Abby Smith serves as the Executive Director (a) of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Security Office, which serves as the FAA's focal point for all matters related to drone and advanced air mobility (AAM) security in U.S. airspace. Within this role, Abby leads FAA's efforts to safely integrate detection and mitigation systems for drones and AAM operations into the National Airspace System (NAS).
Prior to joining the UAS Security Office, Smith served as the Deputy Executive Director of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Office, which serves as the FAA's focal point for all matters related to civil and public use of drones in U.S. airspace and is responsible for coordinating the integration of advanced air mobility (AAM) operations into our aviation system. She also provided formulation of aviation policies, plans, goals, and priorities through stakeholder outreach.
Smith began her career with the FAA in 1991 as an air traffic controller at the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center. Smith relocated to Washington, DC, in 1999 to join Air Traffic Systems Requirements as a requirements analyst. She then joined the National Transportation Safety Board in 2001 as an accident investigator, where she worked on multiple investigations, including American 587. Since returning to the FAA in 2002, she has held multiple positions including Domestic Event Network Supervisor, Air Traffic Evaluations Manager, ATO Safety Management System Implementation Manager, Professional Training and Development Manager, Workforce Services Manager, Senior Advisor in System Operations, Director of Aeronautical Information Services, Director of Air Traffic Organization's Technical Training, and most recently, Executive Director of Policy and Plans within the Office of Policy, International Affairs, and Environment, overseeing strategic planning and policy development for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Smith graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, and received her Master of Science degree in Dispute Resolution from Nova Southeastern University.
She is an avid cyclist, marathoner, paddle sport neophyte, hiker, camper and gardener.
