PHILADELPHIA, PA — Exyn Technologies (NASDAQ: EXYN, EXYNW) appointed Chief Operating Officer Ben Williams as interim chief executive officer and independent director Gregory McNeal as board chairman, effective Aug. 19, following the resignation of Brandon Torres Declet as CEO and chairman as the newly public company pushes deeper into defense and national-security markets.
Williams has served as Exyn’s chief operating officer since 2019 and previously held the interim CEO role from June to November 2023. In his current position, he has overseen operations, product strategy and commercialization across mining, infrastructure and other GPS-denied environments.
The leadership change comes as Exyn expands its defense business around its autonomous mapping and navigation technology. Recent initiatives include support for autonomous aircraft inspection at the U.S. Air Force’s Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, Green UAS certification work for its Nexys platform and the formation of a Defense Advisory Board.
McNeal, an independent Exyn director, chairs that advisory board and has experience across military communications, aerospace software and technology policy. He previously co-founded AirMap and served as executive chairman of maritime AI company SailPlan.
Both Williams and McNeal are military veterans, a leadership profile that aligns with Exyn’s effort to increase government and defense deployments.
“The opportunity in front of us, particularly in defense and national security, has never been greater,” McNeal stated.
He also emphasized governance as Exyn adjusts to life as a public company, citing efforts to strengthen internal controls, financial procedures and board oversight.
Williams previously served nearly six years as a U.S. Navy officer, including two combat tours, and later worked at Lockheed Martin, where he helped establish the company’s New Ventures division. He also co-founded technology company Reelio, which was acquired by Fullscreen Media.
Exyn is positioning its ExynAI autonomy platform for use across both commercial and defense markets. The company says the technology has been deployed in thousands of autonomous missions in mines, tunnels, industrial facilities and other environments where GPS is unavailable or unreliable.
“The same capabilities that transformed how our commercial customers operate in mining and infrastructure translate directly to defense and national security applications,” Williams stated.
Exyn has also been seeking to increase software and subscription revenue as it broadens its customer base. The company recently reported growing activity with U.S. government and allied customers, including selection of its Nexys platform by a U.S. government research organization following a competitive evaluation.
McNeal has advised the White House, Department of Defense, Department of State and federal regulators on technology law and policy. He also has served on Federal Aviation Administration rulemaking committees involving unmanned aircraft systems.
The company disclosed Torres Declet’s resignation in its amended Form 10-Q.
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