Baron Johnson

Title
Adjunct Faculty
Email
Department
School of Engineering
College
College of Aviation

Areas of Expertise

Unmanned Aircraft, UAS, Integration, Flight Testing, Unmanned Systems, Autonomy and Autonomous Systems
Baron is an experienced engineer in the unmanned aircraft field. He has been very involved in prototype system development in roles up to Chief Engineer, Principal Investigator, and Project Manager, and is also experienced working with tactical UAS in various roles including integration and flight testing. Baron enjoys the multidisciplinary nature of UAS system development, and the challenges that integration and testing bring. As a commercial, instrument, multi-engine pilot, as well as an experienced RC aerobatics competitor, he has been around aviation most of his life and is fortunate to have been able to leverage his personal passion in aviation into a successful career in aerospace engineering.
  • Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida
  • M.S. - Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering: Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida
  • Remote Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Commercial Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration
  • UNSY 503: Legal & Reg Issues in UAS
  • UASE 692: UAS Capstone Design Proj II
  • UNSY 315: Uncrewed Aircraft Sys & Ops

UASE501 - Introduction to Unmanned Aircraft Systems Design

UASE691 - UAS Capstone Design Project I

UASE692 - UAS Capstone Design Project II

UNSY502 - Current Issues in Unmanned Systems

UNSY503 - Legal & Regulatory Issues in Unmanned Systems

UNSY410 - Unmanned Sensing Systems (course developer)

UNSY603 - Unmanned Systems Operational Configuration (course developer)

2023 - Present: AeroVironment, Inc.

Chief Engineer, MacCready Works Novel Autonomous Systems

2011 - 2023: Dynetics, Inc.

Principal Aerospace Engineer, Air Vehicle Development & Test Branch Manager

2007 - 2011: University of Florida Flight Controls Lab

Graduate Research Assistant

2003 - 2007: University of Florida Micro Air Vehicle Lab

Undergraduate Research Assistant

AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Technical Committee Member, 2009 - 2020

AUVSI Member (Pathfinder Chapter)

AMA - Lifetime Member

2009 AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference - Best Student Paper / Presentation

2009 F3C Heli National Champion - Class II

2008 F3C Heli National Champion - Class I

2007 IMAC Scale Aerobatics National Champion - Freestyle

2002 IMAC Scale Aerobatics National Champion - Freestyle

2002 IMAC Scale Aerobatics National Champion - Advanced