Ex-VP of Policy at DJI: Brendan Schulman
Brendan Schulman, affectionately known as "The Drone Lawyer," has significantly influenced global drone policy and safety frameworks. As Vice President of Policy & Government Relations at DJI and later at Boston Dynamics, Schulman has been at the forefront of shaping key regulations, advocating for balanced rules that support innovation while ensuring safety and accountability.
In 2015, DJI recruited Schulman to lead its global policy team, tasking him with reconciling rapid technological innovation and evolving regulation. During his tenure at DJI, Schulman advanced the development and adoption of industry safety features such as geofencing, altitude limits, and return-to-home safeguards, which became global standards, helping address public and regulatory concerns about drone safety.
Schulman's influence extends beyond policy-making. He built his reputation early on by legally defending drone users, including successfully challenging the FAA in court, which helped protect pilot rights and shaped regulatory approaches from the start of commercial drone integration.
One of Schulman's most notable achievements was earning national attention after winning a landmark case overturning the first FAA civil penalty issued to a drone operator. This victory reinforced user rights and set a precedent for future cases.
Schulman's vision for technology policy is rooted in transparency, user rights, and open dialogue between innovators and regulators. His approach to emerging tech, such as drones, is based on actual risk, not fear or politics. This philosophy has resonated in drone regulation, industry safety, and technology governance.
In the drone community, Schulman is a highly respected figure. Jacob Stoner, CEO of Flyeye.io, and Amit Ganjoo, Founder & CEO of ANRA Technologies, are among those who admire his work. David Benowitz, Head of Research at DroneAnalyst, and Eno Umoh, Co-founder of Global Air Drone Academy (GADA), also acknowledge his influence. Tom Walker, CEO of DroneUp, and Roger Luo, President of DJI, are other notable figures who recognize Schulman's contributions to the industry.
Schulman's influence continues to resonate, and his work extends beyond drones. In 2021, he became the VP of Policy & Government Relations at Boston Dynamics, expanding his expertise to robotics policy. Here, he continues to advocate for fair standards and innovation in mobile automation.
In conclusion, Brendan Schulman's influence spans legal advocacy, regulatory policy, and practical safety technology implementation, making him a central figure in shaping the modern drone industry's regulatory environment globally. His work has not only shaped the drone industry but also set foundations for the safe integration of drones and other emerging technologies into national airspace systems worldwide.
- Brendan Schulman's contributions extend beyond drones, as he currently works on robotics policy at Boston Dynamics, advocating for fair standards and innovation in mobile automation.
- Schulman's philosophy towards emerging technologies, such as drones and robots, is rooted in transparency, user rights, and open dialogue between innovators and regulators.
- Schlman's influence in the drone community extends to various sectors, including cybersecurity, as his work addresses concerns about public and regulatory safety in the context of drone technology.
- In addition to his work in technology sectors like automation and drones, Schulman has shown an interest in education-and-self-development and sports, serving as a consultant for the FIS Cross Country Ski World Cup and promoting the use of technology in educational settings.
