CDA's American Drone Leadership Summit Sets the Course for the Future

COMMERCIAL DRONE ALLIANCE

August 3, 2026

Commercial Drone Alliance Brings Together Top Government and Industry Leaders for American Drone Leadership Summit

Groundbreaking Summit Marked One Year Since White House Executive Orders on Drone Dominance and Airspace Sovereignty, Set the Course for What's Next

WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 3, 2026 – The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) hosted the American Drone Leadership Summit: Drone Dominance and Airspace Sovereignty One Year Later on Friday, July 31, in Washington, D.C., bringing together senior federal officials and top drone industry executives to mark one year since the White House's Executive Orders on Drone Dominance and Airspace Sovereignty.

The sold-out, single-day event featured a rare caliber of speakers — senior officials from the White House National Security Council (NSC), Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of War (DOW), Small Business Administration (SBA), International Trade Administration (ITA), and Office of Strategic Capital (OSC), alongside top industry CEOs. Together, they had candid conversations on how far we've come and where the industry is headed.

"The American Drone Leadership Summit marked a critical moment for our industry and nation," said Lisa Ellman, CEO of the CDA. "We are one year out from White House Executive Orders which ushered in a new era of American drone leadership. We stand at the threshold of unlocking the full potential of commercial drones — a force reshaping American security and economic power. It’s on all of us — industry and government working together — to continue to build the partnerships, policies, and trust required for the U.S. to lead the world in advanced aviation."

"Drone policy is being written in real time, and this Summit brought together the key stakeholders that are shaping it," said Liz Forro, Policy Director of the CDA. "Innovation and security are two sides of the same coin, and regulators, operators, and innovators all have a role to play in getting that balance right. Together we have a real opportunity to build on the momentum from the last year and create policies that support an evolving airspace.”

Sessions throughout the day covered airspace modernization, supply chain security, the importance of regulatory clarity, financing opportunities, counter-drone policy, security successes from the FIFA World Cup 2026, and much more. You can view the full agenda here, a video highlighting the significance of this moment here, and Lisa’s keynote remarks here.

About the Commercial Drone Alliance

The CDA is the leading U.S. non-profit organization focused on U.S. leadership in drone technology and the integration of commercial drones into the NAS. The CDA consists of key leaders in the commercial drone industry and actively participates in regulatory and policy efforts to facilitate the safe and secure development and expansion of domestic commercial drone operations. The CDA collaborates with all levels of government on policies for industry growth and educates on the safe and responsible use of commercial drones to achieve economic benefits and humanitarian gains. We bring together commercial drone end-users, manufacturers, service providers, drone security companies, and vertical markets including oil and gas, precision agriculture, construction, security, communications technology, infrastructure, newsgathering, filmmaking, package delivery and logistics, and more.

Learn more at www.commercialdronealliance.org.

Media Contact: Escalate PR

CDA@escalatepr.com