Epirus on Tuesday named Ken Bedingfield as its new CEO, succeeding Leigh Madden, who led the company for nearly three years.
Bedingfield joined Epirus in June 2020 as chief operating officer and chief financial officer (CFO) after spending more than eight years with Northrop Grumman [NOC], the last five as CFO.
Madden voluntarily left the company to spend more time with his family, an Epirus spokesman told
Defense Daily. Madden was splitting time between his home in Seattle and the company’s multiple offices and decided in favor of a “more balanced life” for his family “and we wish him the best in his next chapter,” the spokesman said.
Epirus has developed high-power microwave technology to take down small drones on the battlefield at very little cost compared to more expensive kinetic measures. In August, Epirus and General Dynamics [GD] successfully tested Epirus’ Leonidas-counter-electronics array aboard the GD-built Stryker wheeled combat vehicle in disabling drones for short-range air defense.
Stryker Leonidas was on display in October at the annual Association of the U.S. Army conference.
Grant Verstandig, chairman of Epirus, said in a statement about Bedingfield that “With his background and decades of experience, Ken provides the company with the leadership our stakeholders require. With Ken at the helm, we are confident that Epirus will execute on the company’s strategic priorities and build on the culture of rapid innovation that has defined our early success.”
Andy Lowery, Epirus’ chief product officer, has also been named a COO, expanding his leadership duties. He joined the company in October 2021 after co-founding and leading RealWear, which makes wearable thermal camera units for various industry applications including automotive, manufacturing, oil and gas, healthcare and energy. He was also a chief engineer at Raytheon Technologies [RTX].