March marks the beginning of a month dedicated to the theme of "R&D to Real World Operations" month on the Dawn of Autonomy podcast, proudly sponsored by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO). In this article, we interview James Grimsley, the Executive Director of Advanced Technology Initiatives at CNO, who has been instrumental in shaping the drone industry. With a focus on emerging aviation and related technologies, and in collaboration with key stakeholders, CNO has pioneered the creation of a groundbreaking Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) complex and sandbox for real world operations for aerial technologies in Durant, Oklahoma. Here we dive deep into how the CNO’s history and culture inform its vision of establishing an aviation technology and innovation hub that will transform its own people, rural society and the world at large.
Topics: Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, R&D, James Grimsley, operations center, drones, advanced air mobility, AAM