Long Phan

Dr. Long N. Phan stands at the forefront of technological innovation, with over two decades of expertise bridging business leadership and advanced engineering. An MIT triple alumnus (BS, MS, PhD in Mechanical Engineering), Dr. Phan has consistently pioneered solutions pushing the boundaries of what is technologically possible.

Dr. Phan’s entrepreneurial journey includes co-founding ventures, including Top Flight Technologies, where, as CEO and CTO, he led the development of hybrid electric UAVs and secured $15 million in funding. The company’s Airborg™ platform revolutionized heavy-lift, long-range drone capabilities, attracting partnerships with corporations like Rakuten for island delivery and Hyundai Motors for drone simulation.

His intellectual property portfolio is impressive, with 18 granted USPTO patents spanning thermal imaging, propulsion, navigation, and digital engineering. Dr. Phan’s innovations have been showcased in publications including Bloomberg Businessweek, Nikkei Business, and American Scientist.

Beyond aerospace, Dr. Phan’s versatility is evident in career pivots. Following his initial MIT education, he entered finance, developing early high-frequency trading systems in 2002. Later, after returning to MIT for his doctorate in 2012, he co-founded Eye-R Systems (Essess) with Professor Sanjay Sarma, creating automated thermal imaging technology recognized among the world’s 100 most sustainable solutions.

More recently, as CTO of Knowledge AI, Dr. Phan developed a hybrid learning solution combining in-class and remote education, while at Istari he led the transition to digital engineering for aerospace.

Dr. Phan exemplifies technical brilliance, business acumen, and visionary leadership. His career demonstrates an ability to identify emerging opportunities and transform them into solutions that address global challenges.

Contact Dr. Phan at [email protected]