Electra Aero, a next-generation aerospace company devoted to sustainable urban and regional mobility and based in Falls Church, Virginia, has appointed Robie I. Samanta Roy as COO. Roy joins Electra from Lockheed-Martin, where he served most recently as VP for technology – government affairs.

“Electra is systematically putting in place a world-class leadership team as we work towards certification and production of our hybrid-electric aircraft for urban and regional mobility,” says John Langford, founder and CEO. “Robie's background in the development and deployment of advanced technology, as well as his broad experience in the aerospace industry, will be invaluable to our continued growth.”

Roy adds: “I am excited to join John and his team. He is a well-regarded aerospace innovator and entrepreneur, and Electra clearly is leading at the intersection of green aviation and advanced air mobility. I look forward to leveraging my diverse set of experiences in government and in a large aerospace company to help Electra advance in the commercial and defence sectors.”

At Lockheed Martin Roy was responsible for supporting corporate engagements with the US government science and technology community across the US. He also served as Lockheed Martin's corporate VP for technology strategy and innovation under the chief technology officer where he developed and provided technical intelligence and strategy for the corporation, engaged the global S&T ecosystem outside the corporation and fostered cross-enterprise innovation.

Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Roy was a professional staff member with the Senate Armed Services Committee with the portfolio of the Department of Defense's wide spectrum of science and technology-related activities including test and evaluation. He came to that position from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy where he was the assistant director for space and aeronautics and was responsible for space and aeronautics activities ranging from human space flight to the Next Generation Air Transportation System. He also served as a strategic analyst at the Congressional Budget Office and as a research staff member in the Systems Evaluation Division of the Institute for Defense Analyses.