OUR Leadership
Michael Edwards:
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Michael Edwards has spent his career building advanced systems for the U.S. Army and defense industry, working at the intersection of autonomy, mission systems, computer vision, and aerospace engineering.
Prior to founding Edwards Aero, Michael contributed to the development of autonomous aircraft and mission systems at Lockheed Martin, supporting programs from early research and development through customer flight demonstrations, fielding, and long-term support. His experience spans aircraft systems, weapons safety architecture, mission planning technologies, target location systems, computer vision integration, and the complex engineering challenges required to bring advanced capabilities from concept to operation.
Throughout his career, Michael has worked closely with Army stakeholders at every level, from operators and pilots executing missions in the field to senior leaders shaping the future direction of military capability. That experience provided firsthand insight into a simple reality: the battlefield changes faster than traditional systems can adapt.
Edwards Aero was founded to challenge that limitation.
Drawing on years of experience developing mission-critical systems for the defense community, Michael is leading the development of a new generation of modular autonomy platforms designed to evolve alongside changing technology, mission requirements, and operational needs.
When he's not building aircraft, Michael can usually be found working on high-voltage electronics, laser systems, and other experimental engineering projects driven by the same curiosity that inspired Edwards Aero in the first place.
Kristen Edwards:
Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer
Kristen Edwards is the operational architect behind Edwards Aero, bringing more than 15 years of experience helping founders transform ambitious ideas into successful, scalable companies. As an early employee and executive leader across multiple startups, she has built organizations from the ground up by developing teams, creating operational infrastructure, and guiding companies through every stage of growth.
Her greatest strength is bridging the gap between innovation and execution. Kristen works alongside founders to shape product strategy, guide development, and build the operational frameworks that turn promising technology into market-ready solutions. She also leads the design of Edwards Aero's software experience, applying more than a decade of human-centered UX/UI expertise to create intuitive, streamlined interfaces that reduce complexity and enable operators to accomplish more with confidence. She aligns the critical functions of an early-stage company into a cohesive execution plan, enabling Edwards Aero to move quickly, make informed decisions, and build on a strong operational foundation from day one.
At Edwards Aero, she is building the operational foundation behind the next generation of modular autonomy.
Edwards Aero
Technology Built With Purpose, Pride, and Duty
Edwards Aero is proud to contribute to a stronger American industrial base and a more capable future for those defending it. By advancing autonomous systems that extend capability and reduce risk, we aim to lessen the burden placed on personnel in high-risk environments and support efforts to minimize direct exposure of personnel in frontline operations whenever possible.
Bringing together their backgrounds in defense engineering, advanced R&D, UX/UI design, product development, and company building, Michael and Kristen Edwards combine deep technical expertise with the operational experience required to transform ideas into deployable capability.
Together, they are building a new generation of modular autonomous systems designed to help operators move faster, adapt sooner, and stay ready for whatever comes next.