Dr Inġ. Kenneth Chircop graduated in Electrical Engineering from the University of Malta in 2004. He began his professional career researching avionics systems at Cranfield University, UK, before moving to the private sector in 2005. He spent over three years at Hunt Engineering UK Ltd., where he specialized in the design and development of high-speed electronic systems for diverse industrial applications.
In 2008, Dr Inġ. Chircop returned to the University of Malta’s Department of Electronic Systems Engineering. During this period, he obtained his Ph.D., specializing in aircraft trajectory optimization techniques. His research in avionics gained significant international recognition in 2016 when he was awarded the William E. Jackson Award by the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) in Washington D.C. This prestigious accolade, which identifies the year’s top graduate researcher in the field, was awarded to Dr Inġ. Chircop over candidates from top-tier American universities, validating his work at the highest global standards.
From 2016 to 2022, Dr Inġ. Chircop served as the Chief Executive Officer of Malta Air Traffic Services (MATS), the national Air Navigation Service Provider. During his tenure, he led significant infrastructure and safety projects and represented the Group on various international bodies, including the Network Management Board at EUROCONTROL and the BLUE-MED Functional Airspace Block.
Currently, Dr Inġ. Chircop is the Executive Director, Air Operations & Accountable Manager for Dronamics Europe Airlines Ltd. In this capacity, he holds ultimate responsibility for the safety, compliance, and strategic roadmap of air operations for the world's first cargo drone airline. His work bridges the gap between OEM development and global deployment, architecting the integration of large-scale Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) into civil and commercial sectors under EASA standards. He further represents Dronamics’ interests within international regulatory bodies.
Alongside his industry leadership, he remains a part-time council-appointed resident academic at the University of Malta, where he lectures digital electronics and logic circuits. He also continues to serve on national entities, including the Government’s Aviation & Aerospace Committee and the Bord tal-Inġiniera (Engineering Profession Board).
