ON FLYER

Oded Nechushtan is Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Flyer Defense, LLC and its parent company, Flyer Next, LLC. A former member of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Special Forces involved with IDF mobility platform development, Mr. Nechushtan formed the Flyer business in 1989 to fill a need for mission-specialized, internally transportable, lightweight off-road tactical vehicles. Starting in 1989, Mr. Nechushtan began developing the first Flyer vehicle and has since garnered more than 30 years of experience designing and delivering user-focused, internally transportable tactical military vehicles which include the Flyer 1, the Flyer 60, the Flyer 72, the Flyer 72-Utility and various other variants in the Flyer family of vehicles. Spearheading overall business development and strategy. Mr. Nechushtan is leading Flyer in its expansion into military vehicle electrification, power generation and energy storage while also expanding Flyer’s existing product line and customer base through both internal research and development and strategic partner collaborations. Mr. Nechushtan’s career at Flyer has spanned a multitude of programs. Most recently, Flyer Defense was awarded a direct commercial sales contract with a major international customer, partnering with JWF Defense Systems for the production and assembly of nearly 300 Flyer 72 vehicles. In 2013, Flyer Defense, in teaming with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, was awarded the production contract for USSOCOM’s Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1 program and in 2018, the team was awarded the U.S. Army A-GMV directed requirement production contract.

Amit Nechushtan is Chief Operating Officer of Flyer Defense, LLC. Mr. Nechushtan is a former officer of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) who, with his brother, formed the Flyer business to fill a need for mission-specialized, light-weight off-road tactical vehicles. Mr. Nechushtan and his brother, Oded Nechushtan, began developing the original Flyer vehicle in 1989. Amit Nechushtan has more than 30 years of experience supporting the design of user-focused, internally transportable tactical military vehicles which include the Flyer 60, the Flyer 72, the Flyer 72-Utility, and various other variants in the Flyer family of vehicles. As COO, Mr. Nechushtan oversees all Flyer Defense operations including responsibilities in contracts, finance, supply chain and day-to-day business operations. In 2013, Flyer Defense, in teaming with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, was awarded the production contract for USSOCOM’s Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1 (GMV 1.1) program and in 2018, the team was awarded the U.S. Army A-GMV directed requirement production contract. An essential component of Flyer Defense operations since the company’s inception, Mr. Nechushtan has played an integral role in a multitude of programs spanning three decades. In addition to the in addition to the most recent international, GMV 1.1 and A-GMV contracts, they include the Republic of Singapore’s Flyer 1 Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) program in 1996, the USSOCOM Flyer Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) program, the original Flyer Internally Transportable Vehicle (ITV) program, and the Flyer Advanced Light Strike Vehicle (ALSV) program, designing and delivering vehicles to the U.S. Marine Corps.

An early adopter of vehicle electrification, Flyer Chief Technology Officer Bruce Falls oversees Flyer’s electric vehicle development and electrification strategy. Mr. Falls leverages 37 years of automotive engineering experience in conventional powertrain development, vehicle systems integration and electrification. During the span of his career, he has concentrated on the areas of base engine development, electronic controls, emissions development, and alternative fuels applications. For the past two decades, Mr. Falls focused on vehicle electrification, securing several patents in the areas of eAxles, batteries and controls. Before Flyer, Mr. Falls served as Managing Director of the AVL California Technology Center for 13 years. Some of his most notable achievements and projects include the development of electric vehicles with an integrated tool chain, eAxle response times for the optimization of wheel control under dynamic conditions (autonomous driving predecessor,) and a battery cassette concept allowing for modular and scalable energy storage.

Brigadier General (Ret) Gary M. Jones is a senior consultant for Flyer Defense who leverages nearly 30 years of military experience as a seasoned leader at all levels of the U.S. Army’s tactical and operational formations. A proven and experience-forged senior leader in military and international affairs, General Jones managed programs and deployments at the national and international levels with extensive operational expertise in Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, the Caribbean, Central America and the Middle East.

General William S. Wallace is a Sr. Consultant for Flyer Defense, LLC. General Wallace retired from active duty on January 1, 2009 after 39 ½ years of active service that spanned five decades. Since his retirement General Wallace has served as an independent consultant operating out of his home in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. Before retirement, General Wallace’s last assignment was as Commander, US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) where he was responsible for 32 Army schools across 16 installations and for recruiting, training and educating Army Soldiers; developing its leaders; supporting training in units; developing doctrine; establishing standards; and building the future Army. General Wallace has commanded at every level from platoon to Corps and on two separate occasions led Soldiers in combat. In 2003, as the V Corps Commander, General Wallace led the Army’s attack to Baghdad in Operation Iraqi Freedom. General Wallace is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Army Command and Staff College, the Naval War College, and the National Defense University’s Capstone and Pinnacle Courses. His numerous awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service medal, the Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star, and foreign awards from the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea.

Based in Tel Aviv, Israel, Col (Ret) Ariel Ben Dayan is former Vice President of Global Business Development at Flyer Defense. As of April 2023, Col. Ben Dayan was promoted to Flyer Next board member and has been serving in that capacity since. After nearly 25 years of military service in the Israel Defense Forces, Col. Ben Dayan retired from his position as Commander of the IDF Airborne and Special Units Command in 2017 before joining Flyer in 2018. In his position, Col. Ben Dayan commanded six special operational units and approximately 4,000 soldiers and officers. He also initiated and coordinated strategic operational cooperation with foreign forces, developed and integrated tailor made security systems and solutions and managed operations in an intensive environment requiring complex decision making. Before his final position, Col. Ben Dayan also served as a lieutenant colonel in command of the “Oketz” K9 Special Operational Unit, Squad Commander in the Staff and Command College and Commander of the Counter-Terrorism Unit. Col. Ben Dayan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management and a Master of Arts degree in Legal Studies.