What Commercial Drone Alliance does

The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 2016 and headquartered at 555 13th Street NW in Washington, D.C. It serves as the primary independent industry coalition advocating for the safe and secure integration of commercial drones and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) into the U.S. National Airspace System. CDA does not manufacture drones or develop technology products; instead, it operates as a coordination and advocacy platform spanning the full domestic drone value chain — manufacturers (Skydio, Ondas, uAvionix, Percepto, Wing), detection providers (SkySafe, Hidden Level), delivery operators (Zipline, DoorDash), testing infrastructure (NUAIR), utilities (Southern Company, Florida Power & Light), and tribal-government and enterprise end users (Choctaw Nation).

CDA's core offerings are policy advocacy and member services rather than discrete products. The organization engages directly with the White House, Congress, the FAA, FCC, DOT, and NASA through testimony, comment letters, and working groups, and publishes white papers and policy positions that have measurably influenced federal action — most notably the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and advancement of BVLOS rulemaking to the White House. Signature industry events (the American Drone Leadership Summit, BVLOS Stakeholder Summit, Commercial Drone Innovation and Security Summit, and XPONENTIAL networking receptions) provide visible venues for federal officials and industry CEOs to convene. Membership tiers are structured by company size and include Board Members, General Members, and Government Attendees, with differentiated access to events, policy communications, and the member directory.

The business model rests on recurring membership dues paid by commercial drone manufacturers, operators, and allied organizations, supplemented by event sponsorship revenue. Specific dues amounts are not publicly disclosed; non-members pay $100 for the BVLOS Stakeholder Summit and $250 for the American Drone Leadership Summit. The organization is led by a lean staff of 1–10, including CEO Lisa Ellman and COO Gretchen West (both formerly of Hogan Lovells), plus a Policy Director (Liz Forro). The Hogan Lovells connection reflects a deep integration with the federal policy establishment, contributing to CDA's documented influence on Capitol Hill and within federal agencies.

Name

Commercial Drone Alliance

Legal name

Commercial Drone Alliance

Website

https://commercialdronealliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Commercial Drone Alliance is a 501(c)(6) trade association headquartered in Washington, D.C. that advocates for safe, secure integration of commercial drones and advanced air mobility into the U.S. National Airspace System, serving domestic manufacturers, operators, and end-user members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Drone Industry Trade Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid) (IMABAIAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Systems & Drone Defense (IMABAIAG)

Keywords

• Drone industry advocacy
• Commercial drone policy
• Trade association membership
• UAS industry coalition
• Drone regulatory affairs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CDA generates revenue through annual membership dues paid by commercial drone manufacturers, operators, and allied organizations. Membership tiers are sized by company scale, with Board Members, General Members, and Government Attendees receiving differentiated access to events, policy communications, and the member directory. CDA also generates sponsorship revenue from its signature events and conferences.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) is a 501(c)6 non-profit industry trade association that advocates for the safe and secure integration of commercial drones into the U.S. National Airspace System. CDA sells paid membership tiers to commercial drone manufacturers, operators, and allied organizations, and in return provides members with direct federal policymaker access, regulatory intelligence, policy advocacy, networking events, and a coordinated industry voice on FAA, FCC, and Congressional actions. Its offerings are the membership itself and the conferences, summits, and workshops it convenes (such as the American Drone Leadership Summit, BVLOS Stakeholder Summit, and Commercial Drone Innovation and Security Summit), not any physical or software product.

Product overview

The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) is a 501(c)6 non-profit industry association that serves as an advocacy and policy organization for the commercial drone ecosystem rather than a product company. CDA does not offer commercial products, software, or technology services. Its offerings consist of industry advocacy, policy development, networking events, and member services including access to policy positions, legislative updates, and industry events. The organization represents domestic UAS manufacturers and operators and works to influence federal drone policy through engagement with Congress, the White House, Department of Transportation, FAA, FCC, and other agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CDA Trade Association Membership Annual membership tiers for commercial drone manufacturers, operators, and allied organizations, priced by company size and granting members access to policy intelligence, legislative updates, the member directory, registration for CDA events, and participation in CDA-led federal advocacy with Congress, the White House, FAA, FCC, and DOT.
• American Drone Leadership Summit CDA's flagship annual conference, free for CDA Members and Government Attendees and priced at $250 for Non-Members, convening federal officials, industry CEOs, and policymakers around U.S. drone dominance and airspace sovereignty.
• BVLOS Stakeholder Summit CDA stakeholder summit focused on FAA Part 108 BVLOS rulemaking; free for CDA Members and Government Attendees and $100 for Non-Members.
• Commercial Drone Innovation and Security Summit CDA policy and security summit co-hosted with Hogan Lovells, bringing together industry, government, and legal stakeholders on commercial drone innovation and security.
• CDA Federal Advocacy and Policy Intelligence Ongoing advocacy and policy-intelligence service available to members, covering FAA Part 108 BVLOS rulemaking, FCC Covered List determinations, supply chain security policy, and broader federal drone legislation, delivered through white papers, testimony, comment letters, and legislative updates.

Quantifiable outcome

• CDA's advocacy contributed to the passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and advancement of BVLOS rulemaking to the White House for review.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and secondary.

• DJIminorOthers · 13 January 2026DJI, the Chinese commercial drone manufacturer, is not a member of CDA but is a central subject of the organization's advocacy. CDA has expressed concern about the FCC's Covered List determination adding DJI to the banned equipment list, warning that 70% of U.S. operators rely on DJI equipment and 43% warn of potentially business-ending impacts. DJI has filed a federal lawsuit challenging its FCC designation.
• Wing Aviation, LLC.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Wing Aviation, LLC., a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., is a Board Member of the Commercial Drone Alliance and has been a member since the organization's inception. Wing participates in CDA events as a sponsor and speaker, including co-hosting the Innovations in Mobility Reception at XPONENTIAL and contributing to policy panels on drone delivery and airspace integration. Wing CEO Adam Woodworth serves on the CEO Panel at the American Drone Leadership Summit.
• SkydiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Skydio is a domestic U.S. drone manufacturer and Board-level member of CDA. Skydio's representatives participate in CDA policy panels and the company sponsors CDA events. Skydio's Chief Legal Officer Brendan Groves and Senior Director Lucian Sikorskyj participate in the American Drone Leadership Summit as panelists on the Dominance in Dual Use panel.
• uAvionixcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026uAvionix joined the CDA Board of Directors in June 2025, with CEO Jon Damush serving on the board. uAvionix is a domestic UAS technology company specializing in avionics and communications equipment. Ryan Braun, COO of uAvionix, participates in CDA supply chain policy discussions at the American Drone Leadership Summit.
• Zipline International, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Zipline is a CDA member since 2021 and a commercial drone delivery operator. Zipline contributes to CDA policy discussions on BVLOS operations, Part 108 readiness, and critical infrastructure drone delivery. CEO Keller Clifton participates in the CEO Panel at the American Drone Leadership Summit.
• SkySafecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SkySafe is a Board Member of CDA and has been a member since 2017, making it one of the longest-standing board members. SkySafe provides drone detection technology and participates in CDA airspace awareness and security policy discussions. CEO Grant Jordan speaks at the American Drone Leadership Summit on the Changing Landscape of Airspace Awareness panel.
• DoorDashsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026DoorDash joined CDA in 2025 and has quickly become an active member. DoorDash is expanding its drone delivery partnership with Wing Aviation and participates in CDA supply chain and policy discussions. Jim O'Sullivan, Head of Drone Strategy at DoorDash, contributes to CDA's Rebuilding America's Drone Supply Chain panel.
• NUAIRsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026NUAIR is a CDA member and a key stakeholder in the U.S. UAS ecosystem, providing testing and evaluation infrastructure. NUAIR CEO Craig Marcinkowski participates in CDA's Changing Landscape of Airspace Awareness panel at the American Drone Leadership Summit.
• Percepto RoboticssecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Percepto Robotics is a CDA member specializing in autonomous drone inspection solutions. CEO Dor Abuhasira participates in the CEO Panel at the American Drone Leadership Summit. Percepto VP Neta Gliksman contributes to the At Long Last: Getting Ready for Part 108 panel.
• Ondas HoldingssecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Ondas Holdings joined CDA in 2023. CEO Eric Brock participates in CDA's Capitalizing on Drone Dominance panel at the American Drone Leadership Summit, discussing financing and investment in the drone sector.
• Hidden LevelsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Hidden Level is a CDA member specializing in drone detection and airspace awareness. CEO Jeff Cole participates in the American Drone Leadership Summit CEO Panel and contributes to airspace security discussions.
• Choctaw Nation of OklahomasecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has been a CDA member since 2018 and contributes to advanced technology and drone operations discussions. James Grimsley, Executive Director of Advanced Technology Initiatives at the Choctaw Nation, participates in the Rebuilding America's Drone Supply Chain panel at the American Drone Leadership Summit.
• Southern CompanysecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Southern Company has been a CDA member since 2022 and is a major electric utility using drones for infrastructure inspection. Will Wheeler, Principal of UAS, participates in CDA events including the Low Altitude Economy in Action panel at the American Drone Leadership Summit.
• Florida Power & LightsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Florida Power & Light is a CDA member using drones for smart grid and utility infrastructure operations. Heath McLemore, Senior Manager of Smart Grid and Innovation, participates in CDA's At Long Last: Getting Ready for Part 108 panel.
• Hogan LovellscoreOthers · 1 January 2026Hogan Lovells is a prominent law firm that co-hosts CDA events with CDA, including the Innovations in Mobility Reception at XPONENTIAL 2024 and the Commercial Drone Innovation and Security Summit. CDA Executive Director Lisa Ellman and COO Gretchen West are affiliated with Hogan Lovells. Senator Kyrsten Sinema, Senior Counsel at Hogan Lovells, delivered a keynote at the 2025 Commercial Drone Innovation and Security Summit.
• DRONERESPONDERSsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026DRONERESPONDERS co-hosted an event on countering drone threats with the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 and CDA in November 2025. Charles Werner serves as Director of DRONERESPONDERS and moderates the Changing Landscape of Airspace Awareness panel at the American Drone Leadership Summit.
• White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)coreOthers · 1 January 2026CDA has an established relationship with the White House OSTP, including a fireside chat with Michael Kratsios, Director of OSTP, at the CDA BVLOS Stakeholder Summit in September 2025. CDA provided a letter of support for Kratsios's nomination as OSTP Director in February 2025. OSTP participation signals high-level executive branch engagement with CDA's policy agenda.
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)coreOthers · 1 January 2026The FAA is a central regulatory stakeholder for CDA's mission. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford participated in a fireside chat at the CDA BVLOS Stakeholder Summit in September 2025. The FAA's Part 108 BVLOS rulemaking is a primary policy focus for CDA, which submitted formal comments advocating for rules that enable scalable commercial operations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI): AUVSI is the largest U.S. trade association for unmanned systems and autonomy and runs XPONENTIAL, the same flagship industry conference where CDA hosts receptions. Both organizations advocate for commercial UAS integration, BVLOS rulemaking, and federal R&D, making AUVSI the most directly comparable advocacy peer to CDA.
• DRONERESPONDERS: DRONERESPONDERS is a non-profit program coordinating public-safety UAS operations and policy. It has co-hosted events with CDA (e.g., the November 2025 White House Task Force event on FIFA World Cup 2026 drone threats) and shares CDA's federal-advocacy posture, making it a closely aligned niche peer.
• Small UAV Coalition: Small UAV Coalition is a Washington, D.C.-based industry group advocating for commercial, recreational, and small drone policy, with particular focus on BVLOS and remote identification. It is a smaller but thematically aligned advocacy peer competing for similar members and policy influence.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO): NASAO represents state aviation agencies and interacts with the FAA on airspace integration matters including UAS. It is a broader, government-facing aviation counterpart whose state-level engagement complements and partially overlaps with CDA's federal focus.
• General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA): GAMA represents general aviation manufacturers and is increasingly active on eVTOL and AAM policy. As the AAM segment intersects with CDA's traditional UAS remit, GAMA is an adjacent incumbent peer on emerging policy issues.
• Aerospace Industries Association (AIA): AIA is the principal U.S. aerospace and defense industry trade association, representing major primes and Tier-1 suppliers. While broader in scope, AIA increasingly covers UAS and AAM policy and competes with CDA for federal policymaker mindshare on UAS issues.
• Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA): ATCA is a professional association focused on air traffic management and modernization, including UAS integration into the National Airspace System. Its airspace-management remit directly overlaps with CDA's BVLOS and AAM integration advocacy.

Others

• Drone Industry Insights: Drone Industry Insights is a research and market-intelligence firm serving the commercial drone industry. It is a complementary data and analytics peer whose market reports support industry stakeholders and policymakers that CDA also engages.
• Commercial UAV Expo: Commercial UAV Expo is a major annual B2B trade show for commercial drone integration organized by Diversified Communications. It is a complementary event-ecosystem peer rather than an advocacy competitor, and overlaps with CDA's XPONENTIAL event strategy.

Emerging players

• Women and Drones: Women and Drones is a community organization promoting diversity and workforce development in the UAS and AAM sectors. It is an emerging peer that intersects with CDA's ecosystem on workforce-development policy and industry pipeline advocacy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/commercial-drone-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Commercial Drone Alliance