Lt. Gen. (Ret) Scott Howell joins Archer Defense’s advisory board
US-based electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer, Archer Aviation (Archer) recently announced the appointment of Lieutenant General (Ret) Scott Howell to its Advisory Board to advance its next-gen military programme.
Archer launched Archer Defense in December 2024, aiming to leverage its expertise in aircraft development, advanced flight controls, and scalable manufacturing to defence applications.
The first project under this initiative, in collaboration with Anduril, focuses on developing a hybrid-propulsion VTOL aircraft.
Military expertise
Lt. Gen. Howell brings a wealth of experience from his distinguished military career, which included service in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Pentagon, and the White House.
He notably led the Joint Special Operations Command as its 15th Commander, overseeing 14,000 Special Operations forces globally.
Furthermore, during his tenure as a Vice Commander for the US Special Operations Command, he secured the largest budget ever for US warfighters.
Additionally, in his post-military career, Howell has served as an advisor with General Catalyst, focusing on modern defence and intelligence.
Commenting on the latest appointment, Archer’s CEO and Founder, Adam Goldstein, stated, “The launch of Archer Defense marked a significant moment for both Archer and the industry—Scott is coming on board to help ensure its success.”
“With his support, we’re confident that we can accelerate innovation within military aviation, tipping the scales further in America’s favour,” he added.
Lt. Gen. Howell echoed this enthusiasm, saying, “Archer has already proven they have what it takes to rapidly build advanced aircraft—they’re not new to this game.”
Moreover, he added, “I see incredible potential to continue advancing that mission with a focus on defence applications and empowering our men and women in uniform with a distinct advantage. I’m proud to join Archer as they accelerate the development and deployment of advanced technologies for the defence sector.”
In addition, the advisory board includes Retired 3-star Lieutenant General David A. Krumm, Retired 2-star General Clayton M. Hutmacher, Retired 2-star General Bill Gayler, Retired 4-star General Steve Townsend, Retired Chief Warrant Officer (CW4) Michael J. Durant, Retired Director of Special Programs (Aviation) Geoff Downer, and Retired Acquisition Executive, U.S. Special Operations Command Jim Smith.