Tom Frierson
Tom Frierson has rejoined Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence and Innovation and is currently serving as the UAS Chief Pilot.
Tom Frierson served as Senior Flight Test Engineer Squadron Aviation Safety Officer - Modern- Technology Solutions Incorporated July 2018 to Feb 2022. Serving as the squadron safety officer for Emerging Technologies at Edwards AFB. Pilot for Project Vahana - A3 by Airbus. Provided safety management system expertise and flight line experience to flight test operation.
Tom Frierson joined Modern Technology Solutions, Incorporated (MTSI) in June of 2014 after accumulating nearly 25 years of aviation safety experience in the public and private sectors. He served as National Security Division (NSD) Safety Manager for MTSI, as well as the Aviation Safety Officer for the Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence and Innovation (LSUASC) working onsite at LSUASC headquarters at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
Prior to joining MTSI, Mr. Frierson served as the Senior Safety Advisor, for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 2011 to 2014. In this role, he managed safety programs in direct support of the UAE Special Operations Command and the UAE C-17 operations in Kandahar Afghanistan. Tom served as the senior safety advisor for Group 10 UAE AH-64D operations in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He was a board member and special advisor to the Joint Aviation Commander of the UAE military during accident investigations both in the UAE and Afghanistan.
During his military career, Mr. Frierson served in the US Army for more than 22 years where he was responsible for the operational safety of more than 2000 personnel across multiple combat deployments. His operational expertise includes safety management at platoon, company, brigade, and task force levels for aviation units in worldwide locations.
Mr. Frierson received a B.S. in Geography from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. He is the recipient of several military awards, including the US Army Combat Action Badge, two Bronze Stars, two Air Medals, five Meritorious Service Medals, and the US Army Master Aviator Badge. His ratings include private pilot and commercial Rotorcraft-Helicopter Pilot with over 3800 hours.