Earl Lawrence is Aviation Policy Lead for Advanced Projects at Joby Aviation, a role he assumed following Joby’s acquisition of Xwing, where he served as Chief Compliance and Quality Officer leading certification efforts. Prior to Xwing, Lawrence spent nearly 12 years at the FAA in senior leadership roles, most notably as Executive Director of Aircraft Certification, overseeing more than 1,400 employees across U.S. and international offices. He also led the UAS Integration Office, where he helped establish the regulatory framework for integrating uncrewed aircraft into the U.S. National Airspace System. Earlier, as Manager of the Small Airplane Directorate, he played a key role in modernizing Part 23, introducing the concept of the safety continuum and advancing the use of industry consensus standards. Before joining the FAA, Lawrence was Vice President of Industry and Regulatory Affairs at EAA and began his career at Rockwell Rocketdyne supporting Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs. He holds a commercial multi-engine pilot certificate and A&P mechanic certificate with Inspection Authorization.