Benjamin L. “Ben” Diachun

Benjamin L. “Ben” Diachun received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1999. He furthered his education at Stanford University, earning a master’s in aeronautics and astronautics. For the initial 16 years of his career, Diachun was associated with Scaled Composites, where he rose from engineer to president. During his tenure, Diachun played a pivotal role in developing 15 distinct aerospace vehicle types. He also facilitated the sale of more than $1 billion in vehicle hardware and services while boosting annual revenue from $25 million to more than $135 million. In 2019, Diachun assumed the CEO role at Opener, a Silicon Valley startup focused on developing a personal all-electric air vehicle. In two years, Hyundai recruited him to lead a similar initiative. Diachun thus became chief technology officer for Supernal, Hyundai’s Advanced Air Mobility venture aimed at introducing new air vehicle product lines, including electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft slated for market release in 2028. Purdue recognized Diachun with an Outstanding Mechanical Engineer Award in 2019 and a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award in 2023.