Anna Dietrich

Anna Dietrich co-founded Terrafugia to make personal aviation more accessible in 2006. After stepping down from the founding Chief Operating Officer role in 2014, she has become an industry-recognized leader in the urban air mobility (UAM), eVTOL, and innovative personal aviation industries. She is an expert in policy, certification and government relations in the aviation industry, as well as start-up company operations, and generally solving complex problems in unique ways while inspiring innovation within a sustainable framework. In addition to her policy and consulting work, Dietrich is a sought-after speaker for both STEM and corporate audiences.

She began her career in the aerospace industry early, participating in Mars rover prototype testing and two around-the-world balloon attempts with Steve Fossett while in high school and receiving both her BS and MS in aerospace engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Co-founding Terrafugia in 2006, Dietrich served as Chief Operating Officer and acting CFO there until 2014 when she stepped back to focus on her consulting, writing, and policy interests. Dietrich is now active in creating the policy and regulatory landscape for urban air mobility (UAM) and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft including being the Co Executive Director of the Community Air Mobility Initiative (CAMI). She has leadership roles in both the ASTM international industry consensus standards committees for aviation and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association EVTOL committee.

In July 2018, Dietrich testified on the urban air mobility (UAM) industry for the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. Her speaking experience includes the 2019 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Aviation Summit, TED Global, Good Morning America, South by Southwest (SXSW), Uber’s Elevate Conference, and the Vertical Flight Society EVTOL Symposium, as well as lectures at MIT, Embry Riddle, and UC Berkeley. She was named one of the Boston area's top 15 Innovators by the Boston Globe, was one of the 10 women selected for the 6th annual Mass High Tech Women to Watch Award, and has been recognized by Engineers Week New England with their annual Achievement Award. Dietrich also served on the Board of Directors of Women in Aviation International (WAI). She has also been published at outlets such as Aviation Week & Space Technology and CNN.com and has a private pilot license.

Dietrich is an accomplished and international professional speaker that enjoys sharing the story of Terrafugia, her love of entrepreneurship, and personalized lessons learned along the way. She is particularly passionate about speaking to groups of students and setting an example of a possible career in STEM. She has lectured at world-class institutions, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Olin College of Engineering, University of California Berkeley, and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.