Innovation News

Tulsa, OK – The University of Tulsa’s Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute (OCII) has completed the region’s first Green UAS Certification—a major step in making Tulsa a center for secure drone development.

The certification — granted to Wingtra, a global leader in drone manufacturing—proves the company’s technology meets strict federal standards for security and sourcing. The process was vetted through the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) protocol for cybersecurity, following national standards recognized by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), making certified drones eligible for purchase by the Department of Defense and other federal agencies, in addition to myriad commercial applications.

The certification aligns with federal goals to boost secure domestic drone production, including the Department of Defense’s push for vetted systems and President Trump’s Executive Order 14307, “Unleashing American Drone Dominance.”

“This work positions Tulsa as a national leader for tech companies seeking to collaborate with the Department of Defense,” says Jennifer Hankins, Managing Director of Tulsa Innovation Labs, the organization who works with The University of Tulsa and other partners to bring the certification capabilities to Tulsa. “It proves that our city is a hub for innovation, cybersecurity, and real-world solutions that strengthen national security.”

This achievement sends a strong signal: Tulsa has the partnerships, infrastructure, and technical talent to help lead the future of American drone technology. UTulsa’s deep cybersecurity expertise, paired with hardware testing support from Oklahoma State University, helped power this successful certification effort, led by Tulsa Innovation Labs as part of Tulsa’s Tech Hub designation.

“This effort shows what’s possible when universities, industry, and innovation leaders come together. UTulsa and OCII are proud to support critical national security goals while positioning our city at the forefront of drone technology,” said David Keely, OCII’s executive director.

With this success, Tulsa is now firmly on the map as a go-to hub for drone manufacturing, testing, and compliance to meet the needs of today’s military and technology environment.

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