Founder: Dan Sloat, JD/MBA FRAeS

Growing up in Wichita, Kansas, I vividly remember aviation manufacturing, aerospace engineering, and flight operations were ever-present in the local economy. Kansas boasts a rich history and a robust ecosystem of aviation and aerospace companies. With a long-standing legacy, and a skilled workforce, Kansas is home to global leaders. Don't forget: without the 'fly-over states' there wouldn't be any flying in the first place.

I earned Direct Admission to the esteemed Kelley School of Business at Indiana University to study Management & Entrepreneurship where I developed a solid business acumen. Along the way I served as President of my Residence Hall, VP of Campus Programming, and Student Body Vice President to 40,000 peers. I leveraged this experience to win elections as Law School Class President and Student Body President of the Rainbolt Graduate School of Business. 

After earning my Air Battle Manager wings & Top Secret SCI clearance, I deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, SOCOM Counternarcotics, and Operation Inherent Resolve. During my 6 years in the DoD ecosystem at Tinker AFB, I was awarded an Air Force Commendation Medal, Achievement Medal, as well as a Humanitarian Service Medal for my efforts to aid vulnerable Syrian refugees in the fight against ISIS.

In Oklahoma I earned graduate degrees in Law, Business, and Economics, as well as a private pilot's license. I founded the Aviation Law Society to encourage attorneys to think proactively about aviation industry developments. I was instrumental in establishing an International Law certificate and re-establishing the International Law Section of the OBA. For my original arguments in Law & Science, I was reconized with the AmJur and Civil Liberties Award for illuminating the risks of Weaponized Drones.

Over the course of 4 years, I graduated from the Leadership Development Program and led cross-agency, high-stakes projects across a diverse array of departments: Real Estate; Workplace Strategy; Supply Chain Logistics; Cybersecurity Analysis; Customer Insights; and Public Safety Communications for the FirstNet Authority. I trained to become a drone pilot to inspect cell towers in the wake of natural disasters and earned a National Accessibility in Action Award.

Growing Volatus into the #8 vertiport company in the world according to the AAM Infrastructure Index, was a thrilling endeavor. We forged strategic alliances quickly as a scrappy young startup until Acquisition. Witnessing many AAM milestones and networking with top industry leaders has been a fulfilling experience. Believe it or not, I personally wrote the original entry for 'Advanced Air Mobility' for Wikipedia. I also served as the AAM beat writer for Robb Report to directly increase public awareness.

In 2023, I launched a 501c3 nonprofit research center dedicated to educating and advocating for the broadest public benefit through the aviation ecosystem globally. We have an established network of 400 aviation industry professionals and liaisons across 80 nations with followers numbering 10,000 strong. Our industry reports and speaker forums garnered selection as AAM Community Engagement Team of the Year '24 and Communicator of the Year '25. Pictured here is my Keynote for NASA's Inaugural UAS Symposium at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Teaching at the University of Arkansas Graduate College of Engineering is rewarding to say the least. My students are great! I also mentor law students for our Autonomous Transportation Public Trust Initiative which was accepted as an official Co-Creation Challenge at the Osaka World Expo. At ITAerea Aviation Business School in Madrid we are pioneering a Master's in AAM Management. Guest lectures include Embry-Riddle, K-State Aerospace Campus, and Sapienza Technical University in Rome.

With 17 years of leadership experience under my belt, I was flattered to be headhunted to drive US business development for an Australian company. Electro Aero provides aviation-grade electric charging solutions that save operators time, money, and space. As Director of Industry Relations for GreyJay, I advocate for First Nations Indigenous Rights and as Director of Community Engagement for AKUTE Networks, I lead outreach efforts to get better tech in the hands of First Responders. 

On October 12th 2025, precisely 100 years to the day since the last running of the Pulitzer Trophy, we hosted the first ever all-electric crewed air race in world history! To achieve public acceptance of emerging aviation technology, I recruited 7 race pilots, BETA, and Textron plus a team of outstanding aerospace professionals at NAAMCE. We set 3 world records and surpassed both Air Race E in Europe & Airspeeder in Australia for the title. For my efforts, I was honored as the AAM Global Leader of the Year.

To kickoff 2026 I was named as the first Executive Director of YAA, the FAA's official youth education and workforce development partner. Established in 1997, YAA has educated over 10,000 kids. We are launching a 24-city national tour to bring the excitement of aviation to underserved communities and encourage middle & high school students to consider a career in the US Aerospace Industry. Certified Nonprofit Professional.

To commemorate 100 years since the life of the first African American and Native American woman to earn an international pilot's license, I led the effort to declare April 30th as "Bessie Coleman Day" for the City of Tulsa. Thank you to Mayor Monroe Nichols for his leadership and support! Working closely with Dr. Jilda Motley and Leisa Stallworth, her direct descendants, our aviation arts festival featured works across film, music, and literature - including our original children's book "My ABCs: A Bessie Coleman Story."

The Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education brought me in for a special project that I won't soon forget: personally edit a 500 page textbook on the Commercialization of AAM technologies written entirely by Artifical Intelligence. In the Age of AI, trustworthy subject matter experts are more important than ever. In particular I noticed that LLMs struggle to draw accurate conclusions dervied through the Principle of Recency after correcting hundreds of material errors.

Serving on the Forum's AVIATE Committee to advise on the future of autonomous flight was a dream come true. Click the picture to read our latest white paper. I have also advised the State DOTs of Illinois and  Tennessee, the Cities of San Dieog and Miami, and the Nation of Australia. Pictured here is my Keynote for the first ever Advanced Air Mobility Symposium for ICAO, the aviation agency for the United Nations.

Being elected to the highest grade of FRAeS was a profound recognition of my contributions to the industry thus far. Aviation is my passion and it genuinely means so much to share my excitement about the potential benefits of AAM for society. Fun Fact: I'm also an avid sailor and trained Day Skipper in the Royal Yachting Association. Steph & I love taking our dog Deacon out for a sail on the Boston Harbor in the summers. Please reach out if you have ideas for collaboration, Thanks!