Drone Aviation, a developer of specialized, tethered aerial monitoring and communications platforms serving national defense and homeland security customers, and an Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winner Two Years Running, has closed on a merger with ComSovereign Corp, a U.S.-based consortium of 5G telecommunications radio, silicon photonics and power systems designed for the next generation of global networks.

The newly merged company will focus on supplying ComSovereign’s existing global wireless carrier customer base with new infrastructure technology which includes industry leading carrier backhaul capabilities, and 5G/NR connectivity for fixed and mobile aerial applications.

As a result of the new transaction, Drone Aviation postponed FINRA’s previously approved reverse stock split of its shares due to the merger and the change in the board structure.

As part of the merger, ComSovereign has enacted a number of management and board personnel changes including the resignation of its CEO and Director, Dan Erdberg, and the appointment of Dan Hodges as Chairman and CEO.

Drone Aviation’s former Chairman, David Aguilar, will remain as a Director.

The members of the Board of Directors of the combined Company include leaders from the government, technology, accounting and finance industries.

“Through this unique and synergistic business combination, ComSovereign gains an immediate capability, enabling us to emplace entire LTE networks, from small private networks to city-scale systems, in a matter of days instead of years,” said newly appointed Chairman and CEO, Hodges.

“Integration of our newly validated, disruptive communications technologies also enable superior performance and reliability where it previously never existed.”

“This merger represents a significant milestone in our strategic plan for Drone Aviation as we expand into the 5G wireless communications market, creating valuable new opportunities to leverage our patented tethered drone and aerostat technologies to create flying cellular towers for government and commercial customers around the world,” said former CEO of Drone Aviation Dan Erdberg.

ComSovereign’s board of directors appointed Brian T. Mihelich as Chief Financial Officer and Kevin M. Sherlock as General Counsel and Secretary effective January 2, 2020.

Kendall W. Carpenter, the Company’s prior Chief Financial Officer, will remain with the Company and retain responsibility for the financial matters relating to its Drone Aviation business operations.

Mr. Mihelich brings significant senior management and financial telecom experience to ComSovereign having most recently served as Vice President, Managed Services, and as Head of Operations of the Vodafone account at Ericsson.

His experience in the telecom sector includes senior management responsibilities for numerous business relationships including AT&T, Sprint, Vodafone, Napster, Google and Facebook.

Mr. Mihelich has managed operations for organizations with sales of $750 million and up to 600 direct and indirect employee reports, and has served with distinction in the U.S. Air Force, and has also worked for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Prior to joining COMSovereign, Mr. Sherlock was a partner in the law firm of Heurlin & Sherlock, PC, in Tucson, Arizona, which he co-founded in 2008 and where he focused primarily on business litigation, securities arbitration, and security clearance matters.

While in private practice, Mr. Sherlock also gained considerable experience in corporate structures and mergers and acquisitions and is licensed to practice law in Washington D.C., Florida and Arizona.

“To our shareholders, I want to be clear that our responsibility, commitment and focus are on executing a methodical, disciplined approach to delivering revenue and earnings over the long-term,” added Mr. Hodges.

“We intend to leverage our installed base of tier-one global customers and the further expansion of our portfolio as we capitalize on the potential of our technologies.”

“Our world-class management teams and Board of Directors share a dedication to long-term value creation to benefit our current and future stakeholders.”

Drone Aviation Recognized in 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards at ISC East

Drone Aviation Corp

• Best Persistent Aerial Monitoring Solution 

• Winch Aerostat Small Platform (WASP)

• The WASP from Drone Aviation is a highly tactical and mobile tethered aerostat system with Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) sensors for agents & warfighters.

(See a brief overview of Drone Aviation’s WASP+ WASP Lite products. Courtesy of Drone Aviation Corp. and YouTube. Posted on Aug 21, 2019.)

The 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program surpassed expectations with a record number of nominations received from industry leaders and government agencies, and drew over 200 attendees to the ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Banquet – an exclusive gourmet luncheon and networking opportunity which filled to capacity, before having to turn away late registrants.

The event featured an impassioned and compelling keynote address by William J. Bratton, former police commissioner of the New York Police Department (NYPD) twice, the Boston Police Department (BPD), and former chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), as he walked attendees through 50 years of American policing history, the impacts on the communities, and the evolution of critical communication capabilities in our post 9/11 landscape.

Commissioner Bratton, one of the world’s most respected and trusted experts on risk and security issues and Executive Chairman of Teneo Risk a global advisory firm, was recognized as the ‘2019 ‘ASTORS’ Person of the Year’ for his Lifetime of Dedication and Extraordinary Leadership in Homeland Security and Public Safety.

Why the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program?

American Security Today’s comprehensive Annual Homeland Security Awards Program is organized to recognize the most distinguished vendors of physical, IT, port security, law enforcement, and first responders, in acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’

Over 200 distinguished guests representing Federal, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms, gathered from across North America, Europe and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields which included: 

• The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
• United States Marine Corps
• The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
• Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
• United States Postal Inspection Service
• DHS S&T 
• United States Marshals Service (USMS)
• The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Police (PAPD)
• The Department of Justice (DOJ)
• The New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services (NYS DHSES)
• United States Border Patrol
• AlertMedia, Ameristar Perimeter Security, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, Bellevue University, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., CornellCookson, Drone Aviation, FLIR Systems, Hanwha Techwin, HID Global, IPVideo Corp., Konica Minolta Business Solutions, LenelS2, ManTech, Regroup Mass Notifications, SafeLogic, SolarWinds, Senstar, ShotSpotter, Smiths Detection, TCOM LP, Trackforce, Verint, and More!

Why American Security Today?

The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.

The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.

American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State and local levels of government as well as firms allied to government.

American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers eyes throughout the story with cutting edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.

Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications

The AST Digital Publications is distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals in federal, state and local levels.

‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’

AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.

Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.

These experts are from Government at the federal, state and local level as well as from private firms allied to government.

AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.

AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.

Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.

To learn more about the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, please go to the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Championship Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2019 ‘A Year in Review’.

The ‘ASTORS’ Champion Edition is published annually and includes a review of the ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firms products and services, includes video interviews and more.

It is your Go-To source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2019 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.

From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION will have what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitgate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.

It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.

Drone Aviation develops and manufactures cost-effective, compact and rapidly deployable aerial platforms including lighter-than-air aerostats and drones designed to provide government and commercial customers with enhanced surveillance and communication capabilities.

Utilizing a patented tether system, Drone Aviation’s products are designed to provide prolonged operational duration capabilities combined with improved reliability, uniquely fulfilling critical requirements in military, law enforcement, commercial, and industrial applications.

To Learn More about Drone Aviation, and the wholly owned subsidiary ComSovereign, or more information regarding their senior management team and Board of Directors, please visit www.DroneAviationCorp.com or www.ComSovereign.com.

To learn about advertising opportunities with American Security Today, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.

AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:

• Provides named sources
• Reported by more than one notable outlet
• Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos

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