Awards

 

2020 Winners

 

Member of the Year

Houston Mills

The AUVSI Member of the Year for 2020 is Houston Mills, Vice President Flight Operations & Safety at UPS. An AUVSI Board Member since 2018, Houston has been an incredible advocate for the AUVSI community. While serving on the Board, he has taken on additional roles as part of our Nominating Committee, UAS Advocacy Committee, and recently as Chair of the AUVSI PAC. His impressive experience spanning aviation, military operations, and corporate management has allowed him to bring a clarity of thinking and passion to every discussion and his leadership has helped steer AUVSI through the uncertainty of COVID-19. We thank him for his ongoing support to the Association and its membership, and for his legacy service in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Chapter of the Year

AUVSI Cascade Chapter

The 2020 AUVSI Chapter of the Year award winner is AUVSI Cascade, led by Jeff Ratcliffe. The Cascade Chapter has excelled in every area this year, which is no easy feat. Their communications are robust and highlight many AUVSI events and member resources, they have grown their membership, and very important to note, they have pivoted with urgency and agility to continue regular and frequent engagement with their membership. The Chapter have provided and maintained excellent engagement with AUVSI Members in the Pacific Northwest.

Chapter Leader of the Year

Adrian Doko, AUVSI Lone Star Chapter

The 2020 AUVSI Chapter Leader of the Year is Adrian Doko, current Chapter President of the Lone Star Chapter. Adrian is a tremendous leader who has attended every AUVSI event since he was elected and has traveled to attend many other Chapters’ events to lend support, learn best practices, and discuss collaboration opportunities. He is the first to lend a hand when needed and maintains a positive attitude and perseverance in the face of adversity. His strong leadership in a year when needed most make him very deserving of this award.

Chapter Development

AUVSI Indiana Chapter

The 2020 AUVSI Chapter Development Award winner is the AUVSI Indiana Chapter, led by Gary Bullock. Chapter Leadership from AUVSI Indiana revitalized the Chapter to be more financially stable, gain Members, and hold regular meetings and events. Gary has been a long-time advocate for uncrewed systems and AUVSI. He was called upon by the Chapter to reinvigorate after a couple of years of inactivity, and he and the Indiana Chapter Leadership team have made amazing strides to energize their community.

Chapter Communications

AUVSI North Carolina Chapter

The AUVSI North Carolina Chapter, led by Darshan Divakaran, is the winner of the 2020 AUVSI Chapter Communications award. Though a new Chapter, AUVSI North Carolina has been innovative in how they approach communication by focusing on social media outreach. This has lent them a wider audience, while still maintaing focus on what is going on regionally with their content. The AUVSI Chapter network is stronger with their leadership.

Chapter Recruitment

AUVSI North Carolina Chapter

The 2020 AUVSI Chapter Recruitment Award winner is the AUVSI North Carolina Chapter, led by Darshan Divakaran. The Chapter was awarded two much-deserved awards this year, as the great efforts by its stellar leadership team show in all they have accomplished this past year. The Chapter Membership continues to grow at an exponential rate, and will no doubt continue its success in the years to come.

 

Past Winners

 

2019

  • Member of the Year — Tom Reynolds
  • Chapter of the Year — AUVSI Saguaro Chapter
  • Chapter Leader of the Year — Jeff Adams, AUVSI New England Chapter
  • Chapter Communications — AUVSI Silicon Valley Chapter
  • Chapter Development — AUVSI D.C. Capital Chapter
  • Chapter Recruitment — AUVSI Florida Peninsula Chapter

2018

  • Member of the Year — Brent Klavon
  • Chapter of the Year — AUVSI Florida Peninsula Chapter
  • Chapter Leader of the Year — Anne Swanson, AUVSI D.C. Capital Chapter
  • Chapter Communications — AUVSI Cascade Chapter
  • Chapter Development — AUVSI Great Plains Chapter
  • Chapter Recruitment — AUVSI Twin Cities Chapter

2017

  • Member of the Year — John S. Walker
  • Chapter of the Year — AUVSI New England Chapter
  • Chapter Leader of the Year — Peter Blocker, AUVSI Pathfinder Chapter
  • Chapter Communications — AUVSI Spain Chapter
  • Chapter Development — AUVSI San Diego Lindbergh Chapter
  • Chapter Recruitment — AUVSI Pelican Chapter

2016

  • Member of the Year — Lauren McCollum
  • Chapter of the Year — AUVSI Silicon Valley Chapter

2015

  • Member of the Year — J.C. Coffey
  • Chapter of the Year — AUVSI USA-OK Chapter

2014

  • Member of the Year — James Grimsley
  • Chapter of the Year — AUVSI Cascade Chapter

2013

  • Member of the Year — Paul McDuffee
  • Chapter of the Year — AUVSI Cascade Chapter

2012

  • Member of the Year — Ben Miller
  • Chapter of the Year — AUVSI Israel Chapter

2011

  • Member of the Year — Mark R. Patterson
  • Chapter of the Year — AUVSI Pathfinder Chapter

2010

  • Member of the Year — Joe Gibbs