co-chairs
Rafael Apaza, NASA
Fred Wieland, Mosaic ATM
Description here
Track 4. Communications and Cybersecurity
Co-chairs
Greg Saconne, Boeing
Jonathan Graefe, Collins Aerospace
Description here
Track 5. Navigation, APNT, and Surveillance
Co-chairs
William Symionow, MITRE
Erik Theunissen, Netherlands Defence Academy (NLDA)
Description here
Track 6. Special Topics
Co-chairs
Kelly Curran, U.S. Department of Transportation
Paul Diffenderfer, MITRE
Description here
Technical Program Chair Biographies
Dr. Dongsong Zeng, The MITRE Corporation
Dr. Dongsong Zeng is a principal communications engineer at The MITRE Corporation. His area of expertise encompasses communications, navigation, surveillance, and air traffic management. Currently he is responsible for systems engineering and technology standardization in support of the FAA NextGen and Data Communications programs.
Dr. Zeng boasts a wealth of expertise in systems engineering, leadership and project management, accrued over the past two decades, with a multitude of projects for national airspace operation, air traffic management, government and commercial data networks, satellites systems, Alternative Positioning, Navigation and Timing (APNT), digital engineering/digital twin, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Prior to his appointment at MITRE, Dr. Zeng worked for Honeywell, where his responsibilities included heading up VHF aeronautical communications, sensor networks, satellite communications, and air traffic control (ATC) systems.
Dongsong Zeng received his doctorate in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech. Dr. Zeng stands proudly as the secretary of RTCA Special Committee 223 “AeroMACS and IPS Standards” and RTCA Special Committee 214 VDL SubGroup “VDL Mode 2 Standards,” and has been awarded for his significant contribution and outstanding leadership to the development of aeronautical standards by the RTCA, Inc. for multiple years. His dedication to the progress and advancement of this field makes him a distinguished professional.

Dr. Rainer Kölle, EUROCONTROL
Rainer Kölle heads the Operational Performance Review Service with EUROCONTROL, Directorate European Green Sky, Aviation Intelligence Unit, Brussels. Prior to joining EUROCONTROL in 2005, he served as a career officer in the German Air Force with 18 years of service experience. His professional career saw him working as aviator, air traffic controller, and in the wider field of air traffic management.
Rainer represents EUROCONTROL in standardization activities and performance related R&D projects and policy working groups (e.g., ICAO’s performance expert group, multi-national performance benchmarking group). His research interests apply data science to operational air transport and air navigation performance and promoting higher levels of transparency through the use of open data for operational performance measurement.
Rainer holds a diploma (MSc) in electrical engineering (communication systems) from the University of the German Federal Armed Forces, Hamburg, 1994, and a doctorate from Lancaster University, United Kingdom, 2013.
