Tulsa officials release Blue Ribbon Commission report aimed at making Tulsa the Drone Capital of the World

11/21/2024

Commission established in 2023 to develop roadmap for City officials to support growth of Tulsa’s leadership in adoption of drone technologies

Today, Mayor G.T. Bynum, alongside members of the Blue Ribbon Commission, released the report “Blue Ribbon Commission: A Roadmap for City of Tulsa Drone Leadership,” with recommendations aimed at making Tulsa the Drone Capital of the World.

“Tulsa has a record of making bold and innovative moves to support emerging industries, and this is just another example of how we are leading the way in this space,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “As we prepare for how new and exciting technologies like drones will be used in Tulsa, I’m excited at the prospect of what new business will come as a result. In the months and years ahead, I’m also eager to see what can be done at the municipal level with these technologies to strengthen our services, especially our public safety response. I am thankful for the Blue Ribbon Commission and its development of recommendations to help make Tulsa the Drone Capital of the World.”

The full report, “Blue Ribbon Commission: A Roadmap for City of Tulsa Drone Leadership,” outlines actionable recommendations to help the City of Tulsa adopt emerging technologies and foster growth in key industries. This includes safely introducing and adopting drone technologies, educating the public on new opportunities and jobs resulting from the industry’s growth, enhancing cross-departmental collaboration, and other strategies to help position the region as a leader.

Co-chaired by Jennifer Hankins of Tulsa Innovation Labs and Bailey J. Siegfried of NORDAM, the Commission convened 19 organizations representing public, private, and nonprofit sectors in a series of monthly meetings. The sessions explored key areas where the City of Tulsa can support the region’s growth and leadership in autonomous systems and advanced air mobility, and considered critical questions on topics like municipal services, infrastructure, economic and workforce development, and regulatory framework.

"Drone technology is poised to transform transportation, revolutionize industries, and enhance quality of life in ways we are just beginning to envision. Achieving this potential will require more than cutting-edge innovation—it calls for bold, multi-sector collaboration, a unified focus, and a shared commitment to building a sustainable and inclusive future." said Hankins, managing director of Tulsa Innovation Labs. "This report showcases Tulsa's bold vision, setting the standard for how cities should lead in the global tech economy."

The Blue Ribbon Commission was established in 2023 by Mayor Bynum as a result of widespread support and major investment in the industry’s growth. With a strong legacy aerospace presence already in Tulsa, a consortium of regional partners including higher education institutions, area tribal nations, economic development organizations and industry leaders, unlocked more than $215 million in investment to grow Tulsa’s tech economy with a focus on advanced air mobility. That investment has since grown to nearly $250 million and was validated by Tulsa’s designation as a national Tech Hub.

These factors have primed Tulsa to stake a claim as a key player in the industry and provided a strong foundation upon which to build the city’s reputation as the Drone Capital of the World. As this technology becomes more widely adopted, Tulsa will be ready to lead the way in research and development, testing, manufacturing and deployment.

“This Commission has played an important role for Tulsa’s future aerospace ecosystem,” said Siegfried, vice president of Culture, Communication and Human Resources at NORDAM. “The City’s commitment to fostering an environment where innovation can thrive paves the way for local companies like NORDAM to be globally competitive. This engagement not only supports the growth of cutting-edge technologies but also ensures that Tulsa continues to be a place where aerospace businesses can flourish, attract top talent, and drive economic impact for the entire region.”

Highlights from the report include:

• Enhance innovation within and among municipal departments: Already a leader among many cities in utilizing drone technology, this theme focuses on ways the City can expand its capacity to implement and manage emerging technologies and standardize innovation and collaboration among its departments.
• Support the growth of Tulsa’s diverse innovation economy: Home to an emerging economy centered on autonomous systems and advanced mobility, including drones, this theme identifies where the City can double down on these efforts by cultivating growth in private industry, top-tier talent, venture capital, and regional assets.
• Invest in both advanced and traditional infrastructure: Infrastructure investment is crucial to attract and retain private investment. This theme outlines the necessary investments across traditional infrastructure projects and advanced infrastructure projects that support the growth of a burgeoning drone industry.
• Create the national model for privacy, safety, transparency, and community engagement: Public acceptance and trust are crucial to the ethical adoption and implementation of new technologies. With no pre-existing model in place, this theme explores how Tulsa has an opportunity to create the national standard on community outreach and adoption of autonomous systems.

About NORDAM
Founded in 1969 on family values, Tulsa-based NORDAM is a leading independently owned aerospace company with operations and customer support facilities around the world, and a long tradition of building bonds that last. The firm designs, certifies and manufactures integrated propulsion systems, nacelles and thrust reversers for business jets; builds composite aircraft structures, interior shells, custom cabinetry and radomes; and manufactures aircraft transparencies, such as cabin windows, wingtip lens assemblies and flight deck windows. NORDAM also is a major third-party provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul services to the military, commercial airline and air freight markets. Learn more at NORDAM.com.

About Tulsa Innovation Labs
Tulsa Innovation Labs was founded in 2020 by the George Kaiser Family Foundation to catalyze Tulsa's leadership in industries of the future. By uniting the public and private sectors, we are building a world-class tech hub in America's heartland that unlocks opportunity for all.