Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI) appointed Colonel (Ret.) Jarret Mathews as its first chief operating officer, the artificial intelligence defense technology company announced.

Mathews brings more than 25 years of operational leadership and defense acquisition experience to the Aventura, Florida-based company. He previously served as Director of the Joint Acquisitions Task Force within U.S. Army Special Operations Command, where he led development and integration of AI and machine learning technologies.

His military career included commanding the Yakima Training Center, assignments to the Pentagon, and a senior liaison role supporting U.S. Central Command with international partners. Mathews holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a master's degree in global affairs from the University of Kansas.

The appointment follows Mathews' six-month role as a special advisor to Safe Pro Group. "Jarret has demonstrated exceptional leadership, enhanced our operational execution capabilities, and brought unique insights into the evolving procurement needs of the U.S. military," said Dan Erdberg, chairman and CEO of Safe Pro Group.

Safe Pro Group develops AI-enabled defense, security, and situational awareness solutions. The company's Safe Pro Object Threat Detection platform analyzes drone imagery to detect explosive threats and other objects. The system has been deployed in Ukraine for over three years and has analyzed more than 2.6 million images, identifying more than 47,800 threats across approximately 32,800 acres.

In connection with the appointment, the company's board approved a grant of 20,000 inducement shares of common stock to Mathews as part of his employment compensation, pursuant to Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4).