LONG BEACH, CA, July 20, 2026 – JetZero has appointed Patrick M. Shanahan, former U.S. deputy secretary of defense and CEO of Spirit AeroSystems, and Eric Hirshberg, former CEO of Activision, to its board of directors. The two bring decades of experience in aerospace, defense, manufacturing and consumer branding as JetZero moves from demonstrator aircraft to full production.
“Pat and Eric each bring a caliber of experience that is rare and exactly what JetZero needs as we move from demonstrator to production,” said Tom O’Leary, co-founder and CEO of JetZero. “Pat’s unmatched knowledge of large-scale aerospace programs and government partnerships, combined with Eric’s track record of building transformational businesses and organizations, will strengthen our board as we scale and reshape aviation.”
Shanahan spent 30 years at Boeing, where he led programs including the 737, 747, 767, 777 and 787. He later served as president and CEO of Spirit AeroSystems. In government, Shanahan served as U.S. deputy secretary of defense from 2017 to 2019 and as acting secretary of defense in 2019.
He holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington, an M.S. in mechanical engineering from MIT, and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
“JetZero is tackling one of the hardest problems in aviation – and doing it with the rigor and ambition it demands,” said Shanahan. “The all-wing Z4 represents a fundamental advancement in efficiency and capability. I’m proud to join the team as they bring this aircraft to life and help build the infrastructure to manufacture it at scale.”
Hirshberg has advised JetZero since the start of 2026. He currently advises several companies, including Beta Technologies, Skydio, Metropolis and UpPartners. Earlier in his career, he built and led the advertising agency Deutsch LA from a 10-person shop into a larger firm, then served as CEO of Activision for eight years. Hirshberg sits on the boards of the XPRIZE Foundation and UCLA’s School of Arts & Architecture. Advertising Age has named him one of the most influential people in marketing, and Creativity Magazine included him on its list of the 50 most creative people in business.
“JetZero is delivering innovations that will literally eliminate every pain point in the aerospace industry today. The all-wing design is better for the airlines and the military, better for the traveler, and better for the environment,” said Hirshberg. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a bigger market opportunity paired with a lower technical risk. I’m excited to help this team realize this incredible vision.”
Source: JetZero
About JetZero
JetZero is a U.S.-based aerospace company focused on the design and development of advanced aircraft platforms. Founded in 2021, the company is headquartered in Long Beach, California, United States. JetZero develops blended-wing body aircraft concepts for commercial aviation, defense, and government applications. Its work includes full aircraft design, systems integration, and manufacturing planning. The company serves customers across the airline industry, defense sector, and aerospace supply chain. JetZero collaborates with commercial carriers, government agencies, and industrial partners on research, development, and demonstration programs. Its primary programs target fuel efficiency, range, and payload improvements for future aircraft fleets. JetZero supports both civilian and military use cases through configurable airframe designs. The company funds its operations through private investment, government grants, incentives, and commercial commitments. JetZero continues development of large-scale demonstrator aircraft in the United States.