Dr. Carl Dietrich

Carl is the Founder/CEO/CTO of Jump Aero where he and his team are developing a high-speed, all-electric, vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft system to help first responders save lives. At an industry level, he serves as the Chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association’s committee on Simplified Vehicle Operations. He is the author or co-author on three issued patents and multiple pending patents. Carl earned his SB ‘99, SM ‘03, & Ph.D. ’07 from MIT’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Prior to Jump Aero, Carl founded and led Terrafugia as CEO/CTO from inception in 2006 through acquisition by the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group in 2017. Carl spearheaded the development of the first integrated roadable aircraft capable of converting between flying and driving in less than 30 seconds. He established and ran a world-class R&D center for Terrafugia focused on the development of novel eVTOL configurations and business plans for the emerging Urban Air Mobility market. In addition to his work at Terrafugia, Carl helped develop the standards for light sport aircraft on ASTM committee F37.

During his 11 years at MIT, Carl founded the MIT Rocket Team, won four out of five design competitions, and won the $30K Lemelson-MIT Student Prize for Invention. In 2000, he was recognized by the MIT Aero/Astro Department as one of sixteen young alumni who have shown “extraordinary accomplishment” and subsequently received “40 under 40” awards from the Boston Business Journal and Aviation Week and Space Technology magazine.