Ryan Strange receives the Order of Prometheus Medallion and Award from AUSVI

HUNTSVILLE CENTER
Published Sept. 16, 2022
award; AUSVI; Order or Prometheus

Ryan Strange receives the Order of Prometheus Medallion and Award from AUSVI. (Courtesy photo)

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- The U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville Divisions’ Ryan Strange received the Order of Prometheus Medallion and Award from The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUSVI) for the development of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program, which began in 2017.

AUVSI is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the unmanned systems and robotics industry through communication, education and leadership. Comprised of distinguished members from government, industry and academia, their Pathfinder Board of Directors reached unanimous consent to recognize Stranges’ ongoing work with the UAS program at Huntsville Center.

Strange, a research physical scientist for the UAS program, has worked in several areas such as structural inspections, weapons effects, volumetric analysis, geotechnical engineering, videography, and program management, and when small UAS capabilities began to emerge, he realized the time and cost savings these systems and technology could provide. 

As a commercial pilot, Strange understood the challenges air space management and integration would have on the industry and became an expert on FAA rules, regulations and policies. As a military organization, Strange recognized the difficulties the commercial UAS products would have in obtaining the required airworthiness release documentation necessary for flight operations. 

Strange worked with Huntsville center leadership and the Army airworthiness authority to map out the requirements to employ these new capabilities, including developing a training program that would allow his team and other centers across the Army Corps of Engineers to employ a wide range of UAS systems.

“I am truly honored to be nominated and selected for the Order of Prometheus Medallion and Award. For me, the ability to teach someone (a non-pilot) how to safely operate UAS as a beneficial tool for their projects and missions is where I get the most fulfillment,” said Strange. “Receiving this award means the world to me and I want to thank those individuals for their nominations. I’m so glad that people recognize the true benefits of what Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) products can do for them not only in civil works, but also on the battlefield.”