Leaders in
Innovation

As Chief Executive Officer, Paul leads the company with a singular focus: building the most efficient and advanced aircraft of the modern era—leveraging laminar flow technology to transform sustainable flight from concept into reality.

A visionary entrepreneur with a passion for progress and a relentless drive to create positive change, Paul brings a deep track record of leadership across aviation, government, and enterprise technology. The engineer and private pilot previously founded XOJET, a private charter aviation company that redefined access to business jet travel, and co-founded Ariba, an innovative supply chain visibility platform now part of SAP. He also served as Senior Advisor and Chief Strategy Officer in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, helping shape policy at the intersection of technology and global development.

The common thread across Paul’s pursuits is transformation—pinpointing challenges and delivering revolutionary solutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics and mechanical engineering from the University of the Pacific.

As President and COO, Scott leads day-to-day operations while advancing a bold mission: to redefine aircraft performance with 30% greater aerodynamic efficiency, 60% lower fuel burn, 90% fewer emissions using SAF, and up to 50% cost savings.

Scott has spent nearly 30 years pushing the boundaries of aerospace and defense innovation, reimagining what flight could be and making it real. Known for visionary leadership and systems-level thinking, he’s helped shape the future of air mobility at companies like Bell Helicopter, where he last served as vice president of Innovation and Advanced Concepts and was integral to a dozen military and commercial aircraft certification programs.

He also served as Chief R&D Officer at Supernal and is an advisor to several start-ups, guiding teams with a creative and growth mindset. A former NASA Aeronautics Committee member and FAA-designated engineering representative, Scott earned his aerospace engineering degree from the University of Maryland.

Ed Kinsey is a seasoned technology entrepreneur and finance professional with a distinguished career across high-tech firms and public service. A CPA in Ohio and California, he began at PriceWaterhouseCoopers and KPMG before co-founding Ariba, Inc., a leader in Spend Management solutions. He later advised DocuSign’s CFO ahead of its IPO and founded Determination Ventures, LLC, and Impel, Inc., securing four patents for consumer service commerce.

Known for tackling complex issues, Kinsey most recently served as Chief Financial Strategy Officer and Senior Advisor at the U.S. State Department, helping shape Executive Order 13959. He also led SEC regulatory initiatives addressing foreign stock market inequities. Kinsey founded The Kinsey Family Foundation and established a scholarship for students without father figures. Honored as a University of Toledo Pacemaker of the Year, he is also in the university’s College of Business Hall of Fame.

As Chief Strategy Officer, Adam Slepian shapes the company’s long-term vision—aligning partnerships, innovation, and business development to help usher in a new era of sustainable flight.

Adam’s career spans the front lines of aviation innovation and organizational growth. As Chief Commercial Officer at Supernal, Hyundai Motor Group’s Advanced Air Mobility division, he led teams across market development, product evolution, supply chain, and infrastructure. He also founded and led Supernal’s corporate venture capital arm, serving as a board director and observer to startups shaping the future of aerospace. Earlier, he was a leader in McKinsey’s Aerospace & Defense and Capital Projects practices.

A former U.S. Army Special Forces officer in the Green Berets, Adam led mission planning and tactical execution during multiple combat tours—experiences that shaped his global perspective and operational discipline. He holds a B.S. from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

As Chief Information and Digital Officer, Dr. Obi K. Ndu architects the digital backbone of the company’s next-generation aircraft—driving innovation to deliver the most intelligent and efficient platform of the modern era.

Obi’s career spans more than 23 years at the intersection of engineering and information technology. A former aerospace engineer at the FAA and Missile Defense Agency, he brings deep expertise in systems analysis and quantitative methods. He held senior roles at Boston Consulting Group, KPMG, and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, where he led enterprise analytics programs and developed deep learning models. Most recently, he served as CIO for the District of Columbia’s Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, spearheading multiple modernization efforts.

Obi’s expansive industry experience is reinforced by academic depth, reflecting a dual mastery of execution and engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Reliability Engineering, along with degrees in Systems and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park.

As Vice President and General Counsel, Josh leads the company’s global legal strategy, guiding regulatory compliance, protecting intellectual property, and managing legal risk across operations.

With more than 25 years spanning aerospace, defense, technology, and government, Josh brings a rare balance of technical fluency and legal discipline—shaped by leadership roles in both startups and global enterprises.

Before joining Otto, he served as General Counsel at Hadrian Automation, a fast-growing aerospace manufacturing startup, and held executive legal roles at Boeing, where he focused on commercial and government contracts, M&A, IP licensing, and corporate governance. He also held key legal positions at Microsoft and spent a decade in public service with the Departments of Justice and Defense, leading large legal teams and managing technology and security issues.

Josh’s multidisciplinary mindset, rooted in law, policy, and advanced manufacturing, ensures Otto stays legally agile as it advances the frontiers of next-generation aviation.

As Vice President of Engineering, Kyle leads the company’s technical vision, overseeing aircraft architecture, systems integration, and cross-functional engineering teams to bring next-generation platforms to life.

With more than 14 years of experience and a background in mechanical and systems engineering, he applies a systems-level perspective to commercial aircraft development and certification. Kyle demonstrated his engineering versatility, ingenuity, and resourcefulness in defense and civilian aircraft innovation while serving in leadership roles at Bell and Supernal. At both organizations, his commitment to safety, precision, and advancing technology earned him a reputation as a reliable and forward-thinking leader.

As co-founder and board member of Art Reaching Out—a nonprofit that supports youth development through hands-on STEAM education and glassblowing—Kyle blends science and art in his approach to engineering. He holds a master’s degree in systems engineering from Southern Methodist University and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Miami.

As Vice President of Software, Craig leads hardware, software, and AIML development for the Phantom 3500 Super Natural Vision Infotainment System (SNVIS). With over two decades of experience in human interfacing technology, Craig combines deep technical expertise with visionary leadership to elevate the company’s onboard flight experience.

Craig joins Otto from Apple, where he played a key role in bringing the Apple Watch and health-sensing technologies to market. He also worked across all Apple hardware products, including Apple Vision Pro, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Home, AirPods, and Beats.

In addition to his consumer electronics experience, Craig has extensive expertise in Part 135 charter pricing and availability, having worked at XOJET, TMC Jets, and Wheels Up to transition their floating fleets to dynamic pricing models.

Known for bridging design intent with scalable execution, Craig now applies this expertise to a groundbreaking clean-sheet aircraft program. He holds a Ph.D. in Health Sciences and Technology from MIT (Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology) and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Curtis brings financial expertise to the Otto team with a career portfolio in auditing, accounting and compliance from Deloitte, as well as experience in financial planning and modeling, and investment management. Curtis balances executing long-term financial strategies with optimizing costs and improving financial efficiency to contribute to Otto’s growth.

Steven leads manufacturing operations and facility development, helping bring Otto Aerospace’s clean-sheet aircraft to life through precision execution and a focus on scalable, production-ready systems.

Since joining the company over a decade ago, Steven has played a key role in building and scaling Otto’s unique approach to aircraft production, drawing on deep experience in lean manufacturing, digital factory simulation, and advanced composite tooling. He helped bring the original Celera 500 prototype to life and is now guiding production readiness for Otto’s next-generation aircraft.

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran with a tour in Afghanistan, Steven became known early in his career as “an incredibly efficient operator with true grit”—qualities that now define his leadership style in high-growth aerospace environments. Steven is also a licensed pilot, having pursued flight training to improve communication with test pilots and bridge engineering and operational needs. He holds a degree from Baylor University and continues to drive innovation, efficiency, and sustainability in every aspect of the aircraft build.

As Director of Supply Chain, Neil oversees strategic sourcing, logistics, and supplier partnerships—building agile supply frameworks that support the company’s ambitious aircraft development and keep innovation moving at the speed of flight.

Over a 20-year aerospace career, Neil has led complex global programs and launched iconic aircraft, bringing operational rigor and strategic foresight to every program he touches. At Viking Air, he played a central role in launching globally recognized platforms like the Twin Otter and Aerial Firefighter. He later led supply chain strategy and contract negotiations for next-gen aircraft programs at De Havilland Aircraft of Canada.

Known for his strategic approach, collaborative leadership style, and relentless pursuit of excellence, Neil has a proven track record of optimizing team performance and delivering customer value. The licensed fixed-wing pilot and Lean-certified operations leader holds an MBA from Royal Roads University, combining academic knowledge with practical experience to drive results.

As Director of Test & Certification, Kerri leads Otto’s airworthiness strategy—overseeing test programs, certification pathways, and continued compliance across every phase of the company’s clean-sheet aircraft.

Her nearly 30-year career spans legacy OEMs, leading-edge companies, and aerospace startups. From Part 23 fixed wing aircraft to Part 29 rotorcraft, she has led teams in support of type certification, continued airworthiness, and international validation at companies such as Cirrus Aircraft and Cessna. A recognized expert in certification and regulatory compliance, Kerri served as an FAA Administrative DER and ODA Lead Administrator and contributed to the FAA’s Aviation Rulemaking Committee for Part 23 Reorganization.

Kerri holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where she served as an instructor in the Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory, conducting hundreds of hours of wind tunnel instruction and applied research. Her leadership brings regulatory clarity and technical rigor to Otto’s certification efforts, ensuring compliance is achieved with the same vision and discipline that defines Otto’s approach to aircraft innovation.

As Director of Safety & Quality Assurance, George leads Otto’s commitment to operational excellence—embedding safety and quality systems that uphold the company’s mission to revolutionize aircraft performance through clean-sheet innovation.

With 25 years in aerospace, George has held key leadership roles, including Head of Safety at Supernal, Hyundai Motor Group’s advanced air mobility division, where he developed frameworks to support certification of next-gen flight technologies. He also served as an engineer at the FAA and spent nearly two decades at HEICO, contributing to engineering programs supporting critical flight operations before advancing into director roles in safety management and quality systems. Today, George continues to advise organizations through his consulting firm, helping them build and maintain safety, quality, and certification systems aligned with industry and regulatory standards.

Known for his steady leadership and technical depth, George brings rigor, trust, and vision to every phase of development—ensuring safety and quality are rooted in the company’s culture. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Florida International University.

As Director of the Program Management Office, Meagan implements lean and robust governance frameworks to efficiently drive project execution—guiding teams through the complexities of development, certification, and scale as the company pioneers the future of sustainable flight.

With more than 14 years in aerospace and defense, Meagan brings deep experience in hybrid-electric and all-electric propulsion systems for powered-lift aircraft. She previously served as Head of Propulsion & Dynamic Systems at Supernal, where she advanced distributed propulsion technologies and built strategic partnerships to enable next-gen aircraft integration. At Bell, she led propulsion system development for the Nexus program and managed critical certification efforts on the Bell 505 helicopter.

Meagan is a zealous engineer with a passion for aligning emerging technologies with real-world application. She earned her aerospace engineering degree from the University of Texas at Austin and is known combining technical acumen with a collaborative and dynamic leadership approach to power innovation.

As Director of Product Support & Customer Service, Kelly leads Otto’s commitment to delivering a seamless ownership experience—developing the infrastructure, teams, and systems that support customers throughout the aircraft lifecycle.

With more than 25 years in aviation, Kelly has led customer service, product support, and training operations across top aerospace companies. At Cessna, he rose to Vice President of Product Support, managing global service operations for a fleet spanning piston aircraft to midsize jets. He later helped launch the HondaJet at Honda Aircraft Company, building customer support systems and ensuring service readiness. As Senior Vice President at FlightSafety International, he spearheaded strategic initiatives to elevate training and support across the industry.

Kelly holds a master’s degree and a commercial pilot’s license with multiengine, instrument, and flight-instructor ratings. Known for his deep technical understanding of the flight experience and his passion for customer success, he brings a rare blend of operational insight, service leadership, and frontline perspective.

As Director of Investor Relations, Signey leads Otto Aerospace’s engagement with the investment community, translating the company’s technical milestones into clear, compelling value narratives that resonate with partners, stakeholders, and future investors.

Her cross-disciplinary edge is shaped by legal training, capital markets experience, and firsthand knowledge of industrial sectors. At Jefferies & Company, she worked on the metals and mining team, where she built expertise in industrial markets, including the aluminum sector. She later served as legal counsel at Setter, a Thumbtack company, and advised clients as a consultant at Bacchus Capital Advisers.

Known for her fluency across legal, technical, and financial domains, Signey brings a precise, investor-focused lens to Otto’s outreach, ensuring the company’s vision to redefine flight is communicated with clarity, credibility, and strategic intent. She holds a J.D. from University of Toronto and a B.A. in North American Studies from McGill University.

Don brings extensive experience leading multidisciplinary teams in the design and analysis of advanced business aircraft concepts. Before joining Otto, Don spent 25 years at Gulfstream Aerospace, where he led airframe and powerplant integration, served as co-principal investigator for the NASA-Gulfstream Quiet Spike flight test program, and led several advanced technology demonstration efforts involving full-scale hardware design, build and test. He also participated as a loads and dynamics technical specialist on the GV, G450, G550, and G650 certification programs.

Tom brings 30+ years of expertise in experimental and computational fluid dynamics, leading conceptual, developmental and production programs in academia, government and industry.  For nearly 10 years at Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems Tom led the Aerodynamic Groups for both the Airborne Laser Program and 767 Global Tanker and served as the Flight Test Airworthiness Director for Airborne Laser.  While at Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation for nearly 20 years Tom led Applied Aerodynamic and Supersonic groups in preliminary design and core engineering for the G650 and AAP programs.  As part of Gulfstream’s Preliminary Design Group Tom developed and directed over 30 experimental test campaigns as part of Gulfstream’s supersonic technology programs including Quiet Spike, X-54 and X-59.  Overall, Tom has directed over sixty experimental and flight test campaigns at Rocketdyne, Boeing, Gulfstream, and now Otto Aerospace.

Dennis’ 37-year career is characterized by extensive leadership in aerospace and global industry. With a strong foundation in engineering, he climbed the Boeing ranks, ultimately serving as chairman, CEO, and president. His unwavering commitment to advancing talent, values, and technology led to the co-founding of New Vista Capital, a strategic advisory, venture, and private equity firm focused on transforming aerospace and national security with excellence.

As a member of the Board of Directors, Ken brings more than four decades of executive leadership and financial oversight across public and private enterprises.

He most recently served as president of Hillspire, a family office management firm, where he oversaw financial operations, real estate, aviation, and maritime activities. He has served as CFO of Yahoo!, Fortinet, Inc. and Siebel Systems, Inc. and has helped three companies—VLSI, Excite@Home, and Fortinet—successfully go public.

Ken’s expertise extends beyond corporate leadership into board service, having served on more than 40 corporate boards as a director, audit committee chair, and financial advisor. Of these, more than 10 companies went public during his tenure.

A Cornell University alumnus with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Ken served as a Trustee from 2005 to 2013 and now holds the title of Emeritus Trustee. He is a member of Cornell’s Bowers CIS Advisory Council and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s Investor Advisory Group. Ken received his MBA from Harvard Business School and serves on its California Research Center Advisory Board.

As a member of the Board of Directors, Michael brings decades of leadership across government, law, military, and business. The 70th U.S. Secretary of State and former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, he helped shape American foreign policy and intelligence strategy at the highest levels—advancing national security, strengthening alliances, and leading negotiations on the global stage, including the Abraham Accords and deepened partnerships across Asia.

Graduating first in his class from the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mike served as a U.S. Army cavalry officer patrolling the Iron Curtain before earning his J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. He went on to lead two manufacturing businesses in South Central Kansas—first in aerospace, then in energy equipment—before representing the region in Congress for four terms.

Today, Mike serves as Executive Chair of Impact Investments, where he helps global companies build long-term value through strategic partnerships. He remains an influential voice on national security, foreign policy, and American values.

Michael Carver is CEO and owner of R.J. Noble, a leader in the production, engineering, and manufacturing of asphalt and concrete products. Mike is also CEO and owner of Lincoln Self Storage and Rio Vista Executive Boat & RV Storage. Collectively, he has quadrupled the revenues of his business enterprises over a 10-year period.

Bill Otto Jr., Vice President, has participated in conceptual design, patent applications, prototype development, and scaled test flights while directing business planning, offering documents, and raising capital for Otto Aerospace. Bill is also the founder and owner of Majestic Pet Products, a pet supplier, manufacturer, and importer since 1991. Previously, Bill was employed by Texas Commerce Bank (now JPMorgan Chase), where he participated in the Officer Development Program.

Alan Hassenflu is co-founder, General Partner, Managing Principal and CEO of Fidelis Realty Partners Ltd. Focused on maximizing property value for its tenants, partners, and communities, Fidelis offers comprehensive services across its diverse commercial real estate portfolio. From an initial 1 million square feet in Houston, the company has expanded to approximately 24 million square feet across 14 states, spanning a number of sectors. He began his career at Price Waterhouse and earned his CPA certification.

Richard Rogers, CPA, has been a personal wealth advisor for more than 30 years. He previously held roles with Frontier Wealth Management and Price Waterhouse and was the founder of Comprehensive Personal Financial Advisors.

As a member of the Board of Directors, Marion brings decades of leadership across government, industry, and regulatory affairs within the aerospace and defense sector.

She served as the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from 2002 to 2007, where she led the agency through critical safety and modernization initiatives. Prior to that, she was Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), overseeing numerous high-profile accident investigations and advancing national transportation safety standards.

Marion later served as President and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), representing the nation’s leading aerospace and defense manufacturers, and subsequently as President and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America, where she directed operations across civil and defense aviation markets.

A recognized voice in aviation innovation and safety, Marion has served on numerous advisory boards and commissions, including the President’s Commission on Aviation Safety and Security. Her leadership and deep expertise in regulatory affairs, technology advancement, and aerospace strategy continue to shape the future of flight.

Gur Kimchi’s dynamic career is characterized by innovation and boundary-pushing exploration. His instrumental roles as co-founder of the Amazon Prime Air delivery-by-drone project, developer of key technologies at Microsoft and veteran of eight early-stage companies, showcases his pioneering force across a number of industries. Relentless about reimagining the future of mobility with safety at the forefront, Gur is a founding member of the FAA Drone Advisory Committee, and has collaborated with several government organizations on safe airspace around the world.

Gregg Martin, a senior aerospace executive, excels in developing and deploying complex systems for global defense, intelligence and space sectors. In 35+ years with Boeing, he was a highly regarded technical and business leader, and held a number of high-profile roles including vice president of Engineering & Technology for Phantom Works, the advanced prototyping arm of Boeing’s defense and security business. As founder and CEO of System Solutions LLC, he offers top-tier engineering and business consulting services.

Dominique Spragg is an innovative, versatile aerospace leader. A former chairman and CEO of sustainable aviation start-ups, he is passionate about providing business mentorship and stewarding investments to entrepreneurial ventures pioneering industry advancements. An aerospace engineer and private pilot with nearly 40 years of experience at companies advancing aircraft technology—from Pratt & Whitney and DeHavilland/Viking to Eviation and magniX—he brings a broad perspective and hands-on approach to strategy, governance, operations, manufacturing and global supply chain management.

As a member of the Board of Directors, Kirsten helps guide the company’s growth strategy through her deep experience at the intersection of aerospace innovation, finance, and national security.

Her leadership spans both operational and investment roles, formerly serving as Head of Structured Finance and Corporate Development at Hawker Beechcraft and co-founding XOJET, where she helped scale one of the industry’s leading business jet fleet operators. She is currently Managing Partner of New Vista Capital and co-founder of AirFinance/AF Capital, having overseen more than $1.5 billion in financing for global aerospace and defense companies.

Kirsten also advises the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Strategic Capital and serves on several national and industry boards. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Stanford University. Widely recognized as a pioneering force in advanced aerospace investment, she was named to Corporate Jet Investor’s “Power List” as one of the industry’s top 10 innovators.

Erik serves on the board of directors. He is Chief Investment Officer at Gideon Strategic Partners, where he leads the firm’s investment strategy with a holistic, macro-driven approach to asset management. He oversees the firm’s managed registered portfolios and its proprietary private markets access platform.

Prior to joining Gideon, Erik was the founder and CIO of Actinium Capital LP, a global long/short equity hedge fund investing across sectors and geographies. He began his career on the buy-side at Salient Partners, where he was a member of the global equity team with primary responsibility for the technology, media, and telecom sectors. Before Salient, Erik completed a comprehensive analyst rotation program at UBS in New York.

Erik holds a BA in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in just three years, and an MS in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University with a concentration in financial economics. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA).