NASA Guam Space Grant and NASA Guam EPSCoR invite UOG students to fly high by joining the UOG Drone Corps.

Students must apply and be accepted into the program. They will receive a $1,000 stipend upon successful completion of their FAA licensure and achieving 80 hours of flight time per semester.

“NASA Space Grant and NASA Guam EPSCoR are pleased to offer this fun and amazing opportunity for UOG students to become licensed FAA UAV pilots,” said Romina King, associate director of NASA Guam Space Grant. “This is a great chance for students to earn FAA certification, practice in a safe environment, and collect data for various UOG research units and government of Guam agencies.”

Leslie Camacho Aquino, executive director of NASA Guam EPSCoR, said this program will benefit both researchers and interested drone pilots.

“We are excited about this workforce development opportunity for students, since having our own corps of FAA-certified UAV pilots will make it easier and safer for researchers to incorporate drone technology in their work,” she said. “NASA EPSCoR is about building research and technical capacity throughout the island, and developing this cadre of pilots will help us support a wide variety of projects at the university and other agencies and organizations on Guam.”

Applications will be accepted throughout the year. Both novice and experienced students are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizen, 18 years or older, and UOG students.

Interested students can apply by contacting Dr. Romina King via email at roking@triton.uog.edu. Complete details about NASA Guam Space Grant and NASA Guam EPSCoR can be found by visiting their respective webpages.