LAS VEGAS -- The unmanned aerial vehicle – or drone – industry was practically invented in Nevada.
Air Force drones from Nevada's Creech Air Force Base fly around the world.
But Nevada might be losing the race to create high-paying manufacturing jobs to build these aircrafts.
Months ago, insiders in Nevada's unmanned aerospace industry told the I-Team that state officials weren't paying enough attention to the drone industry.
They claimed other states were going to capture the aerospace jobs Nevada desperately needs.
At the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems convention in Las Vegas, plenty of cutting edge military equipment was on display.
"A year ago, if somebody had said that Nevada was not up to speed and ready to capitalize on this opportunity, they would have been accurate," said Steve Hill, the state's director of economic development.
He said he dreams of Nevadans testing and building drone aircraft, leading to thousands of jobs coming Nevada's way.
But there's a catch: Other states might already have a head start in the race to convince large contractors to set up shop.
The state of Ohio has one of the convention's largest booths and is networking to bring business to that state.
"This could be a $90 billion industry in the next 10, 20 years," said Maurice McDonald, of the Dayton Development Coalition in Ohio.
Oklahoma's lieutenant governor touted his state as having the only university with a degree in unmanned aerial vehicles.
"It's a natural fit for us," Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb said. "With our economy, 10 percent of our economy is focused in this area already."
But Hill said the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is developing an aeronautical engineering program.
Nevada, however, doesn't have a booth at the convention.
"We don't think we need a booth," Hill said. "We think we need to be able to meet the right people and present the case."
Nevada's tactic: backroom meetings with major defense contractors.
And a field trip to Creech Air Force Base -- the one thing the other states can't offer.
Nevada state officials took several defense contractors out Thursday to see drone aircraft in action.
The state's greatest advantage is its hundreds of miles of open desert that is open for flight testing.
"There are discussions about Nevada not being up to speed on this, not being prepared," Hill said. "Everybody who's here now, we've met with. I'm talking about the big contractors, the government agencies that matter, have said … ‘You guys are nailing it. You're up to speed. We want to work with you.'"
If Hill's right, Nevada will be a leader in this growing industry.
If he's wrong, Nevada will have to watch other states unemployment rates go down by the jobs that were practically invented at an Air Force base just outside Las Vegas.
The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to pick six states to advance to the next step in unmanned aerial vehicle testing.
Its decision is expected in December.
Convention visitors get an up close look at a drone.
The convention featured drones and robots.
