Sergio Quiros, M.S. 🇺🇸 🇮🇱 🎗️’s Post

An interesting 'who has authority?' dilemma as UAS continue to proliferate there’s increased appetite for people to acquire and operate counter-UAS systems, Under current law under certain conditions, the DHS has the authority to interdict and bring down drones that are operating in an unsafe manner. The proposed legislation extends that power to the FAA under limited circumstances. How do your resolve this? What are the repercussions? "A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month would extend the authority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to mitigate threats from errant unmanned aerial systems, while also granting the FAA some additional counter-UAS (Uncrewed Air System) power." "The Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act, introduced in the House Homeland Security Committee, replaces the Preventing Emerging Threats Act of 2018, slated to expire soon The bipartisan legislation marks the most significant effort that Congress has yet undertaken to counter the growing threats posed by drones operated in an unsafe or malicious manner near airports and other critical infrastructure, or densely crowded venues such as football stadiums." "A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month would extend the authority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to mitigate threats from errant unmanned aerial systems, while also granting the FAA some additional counter-UAS power." "The Counter-UAS bill would extend existing DHS and DOJ counter-UAS authorities through October 1, 2028. According to a statement by Republican members of the House Homeland Security Committee, among other measures, the legislation will: 1) Clarify and improve coordination requirements among DHS, DOJ, the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the FAA. 2) Ensure that information gathered by approved counter-UAS systems is not misused or retained for extended periods of time. 3) Prohibit DHS and DOJ from using or authorizing the use of counter-UAS systems that have been manufactured by certain foreign (notably Chinese) companies. 4) Provide Homeland Security Investigations, the principal investigative component of DHS, with counter-UAS authority; and provide DHS with counter-UAS authority to protect public airports. 5) Allow DHS to authorize the acquisition, deployment, and operation of counter-UAS systems by owners or operators of covered sites and critical infrastructure. 6) Require DHS to establish a counter-UAS mitigation pilot program, designating five pilot sites under which selected state law enforcement agencies may operate approved counter-UAS mitigation systems. 7) Require the FAA, in coordination with DHS and DOJ, to develop a plan for counter-UAS operations at airports." #counteruasdrone #uasdroneregulations https://lnkd.in/eahKizTK

The reports of 50 drones coming off the ocean in Ocean County, NJ, should be front-page news nationwide. The lack of clear answers from law enforcement, the FBI, or the military is both alarming and unacceptable. How is it possible that with over $1 trillion spent annually on defense, we can’t identify or respond to a swarm of drones flying over U.S. soil? The military denies ownership. The FBI says, “We just don’t know.” And state officials assure us there’s no threat—without providing any evidence. This is this year’s version of the spy balloon: a chilling reminder of how unprepared we are to address modern security challenges. If these drones are foreign, we’re facing a severe national security breach. If they’re domestic, why the silence? The government’s inability—or unwillingness—to provide answers undermines trust and raises critical questions: • What are these drones? • Who is operating them? • Why isn’t this a national priority? We deserve transparency, accountability, and assurance that our skies are protected. Dismissing this as “no threat” while providing no details is not leadership; it’s negligence. New Jersey and the nation deserve answers. We need action, not excuses

Spot on Gen VanHerck. A difficult challenge, not unsolvable, based on conflicting policies, federal laws, and who actually owns the various Counter small UAS mission sets. Add to this a lack of homeland defense investments to improve our National Air Space (NAS) and air domain awareness ability’s writ large (e.g. the ability to detect, characterize, identify, track) irt Group 1-3 drones. This is before we even discuss how best to mitigate and/or defeat sUAS…and here we are once again

100%! Complex security challenges should never be reduced to a 30-second sound bite. Germany and other NATO members face similar challenges see https://lnkd.in/eCEPc96k. Simply stating that these incidents are innocuous is not helpful in creating understanding. Whether or not these flights in themselves are offensive does nothing to reduce the threat of flights which are used for operational effects such as harassing, building understanding of pattern of life, identifying targets/geolocations, or desensitizing in advance of a physical attack. Classifying a single incident or series of incidents without understanding the broader context is unhelpful. Calling for a "shoot down" is indicative of a lack of knowledge and a failure of leadership to inform themselves before speaking publically (hint: this failure is not a military failure). Laws at national and local levels were enacted without the foresight of this type of threat. Urgent action is needed, but only based upon in-depth understanding of the threat and the potential implications that the selected response has on democracy. #natsec #strategicemergence #Nato

Some great perspective on what will likely be a more frequently recurring activity as drones continue to proliferate and evolve. So much more to say on this, but will simply say, we are being presented with opportunities to learn and improve in these moments (and there are equities for the United States beyond its borders). If we are dismissive of the opportunity to evolve and improve it will likely come at a much greater cost later.

"Their ignorance is your fault" I had a mentor tell me that someone's lack of knowledge, or their ignorance on a specific situation, was my fault for not taking the time to educate them. I believe we're in this situation with the ongoing drone saga. We have numerous people, including members of Congress (see attached), calling for the shoot down of drones being detected over New Jersey, and other locations in our country. I wish it was just that simple and just that safe ... but it's not. I dealt with this during the PRC spy balloon saga. Capabilities to detect and engage the threat, in the homeland, are limited. Where there is capability we have a conflicting dichotomy where DoD and DHS are focused on national security and DOT and FAA are focused on air safety thus not allowing/supporting the use of many capabilities developed and utilized in other parts of the world. Many policy challenges must be addressed, and with urgency. With current policy, law, and capabilities, this is a very tough problem. During the Langley drone incursions various aircraft, including our most advanced, were utilized in an attempt to further characterize the potential threat, with extremely limited results. I cringe when people say to just shoot them down … it’s not that simple and it certainly is not safe to have a missile that is launched from an aircraft flying 300-600 knots, or from the ground or a ship, with the missile flying at 2-3 times the speed of sound with a warhead that explodes expanding titanium rods at 1000’s of feet per second, over a very populated NJ or NY area. Our Gov't should take the time to explain the challenges associated with the situation. It is required to build trust and confidence with the media, Congress, and most importantly, the American People.

It’s on everyone’s minds, Mysterious Drones Across the U.S. – What’s Going On? 👽🛸🚁 Thousands of unexplained drone sightings have been reported across the United States in recent weeks, from military bases in New Jersey to airports in California. Citizens are demanding answers, but so far, authorities remain tight-lipped. 🔹 In New Jersey, drones have been spotted over military installations and sensitive airspace, causing significant alarm. Some bases have responded by installing military-grade drone detection systems to identify and neutralize potential threats. 🔹 Donald Trump is canceling his trip to Bedminster out of caution, reportedly due to drones seen flying over the area. What We Know: 🛸 The FBI is actively investigating thousands of these sightings nationwide, but details remain scarce. 🛸 Airports in California have reported drones disrupting air traffic, leading to serious safety and operational concerns. 🛸 Some drones are reported to be highly sophisticated, raising questions about their origins and intent. The Theories: 1️⃣ Foreign Surveillance: Are these drones part of an operation conducted by Iranian operatives or other foreign actors? 2️⃣ Government Activity: Is the U.S. government searching for nuclear traces or testing new surveillance technology? 3️⃣ Unauthorized Civil or Commercial Drones: Are rogue operators pushing legal boundaries? 4️⃣ Aliens? As always, UFO theories haven’t been ruled out. 5️⃣ Security Vulnerabilities: Could critical U.S. infrastructure be exposed to new, emerging threats? The Growing Concern: 🔹 Citizens are frustrated by the lack of answers from authorities. 🔹 The FBI’s ongoing investigations show the scale and seriousness of the problem, but the silence fuels speculation. 🔹 Military bases are already deploying advanced detection systems—what do they know that we don’t? Key Questions: 👽 Who is operating these drones—and why 👽 How are they bypassing airspace security near critical sites? 👽 Are we prepared to defend against coordinated drone activity? This isn’t a story to ignore. As drones become more sophisticated and accessible, incidents like these highlight vulnerabilities in national security and aviation safety. What do you think? 🔹 Should authorities be more transparent with the public? 🔹 Is this the sign of a new security threat we’re not ready for? Let’s discuss in the comments. ==================================== Follow me for mind blowing information and cybersecurity news. Stay safe and secure! ==================================== #Drones #NationalSecurity #FBIInvestigation #UAV #CriticalInfrastructure #AviationSafety #TechNews #HomelandSecurity #Trump #DroneThreats

👇This. This. More of this. 👇 Speaking from my personal experience and perspective, the same can be said for the intelligence community’s role in assisting in gaining attribution for these actors (something that the DHS and FBI are inherently leads on, by the way, until such time as we can prove a foreign nexus…reference the incredibly serious Salt Typhoon situation). Does the IC have the ability and legal framework to bring resources to bear in the homeland? Yes. Is it slow, deliberate, and somewhat cumbersome? Yes; intentionally so to protect the informational freedoms of Americans. So when people say “how can we not know?” The answer is complicated, but the bottom line is that we aren’t a police state or a military dictatorship, so we don’t have granular information about the homeland at all times, nor should we.

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Mark your calendar for MAY 1st, our next Women in Emerging Aviation Technologies Executive Council online. The topic is "Malicious Misuse of Commercial UAS" Join Host Lori DeMatteis and Moderator Jennifer Pidgen with Guest Speaker Kerry Chávez. "As commercial drones cascade en masse into society, they are increasingly exploited by malicious actors for violent or criminal agendas. Several states, security providers, and policymakers are sprinting to secure a world with sparse aerial defenses and a two-dimensional mindset. The furthest-reaching frameworks are the structural ones–regulation and frontend safeguards that can dovetail with intelligence and tactical efforts. Private industry has the potential to play a pivotal role in national and international security. In this talk, attendees will learn about current and emerging threats, challenges, and solutions including how businesses can enrich the efforts". Register > https://bit.ly/3vVbw8T Sponsored by: MatrixSpace Presented by #womenanddrones #drones #uncrewedaviation #uncrewed #drone #networking #online