Joseph Darden

• Director, Aviation
• Iridium Satellite, USA

Joe Darden is the Director of Aviation Business Development for Iridium Communications Inc., the only company that offers truly global satellite communications. In his role, he is responsible for new business development in the Iridium Aviation line of business and is leading Iridium’s Autonomous/Remotely Piloted Vehicle strategy. Mr. Darden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government with an Economics Minor from Sacramento State, is pursuing his Masters in Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics. Mr. Darden spent the 25+ years in the telecommunications industry with companies like Nextel, Sprint and now Iridium. Joe is an FAA Certified Part 107 Pilot and a Private Student Pilot. He is on the executive board of the AUVSI DC Chapter, and serves on RTCA Special Committee 228 and 222, Drone Safety Team, NASA’s Regular Autonomous Multi-Aircraft Operations Working Group (Systme of Systems) and is on the leadership team of NBAA’s Connectivity Committee. In his spare time, Mr. Darden is a Certified Beer Judge, a Cicerone an award-winning home brewer and volunteers as the Chapter Advisory Board Chair at George Mason University for Phi Delta Theta.