Sarasina Tuchen

Sarasina Tuchen is a distinguished leader in advanced aviation technologies, automation, autonomy, multimodal integration, and interoperability. With over 35 years of experience spanning both the private sector and federal government, she has played a pivotal role in driving innovation across the aviation and transportation industries. Her extensive expertise covers research, development, testing, evaluation, and large-scale operational deployment, and she has been a key figure in fostering Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) between industry and government.

Most recently, Sarasina retired from federal service, where she served as a national expert in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Highly Automated Systems Safety Center of Excellence. She led the automation strategy for the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Interagency Working Group, implementing the AAM Coordination and Leadership Act (Public Law 117-203) in collaboration with 22 federal agencies, including NASA, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy. Her expertise has been integral in shaping policy and regulatory standards for automation and autonomy.

In her private industry career, Sarasina successfully scaled technology and engineering teams from startup to IPO. Over her 20+ years in federal service, she was a driving force behind the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) NextGen Air Transportation System, developing critical technologies such as System Wide Information Management (SWIM) and advanced surface surveillance systems to modernize the U.S. National Airspace System. She also served as the USDOT’s first and only onsite lead at NASA Ames Research Center, where she collaborated with NASA to integrate automation technologies to enhance air traffic capacity and efficiency.

Sarasina’s visionary leadership predated the establishment of AAM industry working groups, as she worked alongside NASA to underscore the importance of multimodal integration in the successful adoption and scalability of new airspace vehicles and operations within the broader national transportation infrastructure.

A sought-after speaker and expert, Sarasina has delivered keynote addresses and podcasts, served on expert panels and national working groups, authored key publications, and chaired international technical conferences focused on emerging air transportation technologies and standards.

She earned an M.S. in Engineering Economic Systems from Stanford University (1992) and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University (1989). Recently, she completed the Stanford Director’s College at Stanford Law School, preparing her for roles on public and private boards. An active philanthropist, Sarasina supports initiatives in health, education/workforce development, and sustainability through her family’s charitable fund and operating foundation.