Thomas Powers UAV Threat Analyst Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Dr. Thomas Powers is an Aerospace Engineer and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Threat Systems expert with over 10 years of experience with consumer small UAS (sUAS) and over 5 years of experience with adversary UAS and Cruise Missile systems. With a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University focused on implementing autonomous soaring algorithms and involvement in the hobbyist remote piloting community, Powers’ passion for sUAS has fueled a focus on innovation in the threat space. After making the transition from grad school research to threats analysis as a UAS Threat SME at APL, Powers leads a team of UAV pilots focused on supporting numerous counter-UAS efforts across APL and various sponsors by emulating red-team sUAS capabilities and tactics, and executing demonstrations highlighting gaps in current defensive postures. Powers has also become a recognized subject matter expert in UAS threat technologies and threat concepts of operations, and has briefed various audiences on the current UAS threat environment, provided motivation, and fostered understanding on these rapidly expanding and developing threats. Powers is passionate about understanding the interplay between the state of the art in sUAS technology and UAS threat systems to better anticipate the threats of the future.