Dallas – October 14, 2026 -- XTI Aerospace (Nasdaq: XTIA) has appointed Dr. Allan Evans, CEO of rival-sector drone firm Unusual Machines (NYSE American: UMAC), as director and Chairman of its Board, returning the board to five members.
Jonathan Ornstein has been designated Vice Chairman in connection with the appointment. XTI is the parent company of Drone Nerds, LLC, a drone solutions platform serving commercial, enterprise and government customers.
Evans brings drone supply chain and executive experience from three companies
Evans, 43, has served as CEO and director of Unusual Machines since December 2023. From 2021 to 2023 he was Chief Operating Officer of Red Cat Holdings. He previously led Fat Shark as CEO from 2017 until Red Cat acquired it in 2020. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan.
Ornstein said Evans offers engineering expertise, business development and corporate strategy experience, and firsthand knowledge of the domestic supply chain for the U.S. drone industry. He added that XTI intends to draw on Evans' experience at Unusual Machines.
Management targets U.S. enterprise drone market amid shift from foreign manufacturers
Interim CEO Jeremy Schneiderman said XTI and Drone Nerds are positioned to expand their leadership in the U.S. enterprise drone market. Evans described the opportunity as a "critical transition away from foreign manufacturers" and said the company can grow the business significantly for partners and shareholders.
The company's forward-looking statements flag demand trends for domestically manufactured and NDAA-compliant drones as a driver. They also name risks: Drone Nerds' reliance on DJI and other foreign suppliers, U.S. regulatory restrictions on foreign-made drones and components, and XTI's ability to execute its strategy.
Drone Nerds serves public safety, agriculture, construction and energy customers across the drone program lifecycle, from hardware sourcing to training, service and repair.