Tempest Droneworx announced today that co-founder Dr. Dana Abramovitz has been named Chief Executive Officer, with co-founder Ty Audronis transitioning into the roles of Chief Technology Officer and Chief Marketing Officer. The leadership changes come as the company moves from advanced research and development into broader commercialization, including the public release of its Corvus Platform and the commercialization of Harbinger.
The founders described the move as less about changing direction and more about aligning leadership with what Tempest has become. When Tempest was founded, the company began with an ambitious idea: using cooperative autonomous systems and real-time intelligence to help prevent catastrophic wildfires before they could spread. While drones helped inspire that original vision, Tempest was always built as a software and intelligence company focused on transforming live data into actionable operational insight.
Since then, the company has grown far beyond its original concept. Over the years, Tempest has completed an FAA Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) effort, advanced USAF SBIR/STTR initiatives, expanded into multiple commercial and defense applications, and developed platforms designed to support defense, emergency response, critical infrastructure, agriculture, and real-time operational awareness.
Now, with the public release of the Corvus Platform, Harbinger entering commercialization, and the company transitioning from advanced R&D into broader deployment, both founders felt the timing was right for an evolution in leadership. Audronis noted that the architect of a solution often best leads a company through its early stages. "But eventually the company grows to a point where the business and the product become two very different challenges. We’ve reached a stage where the best thing I can do for Tempest is focus directly on the technology, the platforms, the visualization systems, and the products that will shape our future - while Dana focuses on guiding the business side of the company she helped build from day one."
As co-founder and COO, Dr. Abramovitz has led business development, contracting, operations, and strategic growth throughout Tempest’s evolution. She founded GameTank, later acquired by Ubisoft, where its flagship product evolved into Rocksmith, a market staple today. She also holds a Master of Science in Management (MSM) from Stanford University Graduate School of Business (GSB), in addition to her Ph.D. in Bio-Chemistry and Bio-Physics from Columbia University.
"This feels like a very natural next step for us," said Dr. Abramovitz. "Ty’s vision, creativity, and deep understanding of the technology are what built Tempest into what it is today. As we move into commercialization and broader growth, this alignment allows both of us to focus on the areas where we can have the greatest impact for the company, our customers, and our mission."
The leadership transition comes during a major growth period for Tempest. The company recently announced the public release of the Corvus Platform, including its first deployment with the University of Houston, while Harbinger enters commercialization alongside ongoing government and advanced technology initiatives.
"Our mission hasn’t changed," Audronis added. "If anything, it’s accelerating." Tempest Droneworx remains focused on preventing issues from becoming serious problems through real-time insight. For more information, visit www.tempestdroneworx.com.
