Michael Toscano appointed AUVSI Executive Director

Arlington: The board of directors of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) has announced that Michael Toscano would be the Executive Director of AUVSI.

AUVSI is amongst the world's largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to advancing the unmanned systems community.

Toscano is presently chairman of the Physical Security Equipment Action Group (PSEAG) and a program manager for research and development for nuclear security in the office of the deputy assistant to the secretary of defence for nuclear matters.    

Toscano succeeds incumbent Daryl Davidson as AUVSI Executive Director.

Davidson 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.

Since 1990, Toscano has been a member of the under secretary of defence 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.

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. He holds Bachelor of Science degrees in both civil and environmental engineering from the University of Rhode Island.