Cliff Johnson is a research engineer, program manager, and technical expert for the Aviation Research Division at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, NJ. He leads several research and development activities that seek to improve aviation safety, primarily focused on rotorcraft, unmanned aircraft, and vertical lift (i.e. eVTOL). Mr. Johnson is qualified on the ScanEagle unmanned aircraft systems platform and has supported several unmanned aircraft and rotorcraft simulations and live flight tests as a test director, pilot, and flight test engineer. These activities have included working with entities such as the FAA, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Defense, and various industry partners. He joined the FAA after earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rowan University. He is an instrument rated private pilot (airplane single engine) who is also pursuing commercial, CFII, multiengine, and helicopter add-on ratings. In his spare time, Cliff enjoys outdoor activities (hunting, fishing, etc.), playing guitar, attending motorsports races (NASCAR, Indycar, Formula 1), and other sporting events; as he is a diehard Philadelphia sports fan (Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, Sizers).
