Houston, TX — November 11, 2025 — HYSKY Society, the nonprofit dedicated to advancing hydrogen in aviation and aerospace, has announced the appointment of two distinguished leaders to its Board of Directors: Dr. Anubhav Datta, Alfred Gessow Professor at the University of Maryland’s Department of Aerospace Engineering, and Kenneth Swartz, renowned aviation journalist, communications strategist, and historian.
The appointments were made official at HYSKY’s Q3 Board Meeting on October 29, 2025, marking a milestone moment as the organization deepens its technical foundation and expands its global influence in zero-carbon aviation.
Driving Hydrogen Aviation Forward
With this expansion, HYSKY’s Board now includes two of the most influential figures in the vertical and electric flight community. Their expertise will help advance HYSKY’s six core programs — from technical education and research (HYSKY Edu) to public awareness and professional collaboration through HYSKY Monthly webinars, FLYING HY, and the HYSKY Pod.
Dr. Anubhav Datta, a globally recognized authority in rotorcraft dynamics, hydrogen propulsion, and vertical flight engineering, will play a pivotal role in shaping HYSKY Courses — the Society’s suite of professional hydrogen aerospace education programs. These include specialized courses in Hydrogen Fire Safety, Hydrogen Aircraft Design, and Advanced Hydrogen Aerospace Technologies and Design, which prepare engineers and operators to meet the technical and regulatory demands of zero-carbon aviation.
Kenneth Swartz, one of the most respected voices in global aviation media, will guide HYSKY’s communications, publications, and outreach strategy, helping the organization elevate its voice within the hydrogen, UAV, and eVTOL sectors. Drawing on decades of experience documenting the evolution of rotorcraft, eVTOL, and sustainable aviation, Swartz will ensure HYSKY’s message reflects both technical credibility and visionary leadership.
Expert Leadership for the Hydrogen Era
Dr. Anubhav Datta: From Rotorcraft Pioneering to Hydrogen Flight
Dr. Datta’s work at the University of Maryland’s Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center has set benchmarks across rotorcraft aerodynamics, structures, and hydrogen power integration. His contributions have directly influenced several of the world’s first hydrogen-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) flight demonstrations and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs.
Holding a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland, Dr. Datta has built an extraordinary record spanning the U.S. Army Aviation Development Directorate, NASA Ames Research Center, and numerous international collaborations. His research has advanced the fundamental understanding of tiltrotor whirl flutter, Mars rotorcraft dynamics, 3D aeroelastic structures, and hydrogen propulsion architectures.
Dr. Datta’s pioneering work includes the development of the 3D aeroelastic solver X3D, leadership in the full-scale Black Hawk rotor wind-tunnel test, and foundational contributions to eVTOL aircraft dynamics and loads modeling. His teams’ research has shaped the foundation for modern vertical flight certification efforts, type certificates (TCs), and supplemental type certificates (STCs) for hybrid and hydrogen-powered systems.
He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, with several establishing new fields within vertical flight, including hydrogen propulsion and structural dynamics. His honors include the VFS Howard Hughes Award (2022), NASA Technical Excellence in Publications Award, and multiple AIAA Structural Dynamics Best Paper Awards.
“Almost all real-world hydrogen VTOL flights directly trace back to Dr. Datta’s research,” said Danielle McLean, Founder and CEO of HYSKY Society. “He’s one of the most technically brilliant minds in vertical flight and among the most visionary in integrating hydrogen power into aviation and aerospace systems. His contributions make him an invaluable asset to HYSKY’s mission and the global aviation community.”
Dr. Datta joins HYSKY as both a technical advisor and educator, helping to guide curriculum, research direction, and standards alignment as hydrogen aircraft move toward certification, type validation, and scalable hydrogen fueling infrastructure.
Kenneth Swartz: Elevating the Story of Sustainable Flight
For more than four decades, Kenneth Swartz has documented and analyzed every major shift in rotorcraft and electric aviation. As an aerospace consultant, photojournalist, and historian based in Toronto, Swartz’s career has spanned the evolution of helicopter operations, regional airlines, and eVTOL development — from the early commuter days of the 1970s to today’s hydrogen and battery-electric propulsion breakthroughs.
A frequent contributor and Board Member of the Vertical Flight Society (VFS), Swartz has played an integral role in shaping the industry’s understanding of electric aviation’s past and future. He co-developed eVTOL.news, the first global database and publication dedicated to electric and hydrogen VTOL systems, and has written thousands of technical and historical pieces for Vertiflite magazine and other leading aviation outlets.
Beyond journalism, Swartz has served in strategic advisory and communications roles for CAE, Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney Canada, and major international operators, helping guide aerospace innovation and certification efforts worldwide.
At HYSKY, Swartz will lend his expertise to publications, media strategy, and educational content, ensuring the nonprofit’s communications match the technical sophistication of the industry it serves.
“Ken is one of the most accomplished aviation writers in the world and arguably the most knowledgeable in eVTOL,” said McLean. “Having him on our board brings decades of deep insight and an encyclopedic understanding of vertical and electric flight. His perspective will help HYSKY tell the story of hydrogen aviation with both technical precision and historic depth.”
A Unified Vision for Zero-Carbon Flight
Dr. Datta and Mr. Swartz join a distinguished HYSKY Board already composed of cross-sector leaders from aerospace, energy, and urban mobility, including representatives from United Therapeutics and SoCalGas.
Together, the expanded Board will focus on accelerating key initiatives in hydrogen infrastructure, fuel cell technology, UAV and drone certification pathways, and sustainable fueling systems. Their combined expertise will strengthen the Society’s partnerships with industry, academia, and government, including collaboration around the FAA’s MOSAIC rulemaking and emerging hydrogen standards for fixed-wing and vertical flight platforms.
“The addition of Dr. Datta and Mr. Swartz underscores HYSKY’s commitment to both the science and storytelling of sustainable aviation,” said McLean. “We’re not just developing the technical foundation for hydrogen-powered flight — we’re building the community that will take it to scale.”
Accelerating the Hydrogen Aviation Ecosystem
HYSKY’s six flagship programs will directly benefit from the expanded Board expertise:
- HYSKY Edu – Dr. Datta will enhance the technical rigor of the 5-week hydrogen aerospace design course, ensuring it aligns with emerging standards and certification pathways.
- HYSKY Monthly – Ken Swartz will help expand webinar reach and content quality, connecting technical experts with the broader aviation community.
- HYSKY Pod – Swartz’s media experience will elevate production value and outreach for HYSKY’s podcast featuring innovators such as Dr. Martine Rothblatt, Dean Kamen, and John Piasecki.
- HYSKY Connect – Both leaders will contribute to building a robust ecosystem linking hydrogen producers, logistics providers, and aviation manufacturers.
- FLYING HY and H2Hub Summit – Their combined presence will bring technical depth and thought leadership to HYSKY’s annual in-person and virtual hydrogen aviation events.
About HYSKY Society
HYSKY Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to decarbonizing aviation with hydrogen. Through education, research, and collaboration, HYSKY advances the technologies and partnerships needed to enable zero-carbon flight across UAV, eVTOL, and fixed-wing platforms.
Its six programs — HYSKY Monthly, FLYING HY, HYSKY Pod, HYSKY Edu, HYSKY Connect, and the H2Hub Summit — bring together the brightest minds in aerospace, hydrogen production, logistics, and certification. HYSKY’s initiatives equip the aviation industry to transition from fossil fuels to hydrogen and fuel cell propulsion, paving the way toward scalable, safe, and sustainable flight.
Learn more or get involved at www.hysky.org.