Update on the sUAS Ecosystem: Understanding the Basics:  Vulnerability Assessment, Detection, CUAS Technology, and Law

Speaker: Colonel (Ret) Bill Edwards (Building Intelligence Inc.)

Date: 20 July 2023

Speaker Session Summary

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are still a relatively new technology and an even newer commercial product; however, the growth of the UAV market has been immense. During the last 13 years, there have been 1.7 million UAVs registered in 100 countries. Of these, 75% are for consumer or commercial use, increasing their prevalence in modern civil society. However, commercial UAVs have the capability to be used by the state militaries and to carry out attacks by violent non-governmental organizations. Because of these capabilities, many states have concerns over the growing commonality of commercial UAVs. Some of these concerns come from past assassination attempts on state leaders using UAVs. Col (Ret) Edwards emphasized that the war in Ukraine has given combatants a wealth of new case studies for both the development and employment of UAVs in combat. Ukraine itself has become an epicenter for UAV development.

Col (Ret) Edwards went on to describe the main types of sensors, functionalities, and capabilities found in most UAVs. He goes on to describe a four-step process on how military operators can identify and counter hostile UAVs. The desire for counter UAV technology is salient among governments and their armed forces. The US alone is expected to spend more than $900 million dollars on counter UAV technology during 2028. These drones are changing the entire threat environment itself, giving military leaders in the field a new and unique threat to contend with. Col (Ret) Edwards identified four ways to counter UAVS: 1) a kinetic response, 2) jamming the UAV electrical systems, 3) GNSS spoofing or disrupting a UAV’s GPS, and 4) taking physical control of the UAV. He also pointed out that most UAVs are classified similarly to airplanes and helicopters, constraining the US military’s ability to disrupt their flights domestically. 

Speaker Session Recording

Briefing Materials

Biography:

Colonel (R) Bill Edwards, CPP, PSP, PCI, CPD is a well-respected Business Executive and Operations Strategist offering over 35 years of experience in operational/technical security, strategic planning, project management, intelligence program oversight, homeland security and defense, and organizational development.  Bill is one of 265 people globally who have earned the ASIS “Triple Crown” certification standard for security and safety professionals. Bill currently serves as President of Federal and Public Safety at Building Intelligence Inc.  Before this role, Bill was a Principal in Protective Design and Security for Thornton Tomasetti; a globally recognized structural engineering firm. As an organizational leader, he has been instrumental in expanding the organization’s global footprint by providing strategic direction in the startup of a new security consultancy division focused on providing comprehensive security-driven risk mitigation approaches and business continuity solutions.  Before this, Bill served as the Director of Intelligence for the Special Operations Command North where he oversaw the successful unification of interagency communications in support of homeland defense. He additionally earned recognition for transforming a struggling $400M DoD technical intelligence program as the Capability Director for the US Army’s Intelligence Center, and served as a Commander in the U.S. Army, overseeing strategic military and intelligence operations in theatres across the globe.

From 2009 to 2011, Bill served as a Commander and Director of Operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. In this highly complex leadership role, he oversaw a U.S. Army Battalion of 800, a $50MM operating and contract budget, and numerous governances, economic development, and security readiness programs. He additionally managed 2 major US. Base facilities, as well as numerous outposts, located throughout a geographic region comparable in size to the State of Kentucky. Lastly, he led the Brigade’s Counter Improvised Explosive Device (IED) network defeat operations. Bill is a published author of, Inside Abu Ghraib:  Memoirs of Two U.S. Military Intelligence Officers, and an editorial writer for Forbes, ASIS International, Security Industry Association (SIA), and Security Magazine. He is routinely invited to speak at nationally attended security industry symposiums. He holds two Master’s Degrees in National Security and Public Administration and most recently attended Harvard’s Executive Negotiations and Duke University’s Executive Leadership programs.