Pendleton UAS Range receives 3rd Place for Xcellence in Operations award

Awards ceremony held at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2023 in Denver

The City of Pendleton is pleased to announce that the Pendleton UAS Range was awarded third place in the Operations category of the XCELLENCE Awards given by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicles Systems International (AUVSI). The Pendleton UAS Range team was selected over a large pool of well-accomplished finalists.

The XCELLENCE Awards were established to recognize those leading Unmanned Vehicle Systems. Being nominated for this award and winning third place reinforces that Pendleton UAS Range and its employees are paving the way forward for the safe adoption of unmanned systems. The XPONENTIAL event in Denver, Colo., showcases businesses involved in the cutting-edge UAV industry. The AUVSI Xcellence Awards honor those companies dedicated to leading and promoting the safe adoption of unmanned systems.

The Pendleton UAS Range (PUR) is one of the nation's leading, business-friendly UAS test and development ranges. Covering 14,000 square miles of FAA-approved airspace with operations allowed up to 15,000 ft. MSL, the Pendleton UAS Range provides ample opportunities for fast, cost-effective testing experiences. PUR boasts more than 50 diverse testing environments, and its team helps connect companies to their desired remote launch and recovery sites in those test environments. PUR's custom-built UAS infrastructure, available hangars, mobile mission control vehicles and 16-UAS test pads are part of the reason Pendleton is such a popular place to test. Pendleton's UAS-loving community boasts 40+ restaurants and more than 1,000 hotel rooms, including a
78-room Airport Radisson Hotel just two minutes from the primary testing area. Add to that the fastest fiber and internet access in Oregon (10Gbps/second) and a UAS-friendly air traffic control tower and it is easy to understand why numerous companies choose to prove their program in Pendleton.

"The 2023 XPONENTIAL was all about designing a shared plan for the future of autonomy," said Brian Wynne, President and CEO of AUVSI. There was a better place to announce the 2023 XCELLENCE award winners. All the winners represent the best of the best in the UAS industry. AUVSI's XCELLENCE Awards honor innovators with a demonstrated commitment to advancing autonomy, leading and promoting the safe adoption of uncrewed systems, and developing programs that use these technologies to save lives and improve the human condition.

According to Steve Chrisman, Pendleton's Economic Development and Airport Director, “We are honored to have been nominated and having received the third place award for 'Xcellence in Operations.' This achievement is a testament to both our operational capabilities and the dedication of the entire Pendleton UAS Range team. We work with clientele from concept through commercialization. Our team understands and respects the many challenges faced by innovators, and we pride ourselves on mitigating those challenges, always remaining fast, facilitative and affordable. All of us at the Pendleton UAS Range invite you to come 'Prove It In Pendleton.'”

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About Pendleton UAS Range: 
The Pendleton UAS Range (PUR), owned and operated by the City of Pendleton, is the nation's leading
business-friendly testing and development range. PUR provides a fast, cost-effective experience to facilitate
successful and safe integration into the national airspace system (NAS). The range covers 14,000 sq. mi. of
FAA-approved airspace, and operations are allowed from surface to 15,000 ft. MSL. Supported by a dedicated,
experienced staff that moves at the speed of business, there is a reason a drone isn’t proven until it’s Proven in
Pendleton. To learn more, visit www.PendletonUASRange.com

About AUVSI
The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) — the world's largest non-profit
organization dedicated to the advancement of uncrewed systems and robotics — represents corporations and
professionals from more than 60 countries involved in industry, government, and academia. AUVSI members
work in the defense, civil and commercial markets. For more information, visit AUVSI.org.

About XPONENTIAL
AUVSI XPONENTIAL is the largest, most significant event for the uncrewed systems industry. The 2023 exhibit
hall will showcase hundreds of cutting-edge companies from around the world, and the conference will feature
educational programming by uncrewed systems experts, providing information about the future of policy,
technology, and business solutions and trending topics.

- May 17, 2023