Archer Aviation has appointed Lieutenant General (Ret) Scott Howell to its Advisory Board to provide strategic guidance for the newly established Archer Defense division.
Launched in December, Archer Defense aims to utilize the company’s proficiency in aircraft design, advanced flight systems, and scalable production to create next-generation aircraft for military applications. The division’s inaugural project, in collaboration with Anduril, involves developing a hybrid-propulsion, vertical-take-off-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft.
Lt. Gen. (Ret) Scott Howell is a distinguished retired military leader whose service encompassed Iraq, Afghanistan, the Pentagon, and the White House. He notably accelerated military organizational transformation while leading 14,000 Special Operations forces globally as the 15th Commander of Joint Special Operations Command. Previously, as Vice Commander for the U.S. Special Operations Command, he secured the largest-ever budget for the nation’s elite warfighters. In the private sector, Howell continues his work with General Catalyst as an advisor focused on modern defense and intelligence.
Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO, said, “The launch of Archer Defense marked a significant moment for both Archer and the industry—Scott is coming on board to help ensure its success. With his support, we’re confident that we can accelerate innovation within military aviation, tipping the scales further in America’s favor.”
Lt. Gen. Howell commented, “Archer has already proven they have what it takes to rapidly build advanced aircraft—they’re not new to this game. I see incredible potential to continue advancing that mission with a focus on defense applications and empowering our men and women in uniform with a distinct advantage. I’m proud to join Archer as they accelerate the development and deployment of advanced technologies for the defense sector.”
In addition to Lt. Gen. Howell, the advisory board includes Retired 3-star Lieutenant General David A. Krumm, Retired 2-star General Clayton M. Hutmacher, Retired 2-star General Bill Gayler, Retired 4-star General Steve Townsend, Retired Chief Warrant Officer (CW4) Michael J. Durant, Retired Director of Special Programs (Aviation) Geoff Downer, and Retired Acquisition Executive, U.S. Special Operations Command Jim Smith.
