Industry veteran brings more than two decades of finance, legal, and HR experience to the company pioneering the world's first Ultra Short aircraft
MANASSAS, Va., May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra) today announced that Max Ochoa has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In this role, Ochoa will provide strategic leadership across Electra's finance and legal departments, guiding the company through its next phase of growth as it scales to meet rising demand from both commercial and defense markets.
Electra's Ultra Short aircraft integrates blown lift and hybrid-electric propulsion to take off and land in just 150 feet, which is roughly 10% of the footprint required for similarly sized legacy airplanes.
With the nine-passenger EL9, commercial air operators can connect communities that lack traditional aviation infrastructure, fly into airports with strict noise restrictions, create new opportunities and business models for cargo services, and save travelers significant time. For defense operators, the EL9 provides new ways to move troops and supplies, including the ability to take off and land with a low signature in helicopter-sized spaces in remote areas.
"Max's track record in scaling organizations and leading them through hyper-growth periods makes him an invaluable addition to our leadership team," said Marc Allen, Chief Executive Officer of Electra. "He brings the expertise to help us navigate this critical phase by aligning our financial, legal, and operational infrastructure with the ambitious milestones ahead. We're proud to welcome such an experienced and forward-thinking leader to help drive Electra's mission to transform air mobility."
"Electra is redefining air connectivity by tackling some of the most pressing challenges in aviation," said Ochoa. "The EL9's real-world utility and seamless integration into today's existing ecosystem make it a truly compelling solution. I'm honored to join this talented team to help bring this transformative aircraft to market for both commercial and defense customers."
Electra recently announced its Series B raise at $115 million, led by Prysm Capital. In March 2025, the company surpassed 2,200 pre-orders for the EL9 aircraft.
Ochoa brings to Electra more than two decades of experience across finance, legal, and operations roles at high-growth, innovative hardware and software technology companies. Most recently, he served as CFO and General Counsel at Satelles where he helped drive the acquisition by Iridium Satellite Communications. Before that, Ochoa held executive leadership roles at Alation, Turn, Adify, and TiVo. Earlier in his career, he was an associate at Cooley LLP, and an engineer at GE Aircraft Engines.
Ochoa earned a JD from Stanford Law School, a master's in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a member of the California Bar. He also serves on the Board of OneJustice, a not-for-profit increasing access to pro bono legal representation in civil matters for California's underserved populations.
About Electra
Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra) is a pioneering aerospace company building hybrid-electric Ultra Short airplanes that achieve never-before performance advantages to fly people and cargo seamlessly without airports, emissions, or noise. With the Ultra Short, Electra is pioneering Direct Aviation, the next level of connectivity that brings air travel closer to where we live, work, and play. Electra's Ultra Short technology delivers 2.5X the payload and 10X longer range with 70% lower operating costs than helicopters and eVTOLs with significantly greater safety and far less certification risk.
Electra's team includes some of the most respected and successful entrepreneurs and engineers in novel aircraft design, with over 40 prior aircraft successfully developed and/or certified. Lockheed Martin Ventures, Honeywell, and Safran are among Electra's strategic investors along with Prysm Capital, Statkraft Ventures (Norwegian sovereign fund), the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), and other private investors. Electra's contracted customers include NASA, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Navy, along with over 2,200 Letters of Intent from 50+ commercial customers, including both airlines and helicopter operators.
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SOURCE Electra.aero
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