Tempest Droneworx today announced 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 move aligns leadership with the company's evolution from an advanced research and development firm into a commercial entity focused on deploying real-time intelligence and autonomous systems for wildfire prevention and other applications.
Founded with the ambitious idea of using cooperative autonomous systems to prevent catastrophic wildfires, Tempest Droneworx has grown beyond its original concept. The company has completed a FAA Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) effort, advanced USAF SBIR/STTR initiatives, and expanded into multiple commercial and defense applications. Its platforms now support defense, emergency response, critical infrastructure, agriculture, and real-time operational awareness.
According to Audronis, the leadership transition is a natural response to the company's growth. “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,” he said. “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.”
Dr. Abramovitz, who previously served as COO, 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 the market staple Rocksmith. She holds a Master of Science in Management from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and a Ph.D. in Bio-Chemistry and Bio-Physics from Columbia University.
The timing of the leadership change coincides with major commercial milestones. Tempest 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. “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.”
For leaders in business and technology, this transition signals that Tempest is moving from concept to real-world impact. The company's focus on converting live data into actionable operational insight has implications for industries ranging from emergency management to agriculture. As Audronis noted, “Our mission hasn’t changed. If anything, it’s accelerating.” Tempest Droneworx remains focused on preventing issues from becoming serious problems through real-time insight, and with a dedicated CEO steering business strategy, the company is poised to scale its solutions more broadly. For more information, visit Tempest Droneworx.
