Speaker Bio

Parimal “PK” Kopardekar leads NASA’s Airspace Operations and Safety Program, driving research and technology development for advanced air mobility, autonomous aircraft, and next-generation, data-driven airspace operations. He is best known for initiating and leading Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM), a foundational architecture for distributed, multi-agent airspace coordination, and for advancing the transition from human-centered decision support to AI-enabled operational participation across ATM, UTM, and emerging mobility domains. His work focuses on system-of-systems architectures, autonomous negotiation, and continuous safety assurance in complex operational environments. Previously, he directed the NASA Aeronautics Research Institute and served as Mission Integration Manager for the Advanced Air Mobility Mission, shaping NASA’s strategy for scalable, integrated airspace systems. With more than 30 years of experience, he holds multiple patents, has published extensively, and is a recipient of numerous national awards, including the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal and the AIAA Hap Arnold Award.