MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Matternet, developer of the world’s leading autonomous drone logistics platform, today announced the appointment of Michael Whitaker and Dr. Laurence Marton to the company’s board of directors. Whitaker brings extensive expertise in regulatory aviation affairs as FAA Deputy Administrator and Chief NextGen Officer with the Obama Administration, while Dr. Marton brings decades of healthcare experience from academia and industry.

“We’re honored to have Michael Whitaker and Dr. Laurence Marton on our board,” said Matternet founder and CEO Andreas Raptopoulos. “With deep knowledge in their respective fields, they will be instrumental in helping Matternet expand healthcare operations in the U.S. and overseas. As we continue to lead in the urban drone delivery space, we are eager to leverage their wisdom and insight to help us achieve our growth goals.”

Whitaker has spent his entire career in aviation focusing on legal and regulatory affairs. Most notably, he spent 15 years at United Airlines and rose to Senior Vice President of Alliances, International and Regulatory Affairs, and in 2013 was appointed by President Obama to serve as Deputy Administrator and Chief NextGen Officer of the Federal Aviation Administration. During his time there, he worked closely with FAA Administrator Michael Huerta to run the world’s busiest, most complex and safest air traffic control system. Whitaker currently advises airlines and aerospace companies, and as a member of the Matternet board, he is focused on helping the company achieve the ability to offer routine medically-related drone deliveries in the United States.

“What impresses me most about Matternet is the company’s focus and passion,” said Michael Whitaker. “While it seems at times there are unlimited use cases for drones, Matternet has stayed focused on UAS delivery in a very specific and important area: connecting healthcare providers. With this focus, I am confident in their ability to solve the safety, technical and economic challenges with medical drone delivery.”

Dr. Marton has an extensive career in the healthcare sector. He was Dean of the University of Wisconsin Medical School and Chaired the Department of Laboratory Medicine at UCSF, where he was a Professor in the Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Neurological Surgery. Dr. Marton now serves as a consultant to nonprofit, government, industry, and academic institutions, and serves on the boards of nonprofit and for-profit entities including the American Association for Cancer Research Foundation, Cancer Commons, RenovoRx, TOMA Biosciences and Cellsonics.

“With their stellar management, determination, laser focus and devotion to quality, Matternet is on a path to make a significant difference in the healthcare space,” said Dr. Laurence Marton. “They are approaching the integration of drone delivery in healthcare in a way that makes medical and financial sense. I am extremely motivated to help them achieve their goals.”

To learn more about Matternet’s autonomous drone logistics platform, please visit: https://mttr.net

About Matternet
Matternet is the developer of the world’s leading technology platform for on-demand aerial delivery in urban environments. The company provides its technology platform as a service to healthcare, e-commerce and logistics organizations. In March 2017, Matternet became the first company in the world to be authorized for full operations of drone logistics networks over densely populated areas in Switzerland. In May 2018, Matternet was selected to carry out drone logistics operations for US hospitals under the FAA’s drone integration program. In June 2018, Matternet formed a strategic partnership with Boeing to shape the next generation of transportation solutions. Matternet is also the exclusive partner of Mercedes-Benz Vans for integrating its drone logistics system with Mercedes-Benz Vans. For more information about Matternet, please visit: https://mttr.net.

SOURCE Matternet