Ben Marchionna
VP of Global Operations
SkySpecs

Seminar Abstract:

In today’s world, tech startups are often held in high esteem as thriving innovation engines, whereas traditional companies sometimes struggle with getting new, revolutionary products to market quickly. What makes startups able to do this so efficiently? Do the same rules apply to aerospace startups, where the tolerance for risk is much lower?

Interestingly, many common themes can be traced between tech startup operating philosophies and those of the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, founded in the 1940s by Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson, a U-M Aero alum and one of the most famous aircraft designers in history. The Skunk Works achieved legendary status in the aerospace industry as an innovation factory through a unique set of operating principles, now known as “Kelly’s 14 Rules.”

This seminar will focus on the fundamentals of the innovation process, technology development principles, and best practices for “crossing the chasm,” drawing on numerous historical examples and startup stories. Are the “14 Rules” still relevant today? Have tech startups discovered a new secret sauce? How do you foster a culture where team members think vigorously outside the box to invent the impossible?

Bio:

Ben is currently the Vice President of Global Operations at SkySpecs, a venture-backed commercial drone startup in Ann Arbor, MI focused on at-scale autonomous robotics technologies in the wind energy industry. Since launching its autonomous drone inspection product in April 2017, SkySpecs has safely inspected over 150,000 wind turbine blades - both onshore and offshore - at more than 1,500 wind farms on 5 continents.

In his current role, Ben leads a team of 150+ pilots, engineers, technicians, analysts, and operations specialists around the world in the planning, execution, and global scaling of SkySpecs programs and products.

Prior to joining SkySpecs, Ben was a Senior Systems Engineer and graduate of the Engineering Leadership Development Program at the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, CA. While at the Skunk Works, Ben worked on a variety of revolutionary autonomous aircraft projects from conceptual design through flight test. He graduated from the University of Michigan in April 2011 with a BSE in Aerospace Engineering and from the University of Southern California in December 2014 with an MS in Product Development Engineering.

Outside of work, Ben serves on the Industry Advisory Board of the University of Michigan's Department of Aerospace Engineering and as an appointee of Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force for the State of Michigan. Ben was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA) in 2015, making him the youngest Director in AIAA's 85-year history. He has also served as Vice President of the nonprofit Los Angeles County Air Show, Inc.