Karina PerezDirector, Unmanned and Emerging Aviation Technologies

Karina Perez is the Director for Unmanned and Emerging Aviation Technologies at the Aerospace Industries Association. In this role, she works with AIA’s members regarding Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Advanced Air Mobility, and Spectrum, among other areas, and works to find industry consensus on complex issues facing the aviation industry.

Perez is also the Co-Founder of Zed Factor Fellowship, an organization focused on providing internships to historically excluded communities in the aerospace industry.

In 2023, Karina was honored as a Woman to Watch in Global Emerging Aviation Technologies by Women and Drones at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Earlier, in 2021, she received the Initiative, Inspiration, Impact Award from Women in Aerospace (WIA) for her bold advocacy on behalf of women and underrepresented communities in the aerospace industry, and for building consensus among policymakers and industry leaders to enable the next generation of flight.

Perez holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Public Policy, and Management from California State University, Northridge.