Peterson brings an extensive background in sales and marketing, aviation product management, domestic and international customer service and innovative leadership to the company. He is also a private pilot and has a passion for aviation.
Zach Peterson, Business Development Manager for Vigilant Aerospace Systems
“We are excited to have Zach joining the Vigilant Aerospace team. Zach has more than a decade of experience building and leading marketing and sales teams both in the U.S. and internationally and has a deep background in avionics products and aviation. We look forward to his contributions,” said Vigilant Aerospace CEO Kraettli Epperson.
Peterson joins the Vigilant Aerospace team after several years managing the national and international aviation products sales team at Appareo Systems, an avionics technology company, as the Aviation Sales Manager. Peterson is based in Fargo, North Dakota.
Prior to Appareo, Peterson operated an independent business consultancy for 12 years, providing sales and marketing consulting to growing businesses.
Peterson earned an M.B.A. from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, serves as the Vice President of Membership in the Minn-Dak Manufacturers Association and is part of the Editorial Committee for the Fly-ND Quarterly publication. Peterson holds a private pilot’s license and enjoys flying in his spare time.
Zach’s father and lifelong Certified Flight Instructor, Ken Peterson, in the T-Craft airplane constructed by Ken in 2020.
“I am very excited to be joining this fast-growing aerospace and autonomy company and this bright technical team that is helping to revolutionize the aviation industry,” said Peterson.
“Being a pilot, I’m very passionate about safety and next generation technology, which is at the core of Vigilant Aerospace’s mission. There is nothing that excites me more than working on and selling leading-edge aviation technology to those who would benefit the most,” said Peterson.
Aviation Background
Zach received his private pilot certificate in 2015 and earlier this year earned his tailwheel endorsement in a fabric-covered Taylorcraft D aircraft built by his father.
Peterson’s exposure to aviation started early, through his father, Ken Peterson, a Certified Flight Instructor and private pilot since 1965. As a child, his grandparents also introduced him to Althea “Gerry” Lister, the 250th woman to become a licensed pilot in the U.S. in 1931, who became an early mentor to him.
“I like to fly as often as I can and I love learning and taking on leadership roles,” said Peterson. “I describe my approach to life as a continuous improvement lifestyle. I’m halfway through a graduate certificate program in leadership and managerial skills and I’m always looking for my next opportunity for growth.”
About Vigilant Aerospace Systems
Vigilant Aerospace is the leading developer of detect-and-avoid and airspace management software for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS or drones). The company’s product, FlightHorizon, is based on two NASA patents and uses data from multiple sources to display a real-time picture of the air traffic around a UAS and to provide automatic avoidance maneuvers to prevent collisions. The software is designed to meet industry technical standards, to provide automatic safety and to allow UAS to safely fly beyond the sight of the pilot. The software has won multiple industry awards and the company has had contracts and users at NASA, the FAA, the U.S. Department of Defense and with a variety of drone development programs. Visit our website at www.VigilantAerospace.com
