EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR—PROJECT ALTA, 47G

Chris Metts is VP, Aerospace and Innovation and Executive Director of Project Alta, 47G's advanced air mobility (AAM) initiative. His career has included 30+ years of progressively responsible leadership both in government and industry, resulting in incredible success throughout the FAA and the global aviation community. This includes time as a transportation Attaché at US Embassies in Japan, China and Singapore, with regional responsibilities. He distinguished himself in Senior Executive Service at the FAA where he served as Chief Acquisitions Officer, VP of the ATO's PMO and as VP of US Air Traffic's En Route and Oceanic Services. In industry, he served as a corporate global VP at L3Harris and partner level executive at Deloitte, partnering with NASA to write the concept of operations document for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). He also served on the ATCA board. Chris is a distinguished graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is fluent in Japanese.

CO-FOUNDER & CEO, AMPAIRE

Bio

FOUNDER, DBT AERO

Michael Duke is Founder & CEO of DBT Aero Inc., developing ultra-efficient AAM aircraft through the synergistic integration of a patented Double Box Tail airframe, Natural Laminar Flow aerodynamics, and rim-driven electric ducted fan propulsion — engineered together to deliver range, efficiency, and quiet operation no single technology achieves alone. DBT Aero holds an FAA Experimental certificate with MOSAIC LSA and Part 23 certification paths underway. A licensed pilot, he co-founded Remos Aircraft USA, operated an FBO with a Part 145 Repair Station, and a serial innovator pioneering innovations in telecom, cloud computing, and shared economy platforms ahead of their markets.

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS, ODYS AVIATION

Bob Ellithorpe, Senior Vice President of Operations at ODYS Aviation, has over three decades of executive aerospace and defense leadership. As a Marine Corps veteran, he completed four deployments as an infantry officer and held assignments at the Pentagon and as a leadership and tactics instructor. As a civilian he held CEO, President/General Manager, VP and Program Manager roles at companies such as Bell Helicopter (V-22 Osprey, ARH-70A), Sikorsky Aircraft, Precision Castparts, GKN Aerospace, Tribus Aerospace, Archer Aviation, and Consolidated Machine and Tool. Mr. Ellithorpe holds degrees from the University of Dallas, Georgetown University, and Texas A&M University, and was an International Affairs Fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations at Harvard University.