LEADERSHIP
Bill Peterson, Founder & CEO
Bill is the Chief Executive Officer of the Flying Ship Company. He is an entrepreneurial leader in the aerospace, maritime, and defense sectors with over 20 years of experience developing and executing growth strategies for advanced technology businesses. Throughout his career, he has driven more than $1B in contract awards and secured over $200M in commercial commitments for Flying Ships, translating innovative concepts into funded programs and operational capabilities. Bill has spent much of his career building global supply chains and advancing complex aerospace and defense systems for leading international organizations. He holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an Executive MBA from George Mason University. His expertise spans engineering, international business development, government relations, marketing, and economic development.
Gus Bateas, COO
Gus is an aerospace, defense and maritime executive with a solid and proven track record. Gus has 35 years of industry experience and held positions of increasing responsibility in design engineering, operations, supply chain, program management, and business development at Boeing (Rockwell), Northrop Grumman, The Ensign-Bickford Company, RTX (Raytheon/Collins/UTAS/Goodrich), GMB Associates and Triumph. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from SUNY Maritime College and a Master’s in Business and Management from the University of Southern California. Gus currently serves on the Aerospace Industry Association (AIA) Supply Management Council (SMC) Executive Leadership Committee.
Carl Schaefer, CTO
Carl is a senior engineering leader with deep experience in aerospace systems development, advanced prototyping, and vehicle integration. At Flying Ship, he leads the design, development, and maturation of wing-in-ground-effect platforms, ensuring the transition from concept to flight-ready systems. Carl has a strong track record of executing complex engineering programs, with expertise in aerodynamics, propulsion integration, and system architecture. His leadership focuses on delivering scalable, manufacturable, and mission-ready platforms aligned to defense and commercial operational requirements.
Paul Amrhein, Chief of Strategy and BD
Paul is the Chief of Strategy and Business Development at the Flying Ship Company. He is a startup strategist and four-time founder with extensive experience building and scaling early-stage technology ventures. Throughout his career, Paul has led business development, partnerships, and growth initiatives across multiple industries, with a focus on translating emerging technologies into viable commercial and defense opportunities. He brings deep expertise in market strategy, customer discovery, and go-to-market execution, helping align Flying Ship’s capabilities with mission-critical customer needs. Paul’s background spans advanced analytics, business intelligence, and venture development, enabling him to drive both near-term revenue opportunities and long-term strategic growth.
Advisors
Dan Fata
Dan is the National Security and Government Affairs Advisor to the Flying Ship Company. He is a nationally recognized strategic advisor with nearly 30 years of experience spanning Congress, the Department of Defense, the aerospace and defense industry, and private advisory firms. Throughout his career, Dan has held senior leadership roles including Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO, Vice President at Lockheed Martin, and leadership positions in strategic consulting. He brings deep expertise in U.S. national security policy, defense acquisition, government relations, and international affairs, helping align Flying Ship’s capabilities with mission priorities and key stakeholders. Dan also serves on multiple advisory boards and has been appointed to major national commissions on strategic policy matters
Dave Forster
Dave Forster is a retired US Navy Captain with comprehensive accomplishments leading short and long-term capture strategies, creating new markets, and managing global matrix cross-functional teams. As a recent NAVSEA program manager, Dave oversaw over $1.5B in sales cycles, budgets, contracts, and implementations. He has successfully led the design, acquisition, and procurement of large complex systems, and has demonstrated success in executing plans in complex, fast-paced, regulated environments.
Andrew Kramer
Andrew is a seasoned finance executive with extensive experience advising business owners on mergers and acquisitions, capital strategy, and complex financial transactions. Throughout his career, Andrew has helped companies navigate growth, fundraising, and strategic exits by aligning financial discipline with long-term business objectives. He brings deep expertise in corporate finance, financial planning, valuation, and transaction execution, helping position Flying Ship for scalable growth and investor readiness. Andrew’s leadership supports the company’s capital strategy, operational rigor, and long-term value creation.
April Parnell
April Parnell is the legal advisor to the Flying Ship Group of companies. She’s worked in the aerospace industry for the last 16 years and has led and managed contracts and compliance teams throughout her career. A University of Tulsa College of Law graduate, she has 30+ years of experience in corporate and contract law.
Dan Stohr
Dan Stohr is a communications executive with more than thirteen years of experience working in the aerospace and defense sector. He served as the primary press contact for the largest and most influential trade association in the aerospace and defense sector for nearly a decade and has a strong background in government relations, both in the corporate and association worlds. Dan holds a BA in History and Political Science from Va. Tech and did graduate studies in Political Science at UCSB and in Curriculum and Instruction at Va. Tech.