#299 Andy Lowery - Inside the World’s Most Advanced Drone Killing Machine

April 27, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Andy Lowery, CEO of Epirus, shares his expertise on counter-drone technology during this episode of the Shawn Ryan Show. A former Navy nuclear engineer and Raytheon chief engineer, Lowery leads development of Leonidas, a high-power microwave (HPM) system that disables drones by overwhelming their electronics. Drawing from his work on gallium nitride-based electronic warfare like the Next Generation Jammer, he explains how Epirus pivoted from general RF transmitters to drone defense amid rising threats in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Origins and Development Path

Epirus, founded in 2018 by backers including Joe Lonsdale and Grant Forster, began as a high-power RF transmitter project using gallium nitride semiconductors. These allow unprecedented power density compared to older vacuum tubes, enabling solid-state amplification for directed energy. Early prototypes during COVID resembled "Frankenstein" setups with large antennas. Lowery joined in 2021 as chief product officer after leading similar tech at Raytheon, redesigning for production as Leonidas Gen 2. The focus shifted to counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) as investors foresaw drone swarms exploiting cheap, mass-produced threats—group 1-3 drones costing hundreds to thousands of dollars.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:35) **Guest Introduction and Early Epirus Video** - Andy Lowery introduced as Epirus CEO; discusses early prototype video of drones downed by EMP-like tech
2 (03:40) **Andy’s Background and Career Path** - Navy nuke enlisted to officer, University of Illinois EE, MACOM, Raytheon roles in EW and NGJ
3 (09:57) **Transition to Epirus** - Recruited from Raytheon as CPO, became CEO; redesigned Leonidas Gen 2 for range/survivability
4 (20:21) **Epirus Founding Vision and Counter-Drone Shift** - Backed by visionaries seeing drone threat early; evolved from high-power RF transmitter to drone killer
5 (25:17) **Leonidas Product Line and Layers** - Scalable HPM system family; standalone with radar/EO/C2 or integrates with Anduril Lattice
6 (29:48) **Primes vs. Neo-Primes Innovation Gap** - Legacy firms hunt "lions" (big threats) inefficiently vs. "mice" (cheap drones); $2M missile vs. $500 drone
7 (37:05) **Drone Warfare Analogies and Leakers** - Drones like cyber Trojans/swarm attacks; 90% intercepted, leakers need close-in like Leonidas

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Andy Lowery is a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander who served as a Nuclear Surface Warfare Officer and Nuclear Propulsion Officer, including active duty aboard the USS John C. Stennis. Over more than 30 years, Lowery held demanding roles spanning domestic and global assignments before retiring and continuing in the reserves until 2015. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is recognized as a thought leader in applying technology across industry.

Andy transitioned to corporate leadership and entrepreneurship after his military career. He is currently CEO of Epirus, a defense tech company pioneering portable directed energy systems to counter modern threats like militarized drones. Joining Epirus in 2021, Lowery quickly rose through the ranks—serving as Chief Product Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and CEO since December 2023.

Previously, Lowery co-founded and served as CEO of RealWear, leading the company to global prominence in industrial head-up display wearable systems for frontline workers from 2016 to 2020. He also co-founded DAQRI (2014–2016), a pioneer in mixed reality wearables for enterprise use. Lowery held senior engineering and management positions at Raytheon, MACOM, Tyco, and RPM Technology, notably working on electronic warfare systems and major defense projects such as the Navy’s Next Generation Jammer.

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Andy Lowery Links:

LI - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andylowery

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