As we close the chapter on another remarkable year, I want to pause and simply say: Thank you.

This year has been defined by deepened trust, dynamic partnerships, and bold, forward-leaning collaboration across our local, state, national, and international communities. What we’ve accomplished Together would not be possible without the extraordinary ecosystem that surrounds and supports DART.

We are profoundly grateful for the continued confidence and catalytic support from the James Irvine Foundation, which continues to be foundational to our ability to expand equitable access to the high-quality jobs and infrastructure of the future.

We’ve had the privilege of engaging on the global stage, working alongside Coast-to-Coast partners and supporting California delegations to the Netherlands and the Paris Air Show—strengthening international bridges that will shape the future of advanced air mobility, autonomy, and workforce opportunity.

Across California, we are thankful for the strong collaboration with GO-Biz, Caltrans Division of Aeronautics, and our extraordinary university partners across the CITRIS and the Banatao Institute campuses—UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, and UC Merced—as well as California State University Monterey Bay,  Hartnell College, the Bay Area Community College Consortium, and the Foundation for California Community Colleges, relationships continue to power our workforce pipeline, research integration, and real-world deployment.

On the industry side, we are grateful for the trust and collaboration of Skyway, Airspace Integration, The Reservoir, and our OEM and platform partners including Joby Aviation, Wisk Aero, Archer Aviation, Elroy Air, and Odys Aviation. We are equally thankful for the partnership of our major airport collaborators including San Francisco International Airport, San José Mineta International Airport, Monterey Regional Airport, and the many Monterey Bay–area  general aviation airports that are helping define what comes next.

We are also deeply appreciative of our economic development, and community including the Monterey Bay Tech Hub,  B3K Prosperity, and the many local governments, tribal partners, nonprofits, educators, advocates, and entrepreneurs who make this work real and rooted.

And none of this happens without our small but mighty DART team—a group that consistently punches above its weight with heart, precision, creativity, and grit. Your dedication is the engine behind every success we celebrate.

Looking Ahead

If this year was about momentum, 2026 is shaping up to be a breakout year.

We are heading into the new year with an exceptional pipeline of projects across workforce development, infrastructure deployment, advanced air mobility integration, international engagement, and market activation. The energy, alignment, and opportunity in front of us is unlike anything we’ve seen yet—and we are just getting started. The LIFT Summit is gonna be lit!

As the year comes to a close, I wish each of you and your families a joyful, restorative holiday season, and a healthy, prosperous, and impactful New Year. Thank you for believing in this work, for building alongside us, and for helping shape a future that is more innovative, more inclusive, and more connected than ever.

With deep gratitude and optimism,
Josh Metz
Executive Director, DART