Leadership Team

Dr. Prakash Gautam

Founder, President of Research & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Dr. Prakash Gautam is the Founder and CEO of AeroPhotonix LLC, a photonics-driven technology company developing advanced optical sensing systems for atmospheric, environmental, aerospace, and defense applications. He is an experimental aerosol physicist whose work focuses on translating fundamental light–particle interaction physics into practical sensing technologies.

At AeroPhotonix, Dr. Gautam leads the company’s scientific vision, research strategy, and development of next-generation optical instrumentation. His work centers on transforming laboratory-based photonic measurement techniques into scalable, field-deployable systems capable of intelligent particle detection, classification, and monitoring. Dr. Gautam oversees the company’s research and development strategy, scientific partnerships, and long-term innovation roadmap. His goal is to establish AeroPhotonix as a leader in intelligent optical sensing and atmospheric photonics technologies.

In parallel with his role at AeroPhotonix, Dr. Gautam is an Assistant Research Professor of Physics at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) and Graduate Faculty in Physics and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he directs the Gautam Laboratory for Aerosol Optics and Microphysics.

His research bridges laboratory physics, remote sensing, and real-world environmental monitoring, providing the scientific foundation for the next generation of photonic sensing technologies.

For more Information, please visit: https://sites.google.com/view/driscattering/home 

Andrew Ramirez

Co-Founder, Vice President of Research & Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Andrew Ramirez serves as Co-Founder and CTO of AeroPhotonix LLC, leading system engineering, embedded sensor development, and prototype implementation. With industry experience in product development and system optimization, he bridges laboratory innovation with deployable, real-world sensing solutions.

His expertise includes optical system integration, AI-enhanced signal processing, multi-angle scattering data acquisition, embedded electronics, and field-deployable instrument development.

As VP of Research, Andrew oversees laboratory operations, technical validation, and next-generation sensor prototyping.