Vigilant Aerospace Systems CEO Kraettli Epperson joined industry and state leaders on April 3 for the panel discussion “Skyward Connections: Aligning Oklahoma’s UAS Industry to Federal Opportunities” at Innovation Hall in Oklahoma City. The session was part of Oklahoma Aerospace Week and focused on how Oklahoma’s uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) sector can compete for federal work, build stronger relationships with agencies, and use partnerships to expand visibility and access.
Federal Opportunities for Oklahoma UAS Companies
The event agenda included opening remarks, a panel discussion, audience Q&A, and a networking reception. The discussion centered on five main topics: strategies for marketing capabilities to federal decision-makers, approaches for engaging federal agencies, common contracting challenges, the role of partnerships in strengthening Oklahoma’s aerospace sector, and ways to use initiatives such as the UAS Cluster Initiative for federal-level visibility.
Panelists Across Industry, Government, and Research
Epperson appeared on the panel with Victoria Natalie, Director of Strategic Innovation at OSU OAIRE; Drew Hendricks, Regional Engagement Principal for the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN); Leshia Pearson, Director of Aerospace & Defense at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce ACES program; Col. Shane Riley, former Director of Unmanned Aerial Systems and Launched Effects Program for the Oklahoma Army National Guard; and Doug Wood, State Manager for Advanced Air Mobility at the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA). The panel was moderated by Kinsley Jordan, Oklahoma State Director for the UAS Cluster Initiative.
Key Topics: Contracting, Partnerships, and Visibility
The panel topic aligned closely with current priorities across Oklahoma’s aerospace and defense sector. The session was designed to help companies better understand how to position themselves for federal opportunities while also building the relationships needed for long-term program participation. That included practical discussion of federal engagement, industry collaboration, and the value of coordinated state and regional initiatives in raising the profile of Oklahoma aerospace companies.
For Vigilant Aerospace Systems, the discussion also reflected the company’s ongoing work in airspace safety, detect-and-avoid, and airspace management for uncrewed aircraft. These are the kinds of capabilities that increasingly depend on coordination among commercial developers, state aerospace organizations, research institutions, and federal stakeholders. Events like this panel help connect those groups in one place and provide a forum for discussing how Oklahoma companies can move from technical capability to federal adoption. This appearance was one of multiple Vigilant Aerospace activities scheduled during Oklahoma Aerospace Week.
The “Skyward Connections” panel added a specific focus on federal engagement for the UAS sector. By bringing together leaders from state government, research, industry, and defense-related programs, the session highlighted the practical steps required to compete for federal work and the importance of coordinated regional support. For companies working in advanced aviation and autonomous systems, that conversation remains central to turning technology development into long-term deployment opportunities.
About Oklahoma Aerospace Week
Oklahoma Aerospace Week is a statewide program organized by the Oklahoma City Innovation District in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics. The event highlights Oklahoma’s aerospace and defense industry through panels, student experiences, networking events, and public programs focused on innovation, workforce development, and the technologies shaping the future of flight, space, and national defense in the state. 2025 marks the second annual Aerospace Week, that ran from March 31 through April 6.
Vigilant Aerospace is the leading developer of multi-sensor detect-and-avoid and airspace management software for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS or drones). The company’s product, FlightHorizon, is based on two NASA patents and uses data from multiple sources to display a real-time picture of the air traffic around a UAS and to provide automatic avoidance maneuvers to prevent collisions. The software is designed to meet industry technical standards, to provide automatic safety and to allow UAS to safely fly beyond the sight of the pilot. The software has won multiple industry awards and the company has had contracts and users at NASA, the FAA, the U.S. Department of Defense and with a variety of drone development programs. Visit our website at www.VigilantAerospace.com