About Skyray Dynamics
Skyray Dynamics is a GNC engineering consultancy founded on a simple idea: serious technical capability shouldn't be out of reach for programs that actually need it.
We're two aerospace engineers with PhDs and federal research backgrounds, specializing in guidance, navigation, and control for unmanned and autonomous systems. Whether you need someone to build it, fix it, or give you an independent read on whether it works — we bring the depth to do it right.
Based in Panama City, FL. No overhead. You work directly with us.
Meet the Team
Dr. Nathan Schaff
Co-Founder
Nathan holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, completed at 24, where his research focused on system identification using a novel AI-driven method called Parameter Informed Reinforcement Learning (PIRL) — a technique that enables autonomous vehicles to identify and adapt to their own dynamics in real time. His work has been published across multiple AIAA conferences and he was nominated for Aviation Week Network's 20 Twenties program, which annually recognizes 20 of the brightest aerospace-bound engineers in the country.
Beyond the research, Nathan brings practical engineering breadth: he holds a Private Pilot certificate with tailwheel, complex, and high-performance endorsements, and has worked on UAS collision avoidance research at the FAA level and software automation tools during an internship at NASA Langley. He has taught Aircraft Stability and Control and Flight Dynamics and Controls at the undergraduate level.
At Skyray Dynamics, Nathan leads work in system identification, AI-augmented controls, and digital twin development.
Focus areas: System identification · AI/ML for GNC · Digital twins · Flight dynamics
Dr. J. Kyle Zelina
Co-Founder
Kyle holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, concentrating in Dynamics and Controls, where he was named the Aerospace Engineering Department's Graduate Student of the Year. His doctoral research focused on adaptive control for nonlinear, time-varying rotational systems — a class of problems directly relevant to the behavior of real-world autonomous vehicles under uncertain and changing conditions.
As a principal investigator on multiple funded research programs, Kyle has led development of high-fidelity 6-DOF dynamics models, robust model-based control architectures, and adaptive control laws for autonomous underwater vehicles. His work spans the full stack from mathematical modeling through hardware integration, including implementation of control algorithms in C++/ROS 2 on physical platforms. He has published across multiple AIAA venues covering adaptive control, fault tolerance, and GN&C architectures for autonomous systems.
At Skyray Dynamics, Kyle leads work in adaptive and model-based control design, algorithm integration, and UUV systems.
Focus areas: Adaptive control · Algorithm Integration · Model-based control architectures · Stability Analysis