Ondas Appoints General Patrick Huston as Chief Operating Officer to Drive Operational Scale and Growth in Defense and Security Markets
Rhea-AI Summary
Ondas Holdings (Nasdaq:ONDS) named Brigadier General Patrick Huston, U.S. Army (Ret.), to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer, effective December 18, 2025, while he continues as General Counsel. The move is intended to accelerate operational scale, integrate recent acquisitions, and expand engagement with U.S. and allied government and defense customers across Ondas Autonomous Systems and Ondas Networks.
Huston joined OAS' advisory board in September 2025 and brings over 35 years of military and legal leadership, including senior roles at 101st Airborne, JSOC, and U.S. Central Command. His responsibilities include program execution, acquisition integration, compliance, and oversight of legal and governance functions.
Positive
- New COO role created to accelerate operational scale
- COO to lead acquisition integration across Ondas subsidiaries
- Expanded leadership intended to boost U.S. and allied government engagement
- Patrick Huston brings over 35 years of military and legal experience
Negative
- One executive will hold both COO and General Counsel roles
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, ONDS gained 5.83%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +20.0% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 52 alerts that day, indicating high trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $188M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $3.40B at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Peers in Communication Equipment were generally negative (e.g., EXTR -1.13%, VIAV -3.55%, VSAT -6.94%), but ONDS’ -8.9% move was steeper, suggesting stock-specific factors on top of sector softness.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 08 | Strategic investment | Positive | -0.6% | Announced intent to invest up to $11M in Ukrainian drone developer DFG. |
| Dec 03 | Government contract win | Positive | +10.5% | Won multi‑phase tender for autonomous border‑protection system with thousands of drones. |
| Dec 02 | Board appointment | Positive | +6.5% | Rail industry leader joined Ondas Networks board to advance IEEE 802.16t adoption. |
| Dec 01 | Follow-on order | Positive | -4.0% | Second ~$8.2M Iron Drone Raider counter‑UAS order from major European authority. |
| Nov 25 | Acquisition agreement | Positive | -3.2% | Definitive deal to acquire Roboteam, expanding multi‑domain tactical ground robotics. |
Recent positive strategic and contract news often saw mixed to negative price reactions, with more divergences than alignments.
Over the last several weeks, Ondas reported multiple defense- and autonomy-focused milestones, including a border‑protection tender expected to deploy thousands of drones, repeat $8.2 million counter‑UAS orders for European airports, and a definitive deal to acquire Roboteam with expected $3–4 million Q4 2025 and at least $30 million 2026 revenue. It also announced an intent to invest up to $11 million in Drone Fight Group and added a rail‑industry leader to its Networks board. Today’s COO appointment fits this expansion and integration narrative around multi‑domain autonomy and defense markets.
Regulatory & Risk Context
An effective Form S-3ASR filed on September 9, 2025 allows Ondas to issue various securities (equity, debt, warrants, units) via prospectus supplements. The company has already used this shelf multiple times (recent 424B5/424B7 filings in October and November 2025), indicating an active capital-raising framework that can be tapped as needed.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock moved +5.8% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with the company’s recent series of strategic defense and autonomy moves, where leadership depth became increasingly important as acquisitions and contract wins accumulated. Investors have previously shown both enthusiasm and skepticism, with 3 of the last 5 positive events seeing price divergences. An effective S‑3ASR shelf and ongoing capital activity could influence how sustainable any sharp upside move proves over time.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Appointment reinforces leadership depth to support operational scale, acquisition integration, and expanding government and defense market engagement
BOSTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / December 18, 2025 / Ondas Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:ONDS) ("Ondas" or the "Company"), a leading provider of autonomous aerial and ground robot intelligence through its Ondas Autonomous Systems (OAS) business unit and private wireless solutions through Ondas Networks, today announced that Brigadier General Patrick Huston, U.S. Army (Ret.), has expanded his current responsibilities to assume the newly-created role of Chief Operating Officer as the Company advances the scale and integration of its multi-domain autonomous systems platform. General Huston will continue to serve as General Counsel of the Company.
General Huston joined OAS' Advisory Board in September 2025. He now assumes an expanded executive role to help lead operational execution across Ondas' multi-domain autonomous systems platform, with responsibility for driving disciplined program execution, integrating acquisitions, and scaling operations across the Company's growing portfolio of subsidiaries. In parallel, he will oversee legal, regulatory, compliance, and corporate governance functions, supporting Ondas' expanding engagement with U.S. and allied government customers and ensuring rigorous alignment with defense procurement, contracting, and regulatory requirements.
General Huston brings more than 35 years of distinguished military and legal leadership, including service as a Commanding General, Army Ranger, helicopter pilot, and military prosecutor, with five combat tours. His career includes senior legal and operational roles with the 101st Airborne Division, Joint Special Operations Command, and U.S. Central Command, as well as service on the Pentagon's Responsible Artificial Intelligence Board.
"Patrick's expanded role as Chief Operating Officer reflects the increasing importance of integrated legal and operational leadership as Ondas continues to scale across defense, security, and government markets," said Eric Brock, Chairman and CEO of Ondas Holdings Inc. "His depth of experience in military operations, procurement, governance, and emerging technologies provides valuable perspective as we execute on our strategy and integrate recent acquisitions."
As Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, General Huston will play a key role in supporting Ondas' execution across acquisitions, partnerships, government contracting, and compliance frameworks, while ensuring alignment with U.S. and allied defense requirements.
The newly-created role of Chief Operating Officer follows a period of continued expansion for Ondas Autonomous Systems, including strategic acquisitions, investments, and new program activity supporting autonomy across all domains.
About Ondas Holdings Inc.
Ondas Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:ONDS) is a leading provider of autonomous systems and private wireless solutions through its business units Ondas Autonomous Systems (OAS), Ondas Capital and Ondas Networks. Ondas' technologies offer a powerful combination of aerial intelligence and next-generation connectivity to enhance security, operational efficiency, and data-driven decision-making across essential industries.
OAS delivers a portfolio of AI-powered defense and security platforms that are deployed globally to safeguard sensitive locations, populations, and infrastructure. Through American Robotics, Airobotics, Apeiro Motion, and Sentry CS Ltd., OAS offers the Optimus System-the first U.S. FAA-certified small UAS for automated aerial security and data capture-the Iron Drone Raider-an autonomous counter-UAS platform-Apeiro's advanced ground robotics and tethered UAV systems, supported by innovative navigation and communications technologies-and Sentrycs' Cyber-over-RF (CoRF) and Protocol-Manipulation counter-UAS technology.
Ondas Capital plans to combine advisory services and strategic investment management services to accelerate the rapid scaling and global deployment of unmanned and autonomous systems to Allied defense and security markets.
Ondas Networks provides software-defined wireless broadband technology through its FullMAX platform, based on the IEEE 802.16t standard. This standards-based system delivers high-performance connectivity for mission-critical IoT applications in markets such as rail, utilities, oil and gas, transportation, and government.
For additional information on Ondas Holdings: www.ondas.com, X and LinkedIn
For Ondas Autonomous Systems: LinkedIn
For Airobotics: www.airoboticsdrones.com, X and LinkedIn
For American Robotics: www.american-robotics.com, X and LinkedIn
For Sentrycs: www.sentrycs.com, X and LinkedIn
For Apeiro Motion: www.apeiro-motion.com, LinkedIn
For Ondas Networks: www.ondasnetworks.com, X and LinkedIn
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution readers that forward-looking statements are predictions based on our current expectations about future events. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Our actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including the risks discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" discussed under the caption "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Part I of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or any updates discussed under the caption "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Part II of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise that occur after that date, except as required by law.
Contacts
IR Contact for Ondas Holdings Inc.
888-657-2377
ir@ondas.com
Media Contact for Ondas
Escalate PR
ondas@escalatepr.com
Preston Grimes
Marketing Manager, Ondas Holdings Inc.
preston.grimes@ondas.com
SOURCE: Ondas Holdings Inc.
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
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