Michael Cyrus, Board Chairman
Michael is a veteran of space program and has over 30 years of experience in technology development, executive management and international projects. Michael serves as CEO of Sunlight Aerospace, a venture funded company specializing in UAVS, Communications, Communication payloads, and solar energy technologies. Sunlight provides expertise encompassing UAV airframe designs, hybrid power systems and mobile platforms, multi-functional skins for airborne platforms, novel UAV solar, specialty photonics materials, innovative designs and thin-film processing of photovoltaics in the development of proprietary renewable energy technologies.
He previously served as the CEO of Inplane Photonics; a venture funded company acquired by CyOptics / Avago. Inplane was a leading practitioner of “glass on silicon” Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) technology, which supports complex and versatile photonic integration to achieve monolithic functionality at a subsystem level. Such integration delivers smaller, lighter and more robust solutions than any others available today.
Michael was Executive Chairman of the venture-funded company Kodeos Communications, which was acquired by Finisar (NASDAQ: FNSR). Kodeos’ breakthrough signal processing technologies enable transmission over greater distances while making the overall system more tolerant to dispersion. Additionally, the signal processing algorithms enabled spectral shaping that yielded higher spectral efficiency for greater bandwidth utilization.
Prior to joining Inplane, Michael was the CEO of Defense Photonics Group, which provides mission-enabling solutions for top tier defense contractors and system integrators. Defense Photonics develops high-performance digital and RF fiber optic transmission subsystems and networks for advanced air and sea avionics platforms; high-bandwidth RF technology for optical systems and networks; and advanced Homeland security technologies.
Prior to Defense Photonics, Michael was President and CEO of Cyrospace, Inc., where he was responsible for executive management of a complex core organization and its spin-off activities and initiatives. He conducted R&D initiatives on Plasma Rocket Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating for long duration space flights, Nano Satellites concepts, GPS Personal Locator System, and Light Bullet technology.
Prior to Cyrospace, Michael was Vice President of Operations at Lockheed Martin where he performed operational activities of Lockheed’s Space Operations and its programs with 5000 employees. Direct responsibilities included Lunar/Mars related R&D programs, Strategic Initiatives, R&D, Manufacturing, and M&A Business Integration activities.