Team + Leadership

Fly Faster. Go Farther. Connect Better

Autonomous aircraft will change the world. As an innovation leader in vertical takeoff landing (VTOL) aircraft systems design, PteroDynamics takes pride in collaborating closely with customers and industry partners on its mission to solve crucial problems and build solutions that can make the world more connected, safer, and more prosperous.

Team

The PteroDynamics Dream Team: A Synergy of Talent, Leadership, and Partnerships

At PteroDynamics, we're more than just a team of engineers and designers—we're passionate innovators with a shared vision for revolutionizing how aviation provides valuable ISR services and delivers mission critical cargo around the world. Our unique approach to design and innovation leveraging the unique capabilities of the Transwing VTOL’s design has allowed us to gain a significant advantage over the long term, setting us apart from other companies in the hard tech space.

We have a collaborative culture that fosters creativity, experimentation, and innovation. We believe that the best ideas come from the diverse experiences of our talented team members who each bring unique ideas and concepts to the table. That's why we actively seek out individuals who are not only skilled in their respective fields but also passionate about our mission and vision for the future of aviation and advanced air mobility.

We seek out and work closely with highly skilled vendors who share our commitment to excellence and quality, providing us with access to the latest tools and technologies that help us stay ahead of the curve. By combining our internal expertise with the knowledge and resources of our partners, we're able to take a holistic approach to design and innovation that yields exceptional results.

Executive Management

PteroDynamics is led by a team of seasoned leaders with extensive experience in launching and scaling technology companies and aerospace and aviation systems design.

Matthew Graczyk

CEO, Board Director

Matthew is a veteran entrepreneur with a passion for launching and structuring organizations for growth and success. He has six public company exits under his belt, helping generate $1.5 Billion in gains for investors. Matthew is a frequent speaker and panelist in the field of advanced air mobility and on topics such as entrepreneurship, raising capital, and managing and building companies. Matthew received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship from Loyola Marymount University.

Rich Brasel

Chief Revenue Officer

A former DoD Major Program Manager and Naval aviator, Rich is an experienced business development professional in the aviation industry. He has over 20 years of experience developing, testing, and fielding unmanned aerial systems (UAS), was a U.S. Navy test pilot, and served as the Commanding Officer of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Rich has a BS in Geology from Eastern Illinois University, an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College, and an MS in Technical Management from The Johns Hopkins University.

Tim Whitehand

VP of Engineering

Tim is an aeronautical engineer, project manager, and fixed-wing and rotary aviator with over 15 years of experience in the design, manufacturing, and test of innovative aircraft from prototype to certified aircraft systems for commercial and military applications. Tim has contributed to the success of multiple projects, including the PAE-ISR Resolute Eagle tactical UAS, Airbus A3 Vahana UAM demonstrators, and four clean-sheet electric VTOL aircraft at Kitty Hawk (formerly Zee Aero). Tim holds a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering and Commerce from the University of Sydney.

Brian Newton

CFO & VP of Business Operations

Brian is a senior finance and operations executive for early-stage, turnaround, and high-growth companies in high-tech, financial services, and healthcare sectors. Brian is also an adjunct professor at UCLA Anderson School of Management, a visiting lecturer at Trinity Business School in Dublin Ireland where he teaches entrepreneurial finance. He is also a strategic advisor to the UCLA Space Institute. Brian has a BS in Business Administration from Georgetown University and earned an MBA from UCLA Anderson.

Jim Hevener

VP Legal and Corporate Strategy

Jim brings a diverse legal background to PteroDynamics. Jim started his career as a commercial litigator at a large U.S. law firm helping resolve business disputes involving scientific and technical issues in addition to broad employment and business relationship matters. He has since broadened his focus to include more transactional work for business and technology companies, including representing several new technology ventures developed at California Institute of Technology. This role enabled him to handle not only all legal functions but also to provide business consulting services. Jim holds a BA from William & Mary and a JD from University of Washington Law School.

Board of Directors

Val Petrov, Ph.D

Founder and Chairman of the Board

Val Petrov, PhD, CFA, is the inventor of the Transwing and Chairman of the Board of PteroDynamics. Dr. Petrov has a Postdoc in Nonlinear Dynamics, a PhD in Physical Chemistry, and a Masters in Applied Mathematics. Dr. Petrov’s professional career began in academia as a research fellow at the Center for Nonlinear Dynamics at the University of Texas, Austin. The results of his work in nonlinear control and pattern formation were published in Nature and Physical Review Letters, gaining a science citation index of more than 1000. From 2000 to 2021, Dr. Petrov worked as a Fixed Income Portfolio Manager for Wellington Management Company, an investment management firm in Boston. During this period, he developed two VTOL aircraft, including the first Transwing prototype. Dr. Petrov has also developed many innovations in drone flight control and navigation systems. In 2001, he coined the term FPV (first-person view) to describe the process of controlling hobby model aircraft while using a real-time video downlink, which, ten years later, became a worldwide phenomenon.

Matthew Graczyk

CEO, Board Director

Matthew Graczyk has been a serial entrepreneur for 25 years with experience in large and early-stage firms, and began working with the inventor of the Transwing before the company’s inception. He formally joined PteroDynamics as CEO and its first employee in May 2018, where he continues serving as CEO and as a Director. He has led all fundraising and hiring efforts, and has been integrally involved in all key business and partner development efforts, and the patent prosecution process. Mr. Graczyk previously has had P&L responsibility for businesses of more than 100 highly skilled professionals and annual revenues greater than $50 million, and has helped create more than $1.5 billion in investor gains. He is a frequent speaker and panelist in advanced air mobility and on various business topics, such as entrepreneurship, raising capital, and managing and scaling companies. He was awarded Loyola Marymount University's Hilton Distinguished Entrepreneur Award and was inducted into Loyola Marymount University's prestigious Entrepreneur's Wall of Honor.

Jim Hunt

Managing Partner of Lavrock Ventures, Investor, and Board Director

Jim Hunt is a seasoned technology and investment professional with a principal focus on companies with offerings that can positively impact the national security sector markets, and he spends a significant amount of his time scouting for world-class, game-changing technology. Mr. Hunt began his career in the mid-1970s as a scientist for the U.S. Government. After his eight-year tenure with the government, he founded BDS, a government-focused systems integrator, where he raised VC funding, merged with BTG, and ultimately took the combined company public. Subsequently, Mr. Hunt founded two successive systems integration practices, first with Price Waterhouse and then with Ernst and Young, before serving as President of Cap Gemini Technologies. Over the next handful of years, Mr. Hunt founded, in succession, two strategy consultancies - The MITA Group and NextFED - the latter of which has a primary area of focus in the national security and intelligence community markets. Mr. Hunt began his angel investing activities in the mid-1990s after the successful BTG IPO with five investments in area companies. Over the next 25 years, Mr. Hunt has expanded his portfolio to ~100 early-stage companies before launching Lavrock Ventures in 2016.

Joshua Roth

Board Director

Joshua Roth most recently served until October 2023 as the chief technology officer (CTO) for home security provider Ring, where he helped develop the company’s solutions into a premium platform of security appliances for nine years. Mr. Roth’s hands-on experience rapidly scaling global hardware and software technology operations and in advisory roles with multiple high-tech enterprises helps PteroDynamics build a scalable, integrated platform to meet customers' evolving needs across various defense and commercial industries. Mr. Roth has held prior CTO positions and has served as a board director and in an advisory capacity to multiple tech companies, overseeing rapid growth and buildout of tech platform solutions. He was one of the first employees at Ring, where he spearheaded the development of the company’s hardware, firmware, analytics, and business intelligence solutions. He grew its technology operations globally, managing 800 people across 13 countries. Mr. Roth also was CTO for NTI Group, which provided emergency communications and community engagement solutions for educational institutions, families, and municipalities and was acquired by Blackboard (now Anthology). Mr. Roth also ran technology operations at Digital Evolution before its merger with US Interactive and subsequent IPO. He co-founded and served as CTO for Rent.com before its acquisition by eBay.

Quinten Stevens

Managing Partner, CS Venture Opportunities Fund, Investor, and Board Director

Quinten Stevens is a senior executive with a successful 35-year track record of management roles in the financial services and technology industries. This includes 28 years in financial services, with successful management leadership positions in investment management, capital markets, and investment banking. Mr. Stevens has extensive knowledge of the media and telecommunications, technology, and defense industries. Mr Stevens has made several investments in these sectors that included serving in senior management operating roles. He has experience accelerating market share growth, revenues, and profitability. Mr. Stevens is a proven leader adept at developing strong and loyal teams. He has served and continues to serve as a trusted advisor to CEOs and Boards of Directors and enjoys scaling businesses with untapped potential.

Todd Thomson

COO/CFO Kairos Ventures, Investor, and Board Director

Mr. Thomson is an accomplished executive, investor, and entrepreneur, serving as Citigroup's CFO for five years and CEO of Citigroup’s $10 Billion Global Wealth Management division. Mr. Thomson is a leading practitioner on M&A and business strategy, having led the acquisition and strategy efforts for Citigroup and GE Capital and serving as an advisor to Fortune 500 firms while at Bain & Co., Booz Allen Hamilton, and Barents Group. He has extensive investing experience as CEO of Citigroup Alternative Investments, Chairman of the Citi Pension Investment Committee, Chairman of the Dynasty Investment Committee, and a member of the Investment Committees for the Davidson College and World Resources Institute endowments. Mr. Thomson is the Chief Operating and Financial Officer at Kairos Ventures. He is also a Co-Founder, past Chairman, and Board Member of Dynasty Financial Partners, the leading investment and technology platform for sophisticated independent advisors serving nearly 50 RIA firms nationally, with an average AUA of $700 million.

Investors with a Vision

PteroDynamics' investors possess a deep understanding of the hardtech space, dual-use markets, and disruptive technologies. They recognize the potential for PteroDynamics to challenge established markets and seize significant market share, providing the company with unwavering support and strategic guidance.

High-Quality Vendors

The company has managed to forge relationships with top-tier vendors who might typically overlook smaller organizations. This collaboration is a testament to the PteroDynamics team's reputation for excellence and the transformative potential of their patented Transwing VTOL technology.

Strategic Partnerships for the Future

PteroDynamics has attracted an array of strategic partners who acknowledge the value of their groundbreaking technology. These partners share the company's conviction that the Transwing VTOL will revolutionize aviation, and they are eager to join PteroDynamics on this exciting journey.

"In a world where sustainability is no longer just a buzzword but a real and pressing concern, the Transwing is poised to become an essential tool for businesses striving to meet the demands of eco-aware customers. By embracing this groundbreaking aircraft, companies can showcase their dedication to a greener future, fostering trust and loyalty among their customer base, and setting themselves apart from the competition."

Copyright PteroDynamics Inc. PteroDynamics™ and Transwing® are trademarks of PteroDynamics Inc. Certain information shown on this website are protected by U.S. Patent Nos. 10,252,798, 10,556,679, and 10,967,969 and Japanese Patent No. 7080500 and 15 additional patents pending in the United States, European Patent Office, Canada, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, India, Brazil, Israel, Japan, and Australia. All information on and downloadable from this website are proprietary to PteroDynamics Inc. All rights reserved.

Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Los Angeles, California, USA

+1 719 257 3103

 info@PteroDynamics.com