OSU, Sinclair partner to target UAS jobs

from Dayton Daily News

Ohio State University and Sinclair Community College’s new partnership should position their students to get jobs in an unmanned aerial systems field that is expected to become a $90 billion industry by 2025.

Experts believe UAS work will create 100,000 jobs across the country in areas such as precision agriculture, the mapping of pipelines or utility lines and even public safety.
“It’s a brand new industry,” said Deb Norris, vice president of workforce development and corporate services for Sinclair Community College. “There are jobs that will be coming our way.”

Sinclair President Steve Johnson on Monday announced a partnership with Ohio State that will give Sinclair students a pathway to a 4-year degree in areas like data analytics and geospatial precision agriculture programs.

Sinclair was the first to offer a UAS certificate program in the state. Ohio State students now will have the opportunity to earn a UAS certificate from Sinclair with their degrees.

“We believe this is a transformative technology,” Johnson said. “We believe there are many jobs to come with this and we believe Ohio should be, is and can be poised to take advantage of this.”

David Williams, dean of engineering at OSU, said Monday: “Partnerships with community colleges, in particular, are very important. We see them as ways we can work together to help drive the economy of the region and of the state.

“Jobs, these days, are what drives everything we think about,” he said.

Also on hand Monday were U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton, Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor John Carey and Dayton Development Coalition President and CEO Jeff Hoagland.

“(These) are driving industries where we see double-digit growth in the next five to seven years,” Hoagland said. “To have Sinclair and Ohio State look at these industries tells us what’s happening in the Dayton region is actually working.”

Sinclair has obtained permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly their UAS at the Springfield-Beckley Air National Guard Base and the Wilmington Airpark. The college will also seek a certificate of authorization to fly over the Don Scott Airport in Columbus and the Molly Caren Agricultural Facility near London, according to officials.

Continue Reading at DaytonDailyNews.com…