Ampaire CEO and leadership

Kevin Noertker is on a mission to solve the world's most meaningful, challenging, visible problems. He's an entrepreneur and aerospace leader who thrives in high pressure environments. He initiates and delivers innovative solutions, builds and motivates teams, and optimizes systems. He's dedicated to strengthening communities and connecting the world.

Kevin comes to life when technology meets people. Whether growing a company, developing next-gen technology, or crafting a puzzle, he’s constantly thinking of ways to make technology approachable and intuitive.

MBTI: ENTJ

Strengths: Learner, Futuristic, Achiever, Individualization, Ideation

Some Guiding Thoughts:

The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible. - Arthur C. Clarke

Cory Combs is co-founder and CTO at Ampaire. With two engineering degrees from Stanford, ten invention disclosures, 3 patent submittals and trade secrets spanning both the aerospace and clean tech industries, Cory plays an integral role in developing Ampaire's innovative IP and shaping the vision for the company.​

Executive leadership in technology strategy and engineering development for advanced transportation and energy industries (cleantech, vehicles, alternative/renewable energy, grid, aerospace, and military).Specialties: Technical leader in electromechanical R&D, program management, and business development. Motor/generators and control systems for electric power conversion including power generation, propulsion, and electric vehicles (HEV, EV, and PHEV).

I graduated from Imperial College in 1987 and joined the High-Lift Section of the Aerodynamics Department at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough. My activities there concentrated on the physics of multi-element aerofoils, largely but not exclusively for civil aircraft, including Reynolds number effects and wake vorticity. Based at the 5m Pressurised Wind Tunnel at Farnborough I was involved in the development and application of wind tunnel corrections and test techniques. I have managed tests at over 30 other major facilities in eight countries and worked on projects for Airbus, Boeing and several Formula 1 teams. I was Deputy Chairman of the Technical & Scientific Board of the European Wind Tunnel Association (EWA) and within this framework was the focus for wind tunnel correction and advanced simulation methodologies.

I was a QinetiQ Approved Technical Authority and, as such, the signatory for the aerodynamics clearance of flight test aircraft modified to accommodate trials or upgrade equipment. I became a QinetiQ Fellow in 2008 for my contribution to applied and experimental aerodynamics. I was a member of the Steering Committee of the Smart Fixed-Wing Aircraft element of the EC Clean Skies programme aimed at the flight testing of flow and loads control technologies. I have also worked on many non-aeronautical applications including road and rail transport, wind engineering and sport.

I am currently Professor of Engineering at the University of the Highlands and Islands, responsible for engineering research and strategy across the University’s partners, and hold a personal Chair as Professor of Experimental and Applied Aerodynamics. I am a member of the RAeS Aerodynamics Specialist Group, an External Examiner at Cranfield University, a Visiting Professor at Zhengzhou Institute of Aviation Management and was a Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor of Engineering Design in the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Surrey University.

An experienced executive director and board member with a strong engineering background within Automotive, Aerospace, Defence and Consumer Robotics sectors.

A strategic thinker with an analytical, problem solving mind. I am passionate about innovation and emerging technology, with a track record of overcoming the obstacles necessary to deliver safety critical and highly complex products to market.

As a leader, I take a people first approach to business and have seen the real tangible benefits of building a strong company culture. The traits I value the most and therefore foster in myself and others are determination, perseverance and strength of will.

My proudest professional moment was seeing our Reach Robotics, MekaMon product on the shelf within an Apple store and knowing all that it took, and the personal role I played in getting it there.

I am an advocate of the lean start-up methodology, and believe that it can be applied to organisations of all sizes, as a means to unlocking growth.

Kevin Noertker is on a mission to solve the world's most meaningful, challenging, visible problems. He's an entrepreneur and aerospace leader who thrives in high pressure environments. He initiates and delivers innovative solutions, builds and motivates teams, and optimizes systems. He's dedicated to strengthening communities and connecting the world.

Kevin comes to life when technology meets people. Whether growing a company, developing next-gen technology, or crafting a puzzle, he’s constantly thinking of ways to make technology approachable and intuitive.

MBTI: ENTJ

Strengths: Learner, Futuristic, Achiever, Individualization, Ideation

Some Guiding Thoughts:

The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible. - Arthur C. Clarke

Cory Combs is co-founder and CTO at Ampaire. With two engineering degrees from Stanford, ten invention disclosures, 3 patent submittals and trade secrets spanning both the aerospace and clean tech industries, Cory plays an integral role in developing Ampaire's innovative IP and shaping the vision for the company.​