Deputy Director

Hannah Thach is the Deputy Director for ASSURE (The Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence), which was named the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Center of Excellence (COE) for UAS Research in 2015. She is responsible for developing research teams from the ASSURE alliance to conduct projects at the request of the FAA. In addition, she oversees each project’s overall performance and completion related to the objectives.

Hannah has worked in the aviation industry since 2006, where she began her career as a civilian Helicopter – Certified Flight Instrument Instructor (CFII). She later went on to receive her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Colorado State University and her Project Management Professionals (PMP) certification. In 2024, she received her Master of Business Administration from Mississippi State University. 

Before moving to Mississippi where she transitioned to the unmanned arena, she worked for FlightSafety International. There she designed, developed, and maintained helicopter training programs for various airframes.

Hannah started working for Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in 2017, first as a UAS Flight Operations Technician and later as a UAS Program Manager. There she managed the project portfolios for the FAA, to include all ASSURE projects, and the Department of Defense (DOD).

Nancy Served In The U.S. Army For Over 30 Years, Retiring In 2023. Initially Branched As A Field Artillery Officer, Nancy Transferred To The Army’s Strategy Branch And Completed Her Career As An Assistant Professor At The National Defense (NDU) University’s Eisenhower School. Nancy Also Served As The Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff Chair And Army Service Chair At NDU’s College Of Information And Cyberspace. Nancy’s Most Recent Service Also Includes Two Tours At The Pentagon In The Office Of The Secretary Of Defense For Policy, Two Tours At Combatant Commands (Special Operations Command And Indo-Pacific Command) And A Tour In Iraq With The 25Th Infantry Division.

Nancy Graduated Phi Beta Kappa From The University Of Kentucky (U.K.) With A Bachelor Of Arts Degree In Geography-Urban/Regional Planning. She Also Earned A Law Degree From U.K. And A Master’s Degree In Public Administration From Kentucky State University.