Dr. João Caetano joined the Portuguese Air Force Academy at 18. He served at the Portuguese Air Force for 20 years. He holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Delft University of Technology. His career focused on research and operations of Unmanned Aircraft Systems at the Portuguese Air Force Research Center, where he was also an assistant professor. He was head of UAS operations for the Portuguese Air Force, and UAS Remote Pilot instructor. As a NATO appointee, he oversaw UAS research and chaired the Strategic Committee of the Applied Vehicle Technologies Panel at NATO’s Science and Technology Organization. Currently, he is honored and humbled to serve the EU Members States at the European Defence Agency as a Project Officer on UAS Programmes, supporting defence research, technology development, and the integration of UAS in airspace. He supports EDA’s roles, while supporting the development of defence capabilities and military cooperation among the Member States in the UAS domain.

Dr. João Caetano joined the Portuguese Air Force Academy at 18. He served at the Portuguese Air Force for 20 years. He holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Delft University of Technology. His career focused on research and operations of Unmanned Aircraft Systems at the Portuguese Air Force Research Center, where he was also an assistant professor. He was head of UAS operations for the Portuguese Air Force, and UAS Remote Pilot instructor. As a NATO appointee, he oversaw UAS research and chaired the Strategic Committee of the Applied Vehicle Technologies Panel at NATO’s Science and Technology Organization. Currently, he is honored and humbled to serve the EU Members States at the European Defence Agency as a Project Officer on UAS Programmes, supporting defence research, technology development, and the integration of UAS in airspace. He supports EDA’s roles, while supporting the development of defence capabilities and military cooperation among the Member States in the UAS domain.

Senior Lecturer Dr. Igor Petrović heads the Laboratory for Aeronautics (AEROL) at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, where he works in the fields of aviation education and research. Within the EASA-approved Flight School of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (SI.ATO.029), he serves as an instructor and is responsible for theoretical training, compliance, and aviation safety.

His professional and research work focuses on aviation, with a particular emphasis on unmanned aerial systems (UAS), their integration into shared airspace, and their application in agriculture and viticulture. As part of a strategic initiative to regulate state-operated unmanned aerial systems, he investigated, among other things, the requirements for training UAS pilots, with the goal of establishing a regulatory framework in Slovenia. Under his leadership, two training courses titled “Basic Operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles” were conducted as part of a micro-credentialing system. He is actively involved in the development of aviation technologies and the practical training of future aviation professionals.

A significant part of his pedagogical and mentoring work involves the development of young aeronautical engineers and participation in student projects. Notably, he serves as a mentor to the “Edvard Rusjan Team,” which has achieved impressive results in the international “Design, Build, Fly” competition—a challenge in which students design and construct a new, purpose-built, remotely piloted aircraft each year.

Dr. Boštjan Bremec earned his degree and, in 2003, his doctorate from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana. As a young researcher in the Laboratory for Nonlinear Mechanics (LANEM), he focused on elasto-plastic mechanics, plate stability, geometric optimization, and finite element method (FEM) simulations; he also contributed to the construction of the faculty’s first laminar wind tunnel. As a teaching assistant, he led practical sessions on numerical methods and engineering mechanics. In 2003, he joined Iskra Avtoelektrika, where, as a design and development engineer, he worked on starters for internal combustion engines and participated in the implementation of a PLM system and the transition to 3D modeling. From 2011 to 2018, he headed the Research and Development department at MAHLE Letrika, where he led the development team, helped shape product strategy, and oversaw the professional development of his colleagues. He is a co-author of one Slovenian and two European patents; in 2016, he received a national silver award from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia for his innovation—an electromagnetic switch with controlled engagement force. Since 2018, he has served as the Head of the Technical Division at C-Astral, where he is responsible for the applied development, production, and servicing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), while also managing externally funded development projects. He was a member of the team that received the 2024 Red Dot “Best of the Best” design award for the SQA unmanned aerial vehicle.

The General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces, is a Slovenian representative in the EDA Working group UAS Operational Users.

He joined the Slovenian Armed Forces in 1992. Throughout his career, he has led divisions at the Force Command, the General Staff, and the Directorate of Logistics. His international military experience includes participation in the NATO operations KFOR and ISAF. He leads and directs several international and national projects in the field of energy efficiency of the defence sector. He joined the Slovenian Armed Forces in 1992. Throughout his career, he has led divisions at the Force Command, the General Staff, and the Directorate of Logistics. His international military experience includes participation in the NATO operations KFOR and ISAF. He leads and directs several international and national projects in the field of energy efficiency of the defence sector.

With more than 25 years of experience, he drives innovation by fostering collaboration between industry, research institutions and government. Through leading and coordinating numerous national and international defence projects, including EDF (European Defence Fund) and EDA (European Defence Agency) Cat.B projects, he contributes to the development of advanced energy technologies and integrated solutions to strengthen energy resilience as a key enabler of future defence capabilities.

Through his active involvement in EDA initiatives such as CF SEDSS, IF CEED and CapTech Energy and Environment, where he serves as an Industry Rapporteur, he promotes European cooperation and the integration of research, innovation and industrial capabilities to enhance energy resilience in the defence sector.

Ajda Vodlan holds a master’s degree in Defence Studies and heads the Department of Military Technology, Research and Development at the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia. Internationally, she represents Slovenia as Director for Research and Technology (R&T) at the European Defence Agency (EDA), Head of Delegation to the European Commission for the European Defence Fund (EDF), and a member of the NATO DIANA Board of Directors.

She also serves as Slovenia’s representative for AGILE (Programme for Agile and Rapid Defence Innovation).

Dr Tomaž Žagar began his professional career in the energy sector more than 25 years ago. After earning a degree in Physics from the University of Ljubljana, he completed a PhD in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Maribor, supported by his research work at the Jožef Stefan Institute. Following his doctorate, he pursued further specialisation at international organisations and research institutes in Germany, the United States, and Slovenia. As a postdoctoral researcher, he focused on the physics of transuranic elements, nuclear energy, and the sustainable use of nuclear power, including radioactive waste management.