Henry Cathey

Henry M. Cathey, Jr. is the Aerospace Division Director at the New Mexico State University’s, Physical Science Laboratory (PSL) and serves as the Director of the FAA approved NMSU UAS Flight Test Site. His responsibilities also include support for scientific ballooning, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, other suborbital efforts, and PSL Business Development. He has worked for PSL for over 25 years with his core concentrations focused on research and new technology implementation and has leadership experience in managing a staff of engineers, R&D efforts, test programs, projects, and flight campaign efforts. He serves as the lead for PSL’s ASSURE efforts related to the FAA UAS Center of Excellence for UAS research. His efforts focus on small UAS DAA requirements necessary for limited BVLOS, detection of UAS near airports, and is leading a FAA STEM minority outreach education effort that focuses on UAV’s as the central learning platform. In July 2015 he was awarded a NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal for his contributions to NASA’s mission. Mr. Cathey is an Associate Fellow member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and past Chair the AIAA Balloon Systems Technical Committee.