Egg Harbor Township, NJ – April 16, 2025 – The National Aerospace Research and Technology Park (NARTP) and the Atlantic County Economic Alliance (ACEA) welcomed U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau, Congressman Jeff Van Drew, and a delegation of federal, state, and local dignitaries for an official visit highlighting the region’s growing national leadership in aerospace innovation.

During the visit, Secretary Duffy and Administrator Rocheleau were briefed on a suite of collaborative projects with industry, academia, and government stakeholders, propelling NARTP to the forefront of smart airport technology and resilient air mobility systems.

“Our region is leading the way in developing and deploying aerospace innovation that defines the next generation of aviation,” said Michael Viscount, Chairman of the Atlantic County Economic Alliance. “We are incredibly proud to showcase the collaboration, investment, and ingenuity that make Atlantic County a national center for aerospace R&D.”

“Our discussions with Secretary Duffy and Acting FAA Administrator Rocheleau strengthen NARTP’s role as a leader in innovative aerospace research. We are excited to continue pushing the boundaries of autonomy and technology, ensuring that our projects meet the current demands and pave the way for a safer and more efficient airspace in the future,” said Howard J. Kyle, President of NARTP.

The visit, arranged by Congressman Van Drew, was an outstanding opportunity to brief the Secretary and the Acting Administrator on advanced initiatives at NARTP. These initiatives include the establishment of a dual-use test range designed for both military and civilian purposes, with a special focus on emerging aviation technologies such as drones and electric-powered flying cars. The discussion also emphasized two additional initiatives: southern New Jersey’s application for federal funding to become the nation’s Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies, and plans for developing an intermodal logistics hub at Atlantic City International Airport by Industrial Realty Group. This hub aims to leverage the region’s commitment to aviation innovation, particularly for last-mile solutions in package delivery.

“We are grateful to Congressman Van Drew for the opportunity to engage directly with top national transportation and aviation leaders,” said Lauren Moore, President of ACEA. “This visit underscores the strategic importance of our work and reinforces the value of continued investment in innovation zones, like New Jersey’s Aviation District.”

The NARTP is a key element of New Jersey’s only state-recognized Aviation Innovation Hub, located in Egg Harbor Township, which links the park to the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center, and ACY, a Smart Airport Testbed. Having the Aviation Innovation Hub included within the test and evaluation corridor for UAS is critical since the FAA Tech Center is ground zero for issues concerning integration of UAS into the national airspace.

About NARTP

The National Aerospace Research and Technology Park is catalyzing innovation with an ecosystem of partnerships and harnessing the power of collaboration, facilitating research and development, innovation, and commercialization of emerging aviation technologies. NARTP is located on a 58-acre parcel adjoining the Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center, an internationally recognized facility dedicated to research, development, and sustainment of the National Airspace System, and the Atlantic City International Airport, a designated Smart Airport Research Testbed Facility. NARTP tenants are performing leading research in UAS and AAM technologies, focusing on the safety implications of nascent UAS operational concepts, their testing and certification, as well as the emerging technologies needed to support the development of new regulatory standards. For more information about NARTP, visit nartp.com or contact NARTP President/CEO Howard Kyle at (609) 377-6215.

About ACEA

The Atlantic County Economic Alliance is a private sector-directed, nonprofit economic development corporation that was established in 2017 for business attraction, retention, and marketing efforts in Atlantic County. The ACEA’s core focus areas are building a robust business retention program, marketing competitive assets to drive industry diversification, relationship building to attract new companies, and creating partnerships to recruit, retain, and promote a qualified workforce. Visit www.aceanj.com or call 609-245-0019 for more information.

About IRG

IRG is a nationwide real estate development and investment firm specializing in the acquisition, development and management of commercial and industrial real estate throughout the United States. IRG, through its affiliated partnerships and limited liability companies, operates a portfolio containing over 150 properties in 31 states with over 100 million square feet of rentable space. IRG is nationally recognized as a leading force behind the adaptive reuse of commercial and industrial real estate, solving some of America’s most difficult real estate challenges. Learn more at www.industrialrealtygroup.com

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