Powering the Low Altitude Economy
Providing solutions for safe, scalable, and secure drone operations through shared physical and digital infrastructure
Our Story
We saw a critical need and decided to do something about it!
The rapid growth of drone use in logistics, inspection, public safety, and defense has far outpaced the infrastructure needed to support it. Our founding team, experts in aviation, infrastructure, and regulatory operations, recognized the coming challenge: millions of drones in flight but no standardized way to support, route, or manage them safely.
AirGyde was created to fill that gap. Just as roads enabled cars and towers enabled mobile networks, we are building the physical and digital foundation for the low-altitude economy.
Our mission is to enable safe, compliant, and intelligent drone mobility by connecting the ground to the cloud.
Our Products
A Shared Infrastructure Model for the Sky
AirGyde offers a two-part solution - both physical and digital:
Intelligent Standardized Staging Sites (iS3)
These are modular nodes strategically placed on underused real estate, utility corridors, and public easements that serve as drone hubs for:
- Charging
- Maintenance
- Emergency landing
- Data and communications relay
Think of them as the “cell towers” of drone operations, shared by multiple operators and scalable by design.
AirGyde Digital Platform (API + CloudConnect)
A software layer that integrates with any drone flight platform to:
- Support safe planning to/from AirGyde nodes
- Enable real-time weather and telemetry awareness
- Ensure BVLOS compliance through redundant connectivity
- Provide secure APIs for third-party integration
Our system is UTM-provider agnostic and designed for maximum interoperability.
Company Officers
Sean Cassidy,
AirGyde CEO /Board Member
Sean Cassidy has spent his four-decade aviation career advancing safety, policy, and operational innovation, most recently in uncrewed aircraft systems. He previously led Safety, Flight Operations, and Regulatory Affairs at Amazon Prime Air, securing its first FAA Part 135 air carrier certificate and launching commercial drone delivery. Before Amazon, he served as First Vice President of the Air Line Pilots Association, and earlier was a U.S. Naval Aviator and longtime Alaska Airlines captain.
Sean has held key leadership roles on major aviation bodies, including the FAA’s BVLOS Rulemaking Committee, the Flight Safety Foundation’s ARPAC group, the FAA’s UAS Safety Team, and the DHS Aviation Security Advisory Committee. He has worked with global regulators, testified before Congress and Parliament, and continues to focus on enabling the safe, scalable integration of drones into the national airspace system.
Fred Lopez
AirGyde President /COO
Fred Lopez is a seasoned leader in advanced air mobility and commercial drone operations. As President of UPS Flight Forward, he has overseen one of the first FAA-certified drone airline operations in the United States, pioneering medical and logistics drone deliveries across complex airspace environments. With a deep background in aviation operations, regulatory navigation, and strategic partnerships, Fred brings invaluable insight into scaling drone infrastructure safely and efficiently. At AirGyde, he advises on partner strategy, regulatory alignment, and national deployment models.
Board Members
William F Weld
Board Member
Bill Weld graduated number one in his class from Harvard College, with honors from Harvard Law School, and with Distinction from Oxford University in England. He served as a criminal prosecutor in the United States Justice Department for seven years and was elected to two terms as Governor of Massachusetts. He served as national co-chair of the Privatization Council and led business and trade missions to many countries in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Africa.
Governor Weld serves on several corporate boards and brings deep experience in infrastructure, finance, politics, and the regulatory environment to AirGyde. He remains engaged in law practice in Boston, New York, and Washington, DC.
David Weld
Board Member
David Weld is a forward-thinking and entrepreneurial C-level executive and seasoned board director who has helped to build and grow companies in the B2B software / SaaS space, including Microsoft (where David helped to create Windows NT, MSN, and Slate), IBM, Verizon, The Weather Company, and INRIX.
David is co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of geospatial solutions provider Signal4D and Chairman and CEO of AirWise Solutions. David has an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Russian and an MBA (Tuck School) from Dartmouth College.
Matt Land
Co-Founder/Board Member
Matthew Land is the President and Chairman of the Board of Universal Field Services, Inc., where he has led the company’s evolution into a forward-thinking, technology-driven leader in right-of-way and infrastructure services. Since assuming the role in 2020—after eleven years as Executive Vice President of Universal’s Private Sector Projects Division—Matthew has championed innovation, modernization, and sustainable business growth across all areas of the organization.
Under his leadership, Universal has expanded its capabilities in the pipeline, electric transmission, and public agency sectors while integrating advanced technologies to enhance efficiency, safety, and service delivery. Matthew played a key role in developing Universal’s GIS department and driving the organic growth of its Survey and Mapping subsidiary, including the introduction of cutting-edge unmanned aircraft systems that transformed data collection and project execution.
Prior to joining Universal, Matthew worked for a major Wall Street broker-dealer, gaining valuable experience in financial strategy and capital markets. He is a graduate of Columbia University, where he earned a degree in Political Science and served as captain of the Columbia Lions men’s basketball team. He resides in Tulsa, OK, with his wife and two daughters.
Advisory Board Members
Joe Hunter
Advisory Board Member
Joe Hunter has four decades of experience in government, public policy, and government relations. As a Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior in the administration of President George H.W. Bush, he oversaw Federal agencies with combined budgets of almost $2 billion, including the U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Reclamation. On Capitol Hill, Joe served for nearly 15 years as a congressional chief of staff. His corporate and not-for-profit experience spans the globe, from public utilities to energy producers to economic development agencies. In the political arena, Joe has served as a senior advisor, strategist, and manager for presidential campaigns, congressional races, and statewide initiatives across the country.
Bill Bunker
Advisory Board Member
Bill is an experienced technology executive who has held President/CEO roles at Navigating Cancer, Vertafore, Clarity Health, and Eagleview Technologies. Across his career he has led data and software firms through rapid, substantial growth leading to successful outcomes for investors and substantial customer success and growth. Bill graduated from Dartmouth College and the Kellogg business school at Northwestern University.
Trevor Townsend
Advisory Board Member
Trevor brings 17 years of right-of-way (ROW) and large-scale infrastructure development expertise to help AirGyde develop its commercial drone infrastructure. Having gained foundational knowledge in land acquisition, title research, and permitting through his work on pipeline and electric projects, his experience is directly applicable to solving the challenges of rapidly securing and managing the diverse physical infrastructure locations needed for drone sites. As Senior Vice President at Universal Field Services, his proven track record in strategic oversight, budget forecasting, and efficient project delivery—along with his counsel on land valuation and regulatory navigation—is vital for scaling AirGyde's network.
Sanjeev Sharma
Advisory Board Member
Sanjeev has a wealth of experience from SpaceX, where he played a key role as a Principal Engineer, and from his impactful tenure at Matternet, a pioneer in drone delivery networks. His deep expertise in advanced systems engineering, high-performance avionics, and autonomous technologies will be instrumental in shaping the future of airspace mobility.