Warren Community College continues to dramatically enhance its highly-regarded Drone program.

The Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) has welcomed Warren, located in Warren County, as the newest program provider for its AUVSI Trusted Operator Program™ (TOP).

TOP is a professional unmanned systems community initiative aimed at supporting industry-accepted remote pilot standards and protocols. Individuals who become TOP-certified have demonstrated a strong commitment to the safe operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, and understand the various protocols that must be followed before, during, and after flight.

TOP Providers are educational institutions and other groups who administer the program’s Protocol Certification Manual (PCM) to participants, and Warren’s induction into the small but elite group of program providers is a win for the UAS industry. Warren worked with faculty from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University to update and prepare their curriculum for the TOP audit.

“This is an incredible achievement for the college and our small rural community,” said Dr. Will Austin, President of Warren Community College and the college’s Chief Pilot. “We have worked hard to create a state-of-the-art program that we truly believe is among the best in the country. With this designation we have the opportunity to also attract people from throughout the Northeast. The possibilities are endless and we are so very proud to be one of the trainers focused on safety and professionalism within an industry that has only just scratched the surface of its potential growth.”

Brian Wynne, President and CEO of AUVSI, added, “The unmanned systems industry is continually advancing, requiring professional drone operators to stay on top of their skills and prioritize safety above all else. TOP Providers are the primary resource for commercial UAS pilots to demonstrate a dedication to safety and AUVSI welcomes Warren as a certified provider. The college is well-respected and passionate about exposing their students to promising career paths, and I look forward to deepening our relationship in the months and years to come.”

This is not the first time Warren has been recognized nationally as a key player in the drone training industry. This past December it was selected by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its Unmanned Aircraft Systems-Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS-CTI). In early February 2020, Warren had become the first community college in the nation to get an FAA waiver to fly drones over people not directly involved in their operations.

The drone training program at Warren was established about four years ago as UAS operations became more and more prominent in a growing list of fields, from photography to inspections, to agriculture, to national defense, to search and rescue. To aid its quickly growing program, the college built a state-of-the-art training laboratory, a one-of-a-kind outdoor flight training center, and a drone race track.

To learn more about Warren and its recent certification as a TOP Provider, please tune into the webinar scheduled for Tuesday, February 16th at 2:00 pm EDT. Titled “TOP of the Class: AUVSI & Educators Training for Safety” be sure to attend and learn about how to initiate, develop and scale a drone training program. The webinar is free but pre-registration is required. To register, click here.

Warren Community College offers degree and certificate pathways on a variety of levels in drone technology and unmanned systems (air, ground, and sea). Learn more at warren.edu/drones.