Vanderbilt University to Host 2nd Annual Tennessee Drone and AAM Symposium

Second annual event in Nashville expands focus to include advanced air mobility and urban air mobility initiatives.

by DRONELIFE Contributor T. Seth Ford (Drone615, Nashville, TN)

Capitalizing on the concentrated momentum from last year’s inaugural gathering of Tennessee drone stakeholders, a cooperative effort between the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Aeronautics Division and Vanderbilt University will present the second annual statewide convention on uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM) topics.

Industry leaders, government representatives, academia, and supporting professionals are invited to the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel and Convention Center, November 12-13, 2025, in Nashville, TN. Last year’s symposium was hugely successful, not only for its unprecedented nature, but also due to the support from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) College of Aeronautics – home to one of the US’s most extensive undergraduate drone programs – for hosting it on their campus. This year, Vanderbilt University will host the event, with TDOT acting as Master of Ceremonies.

AAM Takes Center Stage

The 2025 Tennessee Drone and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Symposium is a title unto itself. Adding advanced air mobility, along with follow-on urban air mobility initiatives, to this year’s lineup will resonate with modernists who believe flying cars can safely land in Tennessee cities by 2035.

Tennessee stakeholders have reason to view our state as ripe for opportunities for a few reasons:

1. in 2018, the State of Tennessee was one of the first states to adopt precision agriculture UAS research through a unique partnership with the University of Alaska,
2. Tennessee has the most electric vehicle (EV) battery production plants per any US State, and
3. Tennessee operates in the black year after year without state income taxes.

TDOT is ready to showcase Tennessee as a premier drone right-to-work state.

Expanding the Conversation

This year’s agenda is focused on reaching a broader audience by maintaining the drone-specific presentations and expanding knowledge-sharing opportunities with AAM topics. It’s reported that nearly 250 international cities from 60 countries have varying levels of active AAM programs. In contrast, North American countries have only 41 cities with AAM plans scheduled to roll out over the next five years. This disproportionate figure places the US at a technological disadvantage in attracting global investments and outside interests. This point, and many others, will be discussed as expert panelists, government officials, local industry contributors, and influential international stakeholders congregate to discuss the future of Tennessee-related UAS matters in Music City, USA.

More to follow over the coming months. To learn more, visit the Tennessee Department of Transportation Aeronautics website.

Read more:

• Unity in Crisis: How Drone Teams Mobilized to Aid Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief in Eastern Tennessee
• Tennessee Hosts Inaugural State Drone Symposium at MTSU

T. Seth Ford is a US Marine Corps combat veteran who flew attack helicopters and small drones in combat zones and assisted in small UAS testing and evaluation. Seth holds degrees, certificates, and licenses across multiple fields and disciplines and is currently seeking an MS in Uncrewed and Autonomous Systems at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is the founder and principal pilot of drone615.net in Nashville, TN.