DJI Adds Firepower to Drone Policy Team

Drone manufacturing giant DJI has hired David Hansell, a veteran on aviation policy – and the National Security Council – as Public Policy Manager.

When DJI VP Mario Rebello spoke at InterDrone earlier this month, he met the issue of drones and data security head on.   The manufacturer, while still firmly the leading provider of consumer and prosumer drones in the world, took a hit to its reputation last year when the U.S. Army issued a memo saying it would not use DJI drones amid fears that drone data was being shared with the Chinese government.

“To be clear, this was not true,” Rebello said. “…As some would say, it is fake news…It was speculation and misinformation.”  Nonetheless, despite the fact that a U.S. independent audit firm found that DJI users do have total control over their own data, the rumors have been difficult to quell.  Rebello said that the firm had learned a lesson from the event: “…engage, and engage early.”

DJI has always taken a leading role in drone advocacy.  Attorney Brendan Schulman, DJI’s Vice President of Policy and Legal Affairs, is an active participant in many of the FAA’s efforts to bring lawmakers and industry together to form reasonable drone policy.  By adding Hansell to the team, DJI is bringing a government and security insider to the table to engage – a smart move that may help the industry communicate effectively with the hydra of government agencies and stakeholders worried about drone security.

September 18, 2018 – DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, has hired aviation policy expert David Hansell as Public Policy Manager, helping guide the development of drone laws and regulations to ensure they help America take full advantage of the benefits of drones.

“Drones have opened up the skies for businesses, governments, nonprofits, academics and everyone who enjoys seeing the world from above, and the people who use drones regularly understand the importance of a strong regulatory system to support their work,” Hansell said. “I’m excited that my experience in addressing security concerns, integrating drones into the airspace and explaining drone technology will allow me to advocate for laws and regulations that will allow America to get the most from drone technology.”

David will join DJI’s growing team of public policy and standards professionals worldwide, led by DJI Vice President of Policy & Legal Affairs Brendan Schulman, to advocate on behalf of drone users for reasonable, risk-based regulations for unmanned aircraft systems, and to collaborate on safety and security solutions.

DJI has also recently expanded its Government Relations team, hiring Jordan Gross as Manager of Government Relations. Jordan joins DJI from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber Technology Engagement Center. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and Political Science from Florida State University, and brings a strong background in government and external relations. Jordan will work with government agencies, external partners and other stakeholders to explore the benefits of drone technology as well as the strong security and privacy protocols DJI has built into its products.

Prior to joining the DJI team, David was the Global Aviation Policy Lead for Facebook. In this role, David worked to harmonize the global regulatory environment for high-altitude, long endurance drones while partnering with civil aviation authorities and air navigation service providers worldwide to address the aviation needs of aerospace manufacturers and operators.

David served as a member of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Drone Advisory Committee Subcommittee, the FAA UAS Safety Team and the Royal Aeronautical Society. He also led the formation of both the Aerospace Industries Association’s Upper Airspace Working Group and the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations’ International Upper Airspace Working Group, and served as the inaugural chairperson for both groups.

David previously served as Director for Transportation Security Policy on the National Security Council, where he advanced policies across a broad spectrum of aviation issues for the White House. He worked as the lead aviation subject matter expert for the National Security Advisor and Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.

David was previously an Intelligence Officer and National Security Liaison for both the FAA and U.S. Transportation Security Administration. He was an Air Traffic Controller for the U.S. Air Force, and was an aircrew member and translator for Air Force Special Operations Command. David earned a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma.