Epirus, a defense startup, is undergoing a leadership transition. In an all-hands meeting this morning, staff learned that CEO Ken Bedingfield is departing, a move later confirmed by a company spokesperson. Bedingfield has accepted a position at an undisclosed public company. The immediate replacement for CEO is Andy Lowery, who currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Bedingfield’s tenure as Epirus CEO was brief, spanning less than a year. Before assuming the CEO role, he held the positions of COO and CFO since June 2020. His background includes previous experience at aerospace and defense giant Northrop Grumman, where he served as CFO.
Epirus, headquartered in Torrance, California, specializes in developing “directed-energy” weapons designed to counter drones and other aerial vehicles. Their product line, named Leonidas, utilizes high-power microwave technology mounted on a gimbal to neutralize systems both up close and from a distance. Earlier this year, the company secured a $66 million contract from the U.S. Army to deliver multiple Leonidas prototypes.
The startup has attracted significant investor interest, closing a $200 million Series C round last year at a post-deal valuation of $1.35 billion. Notable investors include T. Rowe Price Associates, 8VC, and Bedrock.
An Epirus spokesperson acknowledged Ken Bedingfield’s leadership over the past year, highlighting achievements such as successfully delivering the first IFPC-HPM system to the U.S. Army and establishing a clear path to deliver operational high-power microwave capabilities to the Department of Defense.
