Abigail Smith

As a recent inductee into the Hall of Fame for Women in Emerging Aviation Technologies, Abby Smith, Founder and CEO of Andersmith Solutions LLC,, provides her clients with expertise on federal policy and regulations, strategic insights and partnerships, and executive leadership

Abby’s 33 year career in Federal service included multiple senior executive roles including Executive Director of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Security Office; Deputy Executive Director FAA”s UAS Integration Office; Executive Director of  FAA’s Aviation Policy and Plans;  Director of Air Traffic Organization’s Technical Training; and Director of Aeronautical Information Services.  In these roles, Smith provided executive guidance, strategy, policy direction and program administration of major aviation programs dealing with air traffic control, novel aviation technologies, air space integration, workforce training and development and systems engineering concepts.  She oversaw multimillion dollar programs and let major change initiatives for the FAA.

Smith led multiple initiatives including post September 11 security protocol developments, transforming internal air traffic safety evaluations programs, implementation of the first ATO Safety Management System policy, digitizing all aeronautical charts and procedures, gamifying many air traffic control courses, streamlining training processes, overseeing strategic planning and policy development, and most recently co-leading with industry counterparts the Aviation Rulemaking Committee on UAS Detection and Mitigation..

Abby graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and African American Studies, and received her Master of Science degree in Dispute Resolution from Nova Southeastern University.