Executive Director

Colonel (Retired) Stephen P. Luxion is the Executive Director of ASSURE (Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence) led by Mississippi State University. Steve is responsible for leading the alliance of 23 of the world’s leading research universities and its industry partners.  ASSURE is the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).  ASSURE provides the FAA a wide-ranging UAS research portfolio and conducts specific research funded by the FAA to help inform and address the key challenges to safely and efficiently integrating UAS into the National Airspace System. ASSURE also has established a non-profit arm of the Alliance that leverages the ASSURE team, its expertise, experience, and knowledge to serve others outside the FAA.

Lux is a 34 year US Air Force veteran with over 2,500 hours flying time in the F-111 Aardvark, MQ-1B Predator UAV; and the F-14A Tomcat and EA-6B Prowler while on exchange with the US Navy; including 700 hours combat time in operations over Iraq, Bosnia, and Afghanistan.  For his combat efforts, Colonel Luxion was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Valor, 4 Air Metals, and 7 Aerial Achievement Medals.

Steve received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1984.  Colonel Luxion has commanded at the squadron, group and center levels and helped lead the establishment of NATO’s first Aerospace Center of Excellence.  Steve retired from the US Air Force in 2014 from his last assignment at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach where he commanded the Reserve Officers Training Program.

Colonel Luxion is a distinguished graduate of both the USAF Fighter Weapons School and Air Command and Staff College.  He is also a graduate of four Master Degree programs from Embry-Riddle, the School of Advanced Airpower Studies, and the National War College.