December 12th 2025: Peter Ciriscioli: Autonomous Vehicles Policy Issues - UPDATE

On December 12th , Peter Ciriscioli will speak with us on Autonomous Vehicle Policy Issues. Autonomous Vehicle developers have continued to make progress with their efforts to deploy Autonomous Vehicles. This talk will examine the current state of AV safety and suggests that more effective AV safety validation processes can be modeled after proven processes used in the Aerospace and Defense industries. Peter Ciriscioli has extensive development experience with ground vehicles, aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft including a number of different ICBM programs and satellites. He has successfully developed complex ground vehicles and vehicle systems: He led the development of the BAE Systems MRAP family of vehicles for deployment during the Iraq War. Peter also led the development of the successful proof of concept vehicle for the DoD’s HMMWV replacement, the CTV. In parallel with that effort, Peter led the development of the BAE Systems JLTV. He also led the initial development of the first hybrid electric drive for armored vehicles. Peter received a patent for a vehicle armored window system and has received recognition from the Secretary of Defense for his work in vehicle development and vehicle survivability.

Prior to his vehicle development work, Peter led the successful development of a new molecule which is currently used in the secondary carbon fiber composite structures of almost all commercial aircraft manufactured since 1997. Peter wrote 37 FAA approved material, process, and manufacturing specifications for the LearFan aircraft, which is now displayed in Boeing’s Museum of Flight, and Peter’s patented fire shield material was used on the nonstop globe-circling Rutan Voyager aircraft, now displayed in the Smithsonian Institution.

Peter developed the composite material manufacturing processes and composite material “design allowables” for the equipment section of the Trident II (D5) missile.

Peter received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University for his work to develop an expert system which cures advanced composite materials.

In addition to the USA, Peter has worked in the UK, Belgium, Germany, Italy, France, Israel, Zambia, India, Japan and Australia. Peter is currently an independent consultant who helps companies innovate to improve cash flow.