Lieutenant General Karsten Heckl (Ret.) joins Skyryse as a strategic advisor

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Skyryse^®, the creator of SkyOS^™, the world's first universal operating system for flight, today announced that United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General Karsten Heckl (Ret.) has joined the company as a strategic advisor. With decades of leadership in military aviation and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by helicopter and tiltrotor pilots in complex environments, Lt. Gen. Heckl will provide invaluable guidance as Skyryse continues to expand its partnerships with the U.S. military.

"We are honored to welcome Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl as an advisor," said Dr. Mark Groden, CEO of Skyryse. "His extensive experience in military aviation and operational readiness will help shape how SkyOS can best be used by our warfighters, ensuring they have access to the most advanced aviation technology to enhance safety and mission success."

Lt. Gen. Heckl, who most recently served as the Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration for the U.S. Marine Corps, has led numerous aviation modernization efforts and understands firsthand the critical need for innovative technology to support military pilots in high-risk environments.

"Skyryse is delivering game-changing technology that will make an immediate difference in keeping helicopter and tiltrotor pilots safe," said Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl (Ret.). "By reducing cognitive load and simplifying flight operations, SkyOS^™ allows pilots to stay focused on their mission and avoid dangerous scenarios like brownouts. This level of innovation is exactly what our military needs to enhance survivability and effectiveness in the field."

For more information on Skyryse and SkyOS, please visit the Skyryse website.

About Skyryse, Inc.
Founded in 2016, the mission of Los Angeles-based Skyryse^® is to bring about a new era in flight, with a goal of zero fatalities, and where piloting any aircraft is simple and safe. Their proprietary SkyOS^™ universal operating system for flight – which powers their first aircraft, the Skyryse One^™ – gives pilots greater control by simplifying the management of an aircraft during standard flight operations, inclement weather, and emergencies. Skyryse has raised more than $300 million from leading investors, including Fidelity Management & Research Company, Monashee Investment Management, Positive Sum, ArrowMark Partners, Venrock, Eclipse Ventures, Cantos, Stanford University, and Bill Ford, Executive Chair, Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.Skyryse.com or watch videos of Skyryse in action on YouTube.

SOURCE Skyryse