Kevin A Adkins

External Links

The views expressed on faculty and external web pages are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Biography

Dr. Kevin A. Adkins holds a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. in aerospace engineering, along with advanced coursework in physics and atmospheric science. He is a professor in the College of Aviation and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in aerodynamics, aircraft performance and topics in uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). During the spring of 2023, he delivered the first collegiate course on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in the United States. Professor Adkins’ research interests include advanced air mobility (AAM) [UAM/RAM], with a specific focus on concepts of operation (ConOps), using UAS and numerical methods to analyze changes to near-surface (ABL/UBL/micro) meteorology, and UAS flight test. Dr. Adkins is the Director of both the Advanced Air Mobility Research and Innovation Lab (AAMRIL) and the Uncrewed Vehicle and Atmospheric Investigation Lab (UNVAIL) at Embry-Riddle. Before coming to Embry‑Riddle, Kevin served as an officer and pilot in the United States Air Force and spent over a decade in the engineering industry, working as both an aircraft designer and lead flight test engineer. Dr. Adkins holds numerous professional memberships and is an elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Education

• Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering: Aerospace Engineering, Mississippi State University
• M.Eng. - Master of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
• B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Engineering: Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ratings and Certificates

• Remote Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration
• Private Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration
• Ground Instructor - Federal Aviation Administration
• Certified Safety Instructor - Unmanned Safety Institute

Currently Teaching

• AS 437: Concepts in Adv Air Mobility
• MSA 599: Special Topics in Aero Science
• UA 390: UAS Practicum I

Courses Taught

AS-309: Aerodynamics

AS-437: Concepts in Advanced Air Mobility

AS-310: Aircraft Performance

AS-399: UAS for Atmospheric Investigation

EGR-101: Introduction to Engineering

EGR-115: Computing for Engineers

AS-120: Introduction to Aeronautical Science

AS-121: Private Pilot Operations

AS-220: Unmanned Aerial Systems

AS-235: Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operation and Cross-Country Data Entry

AS-315: Unmanned Aircraft Systems Robotics

AS-390: Applications of Unmanned Systems Technology

AS-399: Unmanned Aircraft System Data Collection and Analysis

AS-499: Unmanned Aircraft System LiDAR Operations

MSA 534: Applications of Unmanned Systems (graduate-level)

MSA 599: Operational Application of UAS for Research (graduate-level)

WX-201: Survey of Meteorology

WX-261: Applied Climatology

SP-110: Introduction to Space Flight

SP-200: Planetary & Space Exploration

Other Institutions

• Physics I for Engineers
• Physics I and II
• Conceptual Physics

Publications

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Wadler, J., Villafane, L., Cione, J., Adkins, K., and Alvey, G. (2025). What Was the Bumpiest Flight Ever on NOAA’s WP-3D Hurricane Hunter Aircraft? Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc. doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-24-0065.1.

*Nails, K., *Liebergall, E., *Smith, L., Compere, M., El-Sayed, M., and Adkins, K. (2024). Multi-Modal Atmospheric Data Collection using Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors. AIAA 2024-4293. AIAA AVIATION FORUM AND ASCEND 2024. doi.org/10.2514/6.2024-4293.

*Klenke, G., Brines, S., *Hernandez, N., Li, K., *Glancy, R., *Cabrera, J., *Neal, B.H., Adkins, K., Schroeder, R., and Perfecto, I. (2024). Farmer Perceptions of Land Cover Classification of UAS Imagery of Coffee Agroecosystems in Puerto Rico. Geographies. doi.org/10.3390/geographies4020019.

Adkins, K., Li, K., *Maximilian, B., *Cabrera, J., *Neal, B., James, T., *Hajian-Forooshani, Z., Brines, S., and Perfecto, I. (2024). A Simple Mechanism for Uncrewed Aircraft Bioaerosol Sampling in the Lower Atmosphere, Landscape Ecology 39, 133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01918-9.

Compere, M., Adkins, K., *Muthu Krishnan, A., Schroeder, R., and James, C. (2024). The Mobility Virtual Environment (MoVE): an Open Source Framework for Gathering and Visualizing Atmospheric Observations Using Multiple Vehicle-Based Sensors, Environ. Sci.: Atmos., 4, 214-232. doi.org/10.1039/D2EA00106C.

Adkins, K., Becker, W., Ayyalasomayajula, S., Lavenstein, S., Vlachou, K., Miller, D., Compere, M., *Krishnan, A.M., and Macchiarella, N. (2023). Hyperlocal Weather Predictions with the Enhanced General Urban Area Microclimate Predictions Tool, Drones, 7(7):428. doi.org/10.3390/drones7070428.

Compere, M., Adkins, K., and Muthu Krishnan, A. (2023). Go with the Flow: Estimating Wind Using Uncrewed Aircraft. Drones 2023, 7, 564. doi.org/10.3390/drones7090564. (selected as featured volume cover story: https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/7/9; associated patent pending)

Wang, L., Pang, S., Noyela, M., Adkins, K., Sun, L., and El-Sayed, M. (2023). Vision and Olfactory-Based Wildfire Monitoring with Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Ubiquitous Robots, pp. 716-723. doi.org/10.1109/UR57808.2023.10202419.

Macchiarella, N.D., and Adkins, K. (2022). Remotely Sensing with Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Supporting Archaeology and Preserving Cultural Heritage, Proceedings of the Jornada Research Institute Tularosa Conference.

Adkins, K. and Sescu, A. (2022). Wind farms and humidity, Energies, 15(7):2603. doi.org/10.3390/en15072603.

Adkins, K., Bowyer, S., and Albelo, J. (2022). A Qualitative Single-Case Study Exploring the Impact of a Mentor and Cohort on Students’ Academic and Career Decisions, Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching, 5(1). doi.org/10.37074/jalt.2022.5.1.2.

Akbas, M., Adkins, K., and Compere, M. (2021). Real-Time Urban Observations for Aviation, Proceedings of the 2021 AIAA Aviation Forum. doi.org/10.2514/6.2021-2359.

Adkins, K., Albelo, J., and Bowyer, S. (2021). Exploring the Impact of Early Exposure to Research on Dual Enrollment Students: A Qualitative Single-Case Study, Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching, 4(1). doi.org/10.37074/jalt.2021.4.1.2.

Adkins, K., Akbas, M., and Compere, M. (2020). Real-Time Urban Weather Observations for Urban Air Mobility, International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 7(4). doi.org/10.15394/ijaaa.2020.1540.

Adkins, K., Wambolt, P., Sescu, A., *Swinford, C., and Macchiarella, N.D. (2020). Observational Practices for Urban Microclimates Using Meteorologically Instrumented Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Atmosphere, 11, 1008. doi.org/10.3390/atmos11091008.

Adkins, K., *Swinford, C., Wambolt, P., and Bease, G. (2020). Development of a Sensor Suite for Atmospheric Boundary Layer Measurement with a Small Multirotor Unmanned Aerial System, International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 7(1). doi.org/10.15394/ijaaa.2020.1433.

Macchiarella, D., Adkins, K., and Wallace, R. (2020). Using Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Remote Sensing and Data Collection: Aerospace Education and Service Learning. Proceedings of the 2020 AIAA SciTech Forum. doi.org/10.2514/6.2020-1771.

Haywood, J., Sescu, A. and Adkins, K. (2019). Large Eddy Simulation Study of the Humidity Variation in the Shadow of a Large Wind Farm, Wind Energy, 2019. doi.org/10.1002/we.2434.

Compere, M., Adkins, K., *Legon, O., and Currier, P. (2019). MoVE: A Mobility Virtual Environment for Testing Multi-Vehicle Scenarios, Proceedings of the 2019 NDIA Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium. http://gvsets.ndia-mich.org/publication.php?documentID=721 (Best Paper Award)

Adkins, K. (2019). Urban Flow and Small Unmanned Aerial System Operations in the Built Environment, International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, vol. 6.1. doi.org/10.15394/ijaaa.2019.1312.

Adkins, K. and Sescu, A. (2018). Analysis of Near-Surface Relative Humidity in a Wind Turbine Array Boundary Layer Using an Instrumented Unmanned Aerial System and Large-Eddy Simulation, Wind Energy, 21:1155-1168. doi.org/10.1002/we.2220.

Adkins, K., *Bailey, C., and *Taylor, A. (2018). Integrating Unmanned Aerial Systems into the Crop Production System Through On-Farm Research, Journal of Agricultural Science, vol. 10, no. 7. doi.org/10.5539/jas.v10n7p10.

Adkins, K., *Bailey, C., and *Taylor, A. (2018). The Next Step Beyond Identifying Field Variability: Integrating Unmanned Aerial Systems into the Farm Management Workflow, Proceedings of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International Xponential 2018, AUVSI, Denver, CO.

Adkins, K. and Sescu, A. (2017). Observations of Relative Humidity in the Near-Wake of a Wind Turbine Using an Instrumented Unmanned Aerial System, International Journal of Green Energy, vol. 14, pp. 845-860. doi.org/10.1080/15435075.2017.1334661.

Adkins, K., Olds, J., and Ellis, C. (2017). Development, Testing and Use of an Instrumented Unmanned Aerial System to Investigate Changes to the Near-Surface Meteorology within a Wind Farm, Proceedings of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International Xponential 2017, AUVSI, Dallas, TX.

Adkins, K. (2007). Quantifying the Aerodynamic Forces on Objects During a Vault, SOARce: The Society of Accident Reconstructionists, SOARce.

Textbook Chapter

Adkins, K. (2017). “The Elements” in Mirot, A.J. (ed), Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Safety. Orlando FL: Unmanned Safety Institute (ARGUS International), ch. 7, pp. 135-156. ISBN-10: 0998729515; ISBN-13: 978-0998729510.

Online Training Courses

Adkins, K. (2017). Online sUAS Safety Certification Course for Commercial Operators, Unit 8: UAS and the Elements. Unmanned Safety Institute (ARGUS International). www.unmannedsafetyinstitute.org. 2017.

Doctoral Dissertation

Adkins, K. (2017). Analysis of Near-Surface Relative Humidity in a Wind Turbine Array Boundary Layer Using an Instrumented Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and Large-Eddy Simulation (LES), Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. Aero. Eng., Mississippi State Univ., Starkville, MS.

PRESENTATIONS

Adkins, K. (2025). Airmen Aviation Weather Education, Training and Certification, Spring 2025 Friends and Partners in Aviation Weather (FPAW) Conference, Daytona Beach, FL. (conference organizer and host)

Adkins, K. (2025). Engineering Safety Solutions, 2^nd Annual BCAAS Safety Research Symposium. Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety, Daytona Beach, FL. (session moderator: Engineering Safety Solutions)

*Ghosh, T., El-Sayed, M., *Zink, D., Adkins, K., Chine, S., and Cheng, Z. (2025). Developing a Novel Sensor Technology for Atmospheric Microplastic Collection Using Unmanned Vehicles. 3^rd Annual Workshop for Aerosol Science and Technology, Miami, FL. . (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Pinto, J., Lave, J., Sauer, J., Munoz-Esparza, D., Boehnert, J., Wilson, M., de Boer, G., Bailey, S., Adkins, K., De Wekker, S., Bland, G., Houston, A., Smith, E., and Jacob, J. (2025). Evaluation of Building-Resolving Simulations Using Observations from the ISARRA microSCALES Field Campaign. 24th Conference on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology of the American Meteorological Society, 105^th AMS Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference).

Adkins, K., Wallace, R., and Nilsson, S. (2024). Drones, Air Taxis, and Flight Safety in a Crowded National Airspace System. Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety Safer Skies Panel Series. Daytona Beach, FL.

Adkins, K. (2024). Autonomous Florida: Driving Innovation & Mobility. Florida Chamber of Commerce; Autonomous Florida; Jacksonville Transit Authority, discussion panelist, Jacksonville, FL. (invited panelist to discuss advanced air mobility)

Krishnan, A.M., Compere, M., and Adkins, K. (2024). The Wind-Arc Method: Estimating the Wind Using the Vehicle as a Sensor. 9th Conference of the International Society for Atmospheric Research using Remotely-piloted Aircraft, Tulsa, OK. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K., Li, K., *Blasko, M., *Cabrera, J., *Neal, B., James, T., *Hajian-Forooshani, Z., Brines, S., and Perfecto, I. (2024). A Simple Mechanism for UAV Bioaerosol Sampling in the Lower Atmosphere. World Aerobiology 2024, Vilnius, Lithuania. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Wadler, J.B., Villafane, L., Cione, J.J, Adkins, K.A., and Alvey, G.R. (2024). What Was the Bumpiest Flight Ever on NOAA’s WP-3D Hurricane Hunter Aircraft? 36th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Long Beach, CA. (peer-reviewed presentation at national conference)

*Nails, K., *Liebergall, E., *Smith, L., Compere, M., El-Sayed, M., and Adkins, K. (2024). Multi-Modal Atmospheric Data Collection using Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors. AIAA 2024-4293. AIAA AVIATION FORUM AND ASCEND 2024, Las Vegas, NV. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K., Nolen, B., Coulon, J., and Collins, K. (2024). Integrating AAM into a Multimodal System, 2024 National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL. (discussion panel moderator)

Adkins, K. (2024). Rising Up to Meet Environmental Challenges: The Use of Drones in Environmental Science, Spring 2024 College of Aviation Research Colloquium, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL. (invited keynote speaker)

Abdullah, Q., Adkins, K., Davis, J., and Macchiarella, N. (2024). Transportation Applications for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), 103rd Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting, Washington, DC. (peer-reviewed presentation at national conference)

Adkins, K., Compere, M., *Krishnan, A.M., Macchiarella, N., Becker, W., Ayyalasomayajula, S., Lavenstein, S., Vlachou, K., and Miller, D. (2023). Validation of the GUMP Hyperlocal Forecasting Tool Using Meteorologically Instrumented Uncrewed Aircraft, 8th Conference of the International Society for Atmospheric Research using Remotely-piloted Aircraft, Bergen, Norway. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K., and Macchiarella, N. (2023). Experiential Learning at Remote and International Locations, Global Engineering Education Exchange Annual Meeting, Buenos Aires, Argentina. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

*Munevar, A., *Smith, L., *Liebergall, E., *Nails, K., *Moore, R., Compere, M., Adkins, K., and El-Sayed, M. (2023). Developing a Novel Sensor Technology for Measuring Particulate Matter. Environmental Protection Agency People, Prosperity and the Planet. Washington, DC. (presentation at national conference)

Wang, L., Pang, S., Noyela, M., Adkins, K., Sun, L., and El-Sayed, M. (2023). Vision and Olfactory-based Wildfire Monitoring with Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, 20th International Conference on Ubiquitous Robots, Honolulu, HI. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Macchiarella, N., and Adkins, K. (2022). Application of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) for Cultural Heritage Preservation and Archeology, Jornada Research Institute (JRI), Tularosa, NM. (invited 2-day workshop presenter)

Schroeder, R., James, C., Adkins, K., *Cortright, B., and Elston, J. (2022). Fine-scale Monsoonal Boundary Layer Observations in Northern Arizona’s Complex Terrain Using Crewed and Uncrewed Aerial Systems, 20th Conference on Mountain Meteorology, American Meteorological Society, Park City, UT. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Macchiarella, N.D., and Adkins, K. (2022). Remotely Sensing with Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Supporting Archaeology and Preserving Cultural Heritage, Jornada Research Institute Tularosa Conference, Ruidoso, NM. (peer-reviewed presentation at national conference)

*Bowles, J., Compere, M., Adkins, K., and El-Sayed, M. (2022). Developing a Novel Sensor Technology for Measuring Particulate Matter on Unmanned Aircrafts, Air Sensors International Conference, University of California Davis, Pasadena, CA. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K. (2022). Using Drones for Aerial Measurements, invited lecture, College of Engineering and Natural Sciences, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK. (invited guest lecturer)

Bowyer, S., Adkins, K., and Albelo, J. (2022). A Qualitative Single-Case Study Exploring the Impact of a Mentor and Cohort on Students’ Academic and Career Decisions, ConnectUR Annual Conference, Washington, DC. (peer-reviewed presentation at national conference)

*Cortright, B., Schroeder, R., Adkins, K., James, C., Kaplan, M., Koch, S., [and 11 others]. (2021). Detection of Convective Initiation and Suppression in Northern Arizona’s Complex Terrain with Uncrewed and Crewed Aerial Systems, Fall Meeting, AGU, New Orleans, LA. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K. (2021). Are We Clear for Launch: Preparations for the Coming of Advanced Air Mobility, DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase, Deland, FL. (invited presenter, November 2021)

Adkins, K. (2021). Weather Alert: Tech Needs for AAM and UAS, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (BACE), discussion panelist, Las Vegas, NV. (invited panelist)

*Bowles, J., Compere, M., Adkins, K., and El-Sayed, M. (2021). Multi-dimensional Characterization of Particulate Matter Low-Cost Sensors, 39^th Annual American Association for Aerosol Research Conference, Urban Aerosols Working Group, Albuquerque, NM. (peer-reviewed presentation at national conference)

Adkins, K., Akbus, I., and Compere, M. (2021). Real-Time Urban Observations for Aviation, AIAA Aviation 2021, Washington DC. (peer-reviewed presentation at national conference)

Macchiarella, D., and Adkins, K. (2021). Application of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for Cultural Heritage Preservation and Archeology, Jornada Research Institute (JRI), Tularosa, NM. (invited 2-day workshop presenter)

Adkins, K., Compere, M., and *Krishnan, A. (2021). MoVE: A Mobility Virtual Environment for Planning, Rehearsing, Collecting and Visualizing Atmospheric Observations Using Multiple Mobile Sensors, 21st Symposium on Meteorological Observation and Instrumentation, American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting 2021, New Orleans, LA. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K., Albelo, J., and Harrison, S. (2020). Exploring the Impact of Early Exposure to Research on Dual Enrollment Students, STEMinar 2020. (peer-reviewed presentation at national conference)

Adkins, K., Sescu, A., Wambolt, P., *Swinford, C., and *Rentzke, N. (2020). High-Resolution In Situ Measurement of an Urban Boundary Layer Using Instrumented Unmanned Aerial Systems, 15th Symposium on the Urban Environment, American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting 2020, Boston, MA. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Macchiarella, D., Adkins, K., and Wallace, R. (2020). Using Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Remote Sensing and Data Collection: Aerospace Education and Service Learning, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech, Orlando, FL. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K., Rebensky, S., Plotnikov, M., and Vance, S. (2020). Concurrent Sessions: Session 7B - UAS - Operational Applications, National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS), Daytona Beach, FL. (session lead)

Adkins, K., Sescu, A., *Swinford, C., and *Rentzke, N. (2019). Nocturnal Observations of Thermodynamic and Kinematic Properties in a Wind Turbine Array Boundary Layer Using an Instrumented Unmanned Aerial System, Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Compere, M., Adkins, K., *Legon, O., and Currier, P. (2019). MoVE: A Mobility Virtual Environment for Testing Multi-Vehicle Scenarios, 2019 Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium, Warren, MI. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K., *Swinford, C., and Wambolt, P. (2019). Development of a Meteorological Sensor Suite for Atmospheric Boundary Layer Measurement Using a Small Multirotor Unmanned Aerial System, International Society for Atmospheric Research using Remotely-Piloted Aircraft World Congress, Lugo, Spain. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K. and Wambolt, P. (2019). UAS Flight Operations in Complex Terrain: Assessing the Agricultural Impact from Hurricane Maria in the Central Mountainous Region of Puerto Rico and Developing New Data Science Tools, Xponential 2019, AUVSI, Chicago, IL. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Haywood, J., Sescu, A., and Adkins, K. (2018). Humidity Variation in the Shadow of a Large Wind Farm: An LES Investigation, Division of Fluid Dynamics, APS, Atlanta, GA. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K., *Bailey, C., and *Taylor, A. (2018). The Next Step Beyond Identifying Field Variability: On-Farm Investigations Using an Unmanned Aerial System to Accurately Diagnose Crop Disease, Xponential 2018, AUVSI, Denver, CO. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K. (2017). Application of UAS for Environmental Sustainability, anchor lecture for multiday Informatics Days event hosted by the School for Environment & Sustainability at The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. (invited guest lecturer)

Adkins, K., Olds, J., and Ellis, C. (2017). Development, Testing and Use of an Instrumented Unmanned Aerial System to Investigate Changes to the Near-Surface Meteorology within a Wind Farm, Xponential 2017, AUVSI, Dallas, TX. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K. (2016). Observations of Near-Surface Relative Humidity in a Wind Turbine Array Boundary Layer Using an Instrumented Unmanned Aerial System, Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K., and *Elfajri, O. (2016). Analysis of Near-Surface Relative Humidity in a Wind Turbine Array Boundary Layer Using an Instrumented Unmanned Aerial System and Large-Eddy Simulation, Division of Fluid Dynamics, APS, Portland, OR. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K. (2016). UAS: An Overview and Case For, Civil Air Patrol: Florida Field Leadership Exercise (FLeX). (invited guest lecturer)

Adkins, K. (2015). Effect of Derating and Shutting Down of Turbines on the Extracted Power of Large Wind Farms in Thermally-Stratified Atmospheric Boundary Layer, Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA. (peer-reviewed presentation at international conference)

Faculty mentored student presentations:

*Deputy, C., *Zink, D., Muthu Krishnan, A. and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor). (2024). Using Uncrewed Aircraft Systems to Investigate the Urban Boundary Layer, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Student Research Symposium, Daytona Beach, FL.

*Smith, L., *Liebergall, E., *Nails, K., *Benning, D., *Moore, R., Munevar, A., El-Sayed, M., Compere, M. and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor). (2023). Using Stationary and Mobile Low-Cost Sensors to Assess Air Quality, EPA National Design Competition, Washington D.C.

*Munevar, A., *Smith, L., *Liebergall, E., *Alkire, G., *Benning, D., Compere, M., Adkins, K., and El-Sayed, M. (faculty advisor). (2022). Developing a Novel Sensor Technology for Measuring Particulate Matter, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Student Research Symposium, Daytona Beach, FL. (Overall symposium winner)

*Andres, M., Compere, M., Adkins, K., and El-Sayed, M. (faculty advisor). (2021). Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors and Their Future Use with Unmanned Vehicles, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Student Research Symposium, Daytona Beach, FL.

*Bowles, J., *Krishnan, A.M., Compere, M., El-Sayed, M., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor). (2021). New Air Quality Measurement Method: Low-Cost Sensors on UAV’s, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Discovery Day, Daytona Beach, FL. (undergraduate student project runner-up)

*Bowles, J., *Krishnan, A.M., Compere, M., El-Sayed, M., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor). (2021). The New Air Quality Measurement Method: Low-Cost Sensors on UAV’s, National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Asheville, NC.

*Bowles, J., *Krishnan, A. M., Compere, M., El-Sayed, M., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor). (2021). The New Air Quality Measurement Method: Low-Cost Sensors on UAV’s, Florida Undergraduate Research Conference, FL.

*Bowles, J., *Krishnan, A. M., Compere, M., El-Sayed, M., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor). (2020). Low-Cost Sensors on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: an Advancement in Air Quality Measurement, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Student Research Symposium, Daytona Beach, FL. (undergraduate student project runner-up)

*Krishnan, A. M., Adkins, K., and Compere, M. (graduate faculty advisor). (2020). Real-Time Data Downlink Device for Live Telemetry from Instrumented Vehicles, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Student Research Symposium, Daytona Beach, FL. (graduate student project winner)

*Swinford, C., *Oreo, A., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor). (2020). Development of a Three-Dimensional Wind Measurement Sensor Hosted on a Small Unmanned Aerial System, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Discovery Day, Daytona Beach, FL.

*Swinford, C., *Rentzke, N., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor). (2020). Nocturnal Observations of Thermodynamic and Kinematic Properties in a Wind Turbine Array Boundary Layer Using an Instrumented Unmanned Aerial System, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Discovery Day, Daytona Beach, FL.

*Caputo, A., *Oreo, A., *Alterizio, V., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor). (2020). Development of a Meteorologically Instrumented Small Transition Unmanned Aerial System For Urban Boundary Layer Investigations, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Discovery Day, Daytona Beach, FL.

*Swinford, C., *Oreo, A., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor). (2019). Development of a Three-Dimensional Wind Measurement Solution Hosted on a Small Unmanned Aerial System, Florida Undergraduate Research Conference, Jacksonville, FL.

*Oreo, A., *Swinford, C., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor). (2019). Development of a Telemetry System for a Meteorologically Instrumented Small Unmanned Aerial System, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Discovery Day, Daytona Beach, FL.

*Swinford, C., *Oreo, A., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor). (2019). Development of a Three-Dimensional Wind Measurement Solution Hosted on a Small Unmanned Aerial System, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Discovery Day, Daytona Beach, FL.

*Swinford, C., *Oreo, A., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor). (2019). Development of a Meteorologically-Instrumented Small Unmanned Aerial System, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Industry Expo Reception, Daytona Beach, FL.

Professional Experience

Subject Matter Expert & Small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) Safety Instructor.  2015-Present.

Unmanned Safety Institute (USI).  Orlando, FL.

- USI subject matter expert (SME) in aerodynamics and meteorology

Senior Aero/Thermo Flight Test Engineer.  2008-2011.

Chief Aircraft Performance Flight Test Engineer for the S-76D.  2009-2011.

Sikorsky Aircraft.  West Palm Beach, FL.

Flight Test Engineer.  2008.

Piper Aircraft.  Vero Beach, FL.

Aircraft Systems Engineer and Technical Group Manager.  2000-2007.

Smiths Aerospace/GE Aviation.  Grand Rapids, MI.

Engineering Consultant Co-Op.  1996-1997.

CADSi.  Consulting Services Department.

Memberships and Credentials

ISARRA: International Society for Atmospheric Research using Remotely piloted Aircraft

RAeS: Royal Aeronautical Society, Elected Fellow

AMS: American Meteorological Society

AIAA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Senior Member

APS: American Physical Society

AGU: American Geophysical Union, Associate Member

AIP: American Institute of Physics

AUVSI: Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International

NBAA: National Business Aviation Association

FPAW: Friends and Partners in Aviation Weather

CAP: Civil Air Patrol

EAA: Experimental Aircraft Association

AOPA: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

CUR: Council on Undergraduate Research

Appointment to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Advisory Committee

Appointment to the AAM Institute as a Senior Academic

National Board Member: American Meteorological Society (AMS) Board on Education and Outreach

NBAA Weather Subcommittee member

ASTM International F38 Committee Member on Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Awards, Honors and Recognitions

Elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. 2019.

• Elected for having made outstanding contributions over a long period of service in the profession of aeronautics

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s College of Aviation Researcher of the Year. 2020.

Abas Sivjee Outstanding Research Award. 2021 finalist.

Significant Research Award. ERAU College of Aviation. Summer 2019.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Aeronautical Science Department Outstanding Performance Award. 2022.

Alpha Omicron Alpha (AOA) Aeronautical Honor Society’s Professor of the Year Award. 2025.

Winner (team), The PIEoneer Awards 2020, Real Life Learning Award category.

• The most prestigious award in international education that recognizes innovation & achievement in global education (Kosovo). 2019.

Embry-Riddle Parent Advisory Council Faculty Honoree for Significant Service to Students. 2022.

Special Issue Lead Editor. Drones (ISSN 2504-446X): "Weather Impacts on Uncrewed Aircraft"

Best Paper Award: National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) 2019 Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium.

St. Lucie County CTE Distinguished Teaching Award: Honoring Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring. 2018.

Inaugural Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Gaetz Aerospace Faculty Member of the Year Award. 2016.

Unmanned Safety Institute Top Performing Faculty Member Award. 2016.

Labs

• Uncrewed Vehicle and Atmospheric Investigation Lab (UNVAIL)