Autonomous systems company Saildrone Inc., Alameda, Calif., on Tuesday announced the appointment of two new executives to its leadership team: Jen Betz as chief financial officer and Uma Subramanian as chief business officer.
“Uma and Jen bring a wealth of experience in advanced manufacturing and operations to help fuel our next chapter of rapid growth,” said Richard Jenkins, Saildrone founder and CEO. “As we scale our fleet to meet the needs of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and allied partner nations, operational efficiency will be paramount.”
Saildrone produces uncrewed surface vehicles (USV) used in defense and environmental intelligence missions.
As CFO, Betz will lead global finance strategy, capital planning, and operational controls. She joins Saildrone with over 20 years of experience in financial leadership roles across the energy and semiconductor industries, including her most recent role as CFO at Element Energy Inc., Menlo Park, Calif. Betz previously served at Maxim Integrated Products Inc., San Jose, where she led strategic planning and corporate control during periods of rapid growth and transformation.
“Saildrone’s category-leading technology and inspired team are redefining what’s possible in autonomous maritime capabilities,” said Betz. “I’m excited to help build the financial foundation that supports the company’s scale, innovation, and long-term mission success.”
Subramanian will oversee Saildrone’s business and internal product operations. Her background includes more than two decades in aerospace and defense, with prior roles at Northrop Grumman Corp., West Falls Church, Va.; Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, London; Ultra Electronics Holdings, London; and Airbus SU, Blagnac, France. She also founded Voom.Flights, San Francisco, an Urban Air Mobility network under Airbus, and served as founding CEO of Aero Technologies Inc., Los Angeles. Most recently, she was COO of Glydways Inc., San Francisco, a public transit startup.
“Saildrone is tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges with bold innovation. I’m excited to help grow and support the incredible team that’s making it all happen,” said Subramanian.
Saildrone’s USVs are deployed globally for persistent maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, acoustic monitoring, and environmental data collection. With more than 50,000 days at sea, the company’s autonomous platforms are supporting the operational needs of U.S. and allied defense forces in strategic maritime environments.
