Michael Toscano Named AUVSI Executive Director

The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Board of Directors is proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Michael Toscano as the Executive Director of AUVSI. AUVSI is the world's largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to advancing the unmanned systems community. Currently, Mr. Toscano serves as the Chairman of the Physical Security Equipment Action Group (PSEAG) and Program Manager for Research and Development for Nuclear Security in the Office of the Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters.

Mr. Toscano succeeds Mr. Daryl Davidson as AUVSI Executive Director. Mr. Davidson has served with AUVSI for the past 20 years and is transferring to a new position as the Executive Director of the AUVSI Foundation, a public charity established to support AUVSI's Student Competitions and other youth activities.

"Daryl Davidson has successfully navigated this association through a period of remarkable industry growth and he has built a strong team to serve the AUVSI membership worldwide," said Mr. Dennis Majkowski, President of AUVSI's Board of Directors. "He will be a true asset to the development of the AUVSI Foundation."

Mr. Majkowski added, "Out of an exceptional pool of candidates, the board was quite pleased to find Mr. Michael Toscano. For nearly two decades, he has been an advocate for this industry and has constantly pursued and promoted usage of unmanned systems. He is, without a doubt, the right person to lead the association forward."

Since 1990, Mr. Toscano has been a member of the Under Secretary of Defense Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics staff. He coordinated three Department of Defense joint programs: the Joint Robotics Program from 1990-2003, the PSEAG from 1991-2003 and 2005-present, and the Joint Unexploded Ordnance Detection and Clearance Program from 2001-2003. Mr. Toscano served on the AUVSI Board of Directors from 2003-2005 and was an Advisory Member to the 2002 Naval Research Advisory Committee study on the Roles of Unmanned Vehicles.

In 1976, Mr. Toscano began his career as a junior engineer supporting the David Taylor Research and Development Center, Annapolis, MD. In 1979, he joined the Naval Sea Systems Command where he held several key positions culminating in selection to Test and Evaluation engineer for Anti-Submarine Warfare Research and Development programs.

Mr. Toscano holds Bachelor of Science degrees in both Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Rhode Island.

The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) is the world's largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to advancing the unmanned systems community. AUVSI's 6,000 members worldwide come from government organizations, industry and academia. AUVSI is committed to fostering, developing, and promoting unmanned systems and related technologies.