Accelerating Aerial Autonomy with AFWERX

Lt. Col. Bryan Ralston is currently the AFWERX Autonomy Prime Lead and a Flight Test Engineer specializing in experimentation and prototyping. He is responsible for the cost, schedule, performance and strategy of the unique rapid acquisition program focused on accelerating and transitioning autonomy in the Air Force. He was commissioned in 2008 through ROTC at the University of Missouri-Rolla, earning a Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering. He also holds a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering from Missouri S&T, Master’s in Experimental Flight Test Engineering from the United States Air Force Test Pilot School and Masters Degree in Aerospace Technology and Strategy Integration from Air University.

Nicholas is a Technical Business Development Manager on Applied's Government team, focused on the Aerospace vertical. Prior to joining Applied, he was a Senior Portfolio Manager at AFVentures, the Air Force’s Venture Capital Arm, designing acquisitions strategies to bring technology into the Air Force. Prior to that, Nicholas worked across the Air Force, Navy, Army, and SOCOM as both an Intelligence Officer and Acquisitions Officer. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University. Contact: [email protected]