Ascent AeroSystems Appoints New President to Lead Next Phase of UAV Growth

Ascent AeroSystems, a designer and manufacturer of high-performance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and a Robinson Helicopter Company, has appointed Paul Fermo as its new President, effective from October 1, 2025.

Fermo formerly served as Vice President of Business Development and assumed the presidency after former CEO and Cofounder, Peter Fuchs, retiresd. Fuchs, who led Ascent since its founding in 2014, has transitioned to an advisory role with Robinson Helicopter Company, supporting its strategy and ongoing development of unmanned systems. Fuchs had also led the company’s 2024 acquisition by the Torrance, California-based Robinson Helicopter Company.

Fermo is set to lead the next era of growth for Ascent AeroSystems, which includes leveraging key regulatory shifts and new strategic partnerships for the company’s Spirit, Helius, and Spartan platforms. The FAA’s proposed rule to normalize Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations is anticipated to be a key driver of this expansion, potentially reducing regulatory hurdles for widespread safety, commercial, and defense applications.

Since joining the company in March 2020, Paul Fermo has cultivated essential partnerships, accelerating the adoption of Ascent’s platforms in defense, public safety, and industrial markets. His background includes service as a former U.S. Navy aviator, where he flew as both an HH-60 and F/A-18 pilot, and later served as the Air-Sea Branch Chief on the staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. After his military service, he worked as a strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group before joining Ascent AeroSystems. Fermo holds an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management and is a distinguished graduate of the National Defense University.

“I’m honored by the trust placed in me to lead this exceptional team into its next chapter,” commented Paul Fermo. “Peter’s vision and genuine commitment built the foundation we stand on today. Together, we will continue delivering secure, reliable, aircraft-grade unmanned aerial systems that our customers can trust in any environment, while also expanding opportunities for integrated manned-unmanned operations under the Robinson banner.”

Peter Fuchs, who built the company into a global leader in the design and manufacturing of rugged, high-performance coaxial UAVs, expressed confidence in his successor. “I have always known my most important responsibility as CEO was ensuring we had the right people, in the right roles, doing the right things; that includes my own role, and it’s time for a change,” said Peter Fuchs. “We have grown steadily through the last decade, and I can confidently say that there is no finer team in this industry. After an exhaustive search it is clear—no one is more well-suited to lead the company forward than Paul, whose experience, vision, and passion will guide Ascent to even greater success.”

David Smith, President and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company, stated, “Paul is the right leader to support and expand Peter’s vision, taking Ascent AeroSystems beyond its current capabilities and markets. With Paul as President, we are confident Ascent will not only continue to thrive but will also play a central role in Robinson’s strategy to expand unmanned UAV capabilities and advance further integrated operations.”

Ascent AeroSystems designs rugged, high-performance coaxial UAVs with a highly efficient cylindrical airframe and counter-rotating blades, which are optimized for a wide variety of defense, public safety, industrial, and agricultural missions. These UAVs are highlighted for their portability, all-weather reliability, and payload flexibility. Their compact design, IP54-rated weatherproofing, and modular “quick-connect” payload systems are intended to ensure superior endurance, range, and adaptability for BVLOS operations in harsh environments. The company recently launched the Helius UAV, a sub-250g nano UAV designed for lightweight, mission-critical tasks with coaxial performance advantages.