zachary johns

Zak Johns has been an aviation aficionado since he was a toddler. He started piloting radio controlled aircraft at 4 years old, by the time he was ten years old, Zak had turned a lifelong R/C hobby into a career competing internationally in 3D R/C helicopter contests, and shortly began partnering with industry heavy hitters like Futaba, Align Helicopters, and many more. After years of competing, he was among the top handful of pilots of the world.

Now, Zak is the CEO and founder of HUSH Aerospace an aviation company focused on revolutionizing unmanned vehicles, and urban air transportation utilizing electric vertical take off and landing aircraft. Since its founding, their world class engineers and designers have produced dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles, including developing and piloting the NASA Greased Lightning, a unique sub scale UAV eVTOL demonstrator focusing on distributed electric propulsion (DEP). Zak also works in the NASA Autonomy and Robotics Institute in the role of Chief Pilot. He assists with the development of research in unmanned applications of machine learning, computer vision, path planning and path replanning, obstacle detection and avoidance, and much more.

Travis knapp

Travis Knapp is the Chief Operating Officer of Hush Aerospace LLC. He is an expert in drone design and manufacturing using CAD/CAM software. His design skills are enhanced by his exceptional product development focus and visualization talent. His specific Drone designs include multi-rotors, fixed wing and vertical/horizontal platforms. Manufacturing experience included additive manufacturing using carbon CNC machining and all forms of 3d print part design and integration. Travis has also served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps and has skills in leadership, operations, heavy equipment transportation, logistics process, supply support. He has also significant construction experience including concrete and asphalt project planning and implementation. Travis’s attention to detail is over the top, leaving no stone unturned whether it involves design, operating processes, manufacturing or interpersonal relationships. He enjoys being an artist, developing social media entrepreneurship opportunities, and spending quality time with friends and family.

BERNIE RICE

Hush Aerospace Chairman of Board

Mr. Rice is recognized as one of the world’s leading experts in Information Technology. Mr. Rice has a wealth of enterprise business, experience and significant senior level relationships that are indispensable in developing many strategic partnerships. Mr. Rice is currently driving in a portfolio of companies with leadership capabilities in Financial Processing, Medical Cannabis, Green Energy, Accessibility, Education and Real Estate.  

Mr. Rice began his career with IBM in sales and held various sales leadership positions until 1983 when he entered IBM's finance fraternity. Mr. Rice's work in business case structure and portfolio analysis led him to a role as IBM's Finance Director for Application Software in 1985. He was promoted several times such that by 1989 he was appointed Director of Finance, Planning and Administration for IBM's  Southern Area. In that role, Mr. Rice was responsible for the staff functions of a $3 billion business and he was instrumental in positioning IBM's Southeast Region as the leader in billable services. 

Mr. Rice became Chief Financial Officer and General Partner for the IBM Venture Capital Group in 1993 and then Vice President of Business development for IBM's Consumer Division in 1998. There he managed projects like IBM's partnership with Berkshire Hathaway and Hallmark for the development of its breakthrough on-line research and learning platforms. 

Mr. Rice also served as Chief Executive Officer  of Edmark Inc., the IBM subsidiary that developed innovative educational software for children. In 2000 Mr. Rice  orchestrated the spin-off of  IBM's education content assets into Riverdeep Inc and was instrumental in Riverdeep becoming the fastest growing educational software company in the nation. Today, Riverdeep has educational products in some 45,000 schools in over 20 countries.

Mr. Rice holds a B.A in Economics. from St. Anselm College (Manchester, New Hampshire) and a Master’s in Business Administration in Marketing from Georgia State University. Mr. Rice also attended  the IBM Presidents Program (a special Executive MBA program) at Harvard University.