Team

Adam M. Brown is an aviation professional, systems engineer, and entrepreneur whose career bridges airside operations, cross-border logistics, and AI-driven systems design. As the Founder and Chief Architect of Zaero Systems Group, he leads the convergence of clean aviation, intelligent logistics, and local manufacturing to create Africa's first fully integrated zero-emission air transport network.

Adam's foundation in aviation was built through years of direct experience managing aircraft ground operations, airside safety, and logistics coordination in complex environments. His background includes extensive collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Senegal and The Gambia, where he oversaw the secure weekly transfer of over 1,000 kilograms of diplomatic and temperature-sensitive cargo between Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS), Embassy Dakar, and Embassy Banjul.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, his team served as one of the first local operators trusted to handle vaccine shipments for U.S. diplomatic channels—coordinating with airline crews, customs, and embassy officials under restricted airspace conditions. This period solidified his operational understanding of aviation security, cold-chain logistics, and international compliance frameworks that now inform Zaero's approach to aircraft certification and data integrity.

His aviation fluency also extends into technology. A Full-Stack Software Engineer trained through General Assembly and a HubSpot-certified systems designer, Adam develops the digital infrastructure that underpins Zaero's operations. His experience in flight data analytics, AI-driven scheduling, and predictive maintenance modeling powers Zaero Logic, the intelligence layer that governs routing efficiency, CO₂-dividend tracking, and performance telemetry across Zaero's fleet.

Adam's passion for sustainable transport first took shape during his time in West Africa, where he witnessed firsthand the infrastructure gaps that limit economic mobility and access to essential services. Zaero is his answer to that challenge—a systems-level solution that doesn't wait for roads, but builds the sky into a logistics backbone.

Astoulala Ndiaye Brown is a systems and finance leader with over a decade of experience designing, integrating, and automating enterprise-level treasury and accounting platforms for global institutions. As Co-Founder and Chief Systems and Financial Architect of Zaeronautics, she oversees the integration of the company's financial infrastructure, AI data systems, and ESG reporting framework — ensuring operational transparency, fiscal control, and compliance across Zaero's expanding ecosystem.

Before co-founding Zaero, Astoulala led multiple system modernization programs at Fannie Mae, where she directed Agile teams through the migration of core treasury functions to AWS 2.0, designed new compliance controls, and automated data disclosures with Workiva and Tableau, achieving 100% release accuracy. Her prior roles at Morgan Stanley and FINCA International refined her expertise in global risk management, derivatives reconciliation, and cross-border liquidity operations — all essential for Zaero's multicountry logistics and finance model.

A certified SAFe Product Manager/Product Owner with an MBA from the University of Maryland, Astoulala brings both technical and strategic fluency to Zaero's financial and data architecture. Fluent in French, English, and Wolof, she plays a critical role in aligning U.S.-based financial governance with ECOWAS regional operations — bridging investors, regulators, and on-the-ground teams through unified, data-driven accountability.

Maurice Diong is a licensed Civil Engineer (P.E.) and Software Engineer with deep expertise in aviation infrastructure, large-scale construction, and digital systems integration. As Co-Founder and Chief Infrastructure and Systems Engineer of Zaeronautics, he leads the design and deployment of Zaero's physical network — from modular drone hubs and launch-recovery systems to renewable energy microgrids powering its zero-emission fleet.

Before co-founding Zaero, Maurice served for nearly a decade at Skanska USA, one of the world's leading construction and engineering firms, where he contributed to major transportation and aviation projects — including the LaGuardia Airport (LGA) Central Terminal Redevelopment in New York. His work on the LGA modernization program exposed him to the full lifecycle of aviation infrastructure delivery: airfield logistics, safety systems, structural design, and multi-stakeholder coordination under FAA and Port Authority oversight.

In parallel with his civil-engineering background, Maurice is also a trained software engineer, skilled in Python, Flask, JavaScript, and React, allowing him to merge hardware and data systems into unified operational frameworks. His dual expertise supports the creation of Zaero's digital-physical infrastructure layer, connecting sensors, predictive-maintenance algorithms, and AI-assisted monitoring through Zaero Logic.

Fluent in English and French, Maurice ensures that Zaero's infrastructure strategy adheres to both international aviation standards and ECOWAS regulatory frameworks — bridging global precision with regional execution.