Who Is Ahmet Turan Ozdemir? ASPILSAN’s General Manager
Quick answer: Prof. Dr. Ahmet Turan Ozdemir is the general manager of ASPILSAN Enerji. A faculty member at Erciyes University with a background in electronics engineering, Ozdemir chaired the company’s board of directors before being appointed general manager in September 2023. His position is confirmed by statements he gave in that capacity in Anadolu Agency reports from January 2025 and April 2026.
Academic and professional background
According to the resume published by the company, Ozdemir earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the Electronics Engineering department of Erciyes University. Career platform records state that he worked at MIT’s autonomous underwater vehicles laboratory in the United States in 2007-2008 and served from 2017 to 2023 as CEO of a defense technology startup he co-founded; this information rests on third-party sources. A 2023 announcement by Erciyes University shows that Ozdemir first became chairman of ASPILSAN’s board; his appointment as general manager followed in September of the same year.
Key developments during his tenure
| Period | Development |
|---|---|
| January 2024 | Announcement that EASA certification for aviation batteries was complete; civil aviation opening |
| 2024 | Introduction of the 21700-format cell; announcement that an ASPILSAN battery was used on KAAN’s maiden flight |
| 2025 | Participation in IDEF 2025; expansion of the energy storage product range |
| January 2026 | Participation in the CES 2026 trade show (Las Vegas) |
| April 2026 | Announcement of exports of storable energy products to the US, South Korea, and Europe |
| May 2026 | Launch of the silicon-anode A35 cell at SAHA 2026 |
Under Ozdemir’s management the company has expanded its lithium-ion cell family and turned toward export markets. In the Anadolu Agency report from April 2026, Ozdemir said the company positions itself as a builder of technology rather than a customer of it.
Corporate governance structure
The majority stake in ASPILSAN Enerji belongs to the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation (TSKGV); board members are appointed by the foundation and announced on the company’s official governance page. The foundation model creates a dual framework in which the general manager is responsible both for commercial performance and for the procurement priorities of the Turkish Armed Forces, working in coordination with the general managers of ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, TUSAS, and HAVELSAN within the same foundation ecosystem. Ozdemir’s academic identity is also cited in the press as a factor strengthening the company’s ties with Erciyes University and Kayseri’s technical talent pool. The general manager carries operational responsibility for the Kayseri headquarters and all production activities. The company’s corporate page should be consulted for the current list of board members; individual terms of office are not officially detailed.
Notable statements
Ozdemir’s public statements offer insight into the company’s strategic direction. In the Anadolu Agency report from January 2025, he stated that an ASPILSAN battery was used on KAAN’s maiden flight and described the project as a threshold for the company. In the January 2024 civil aviation announcement, he characterized aviation as one of the most tightly regulated sectors and counted battery systems among an aircraft’s most critical components; he also disclosed that Turkish Airlines supported the EASA certification process. In the April 2026 export report, he positioned the company as a builder rather than a customer of technologies and said it was the first Turkish organization to export to third countries under a technology transfer from South Korea; these remarks are company statements.
The company’s communications strategy has also visibly changed during his tenure; ASPILSAN has begun appearing at non-defense trade shows such as CES and Mobile World Congress. This choice aligns with the goal of growing civilian lines such as portable energy products and telecom batteries.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Ahmet Turan Ozdemir?
His date of birth is not officially disclosed. Resume records show that he completed his bachelor’s degree in 2002.
When did he become general manager?
According to career records, he was appointed general manager on 13 September 2023; earlier in 2023 he had become chairman of the board.
Does he still hold his academic post?
He is referred to by his professorship at Erciyes University; his current teaching load is not officially disclosed.
Who oversees ASPILSAN?
As a TSKGV subsidiary, the company is under the oversight of the foundation’s management and the relevant public audit mechanisms.
How many employees does the company have?
The current headcount is not officially disclosed; in its career announcements the company recruits for the Kayseri and Ankara campuses.
What are his academic research areas?
He is a faculty member in electronics engineering; publicly available resume records list work on autonomous systems and sensor technologies. The university’s academic data pages should be consulted for his publication list.
Sources and verification note
The general manager position is confirmed by two independent recent sources (AA January 2025 and AA April 2026); the appointment date and resume details rest on third-party career records, as noted in the text (Accessed: August 13, 2026).
- https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ekonomi/aspilsan-depolanabilir-enerji-urunlerini-ihrac-ediyor/3903545
- https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/savunma-sanayisi/aspilsan-urettigi-pil-ve-bataryalarla-savunma-sanayisine-guc-katiyor/3442088
- https://www.aspilsan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Prof.-Dr.-Ahmet-Turan-Ozdemir-CV.pdf
- https://www.erciyes.edu.tr/tr/detay/ogretim-uyemiz-doc-dr-ahmet-turan-ozdemir-aspilsan-yonetim-kurulu-baskani-oldu/d9029dec-04f1-ed11-8cd4-0050569e5e21
- https://theorg.com/org/aspilsan-enerji/org-chart/ahmet-turan-ozdemir
- https://www.aspilsan.com/aspilsan-enerji-kabiliyetlerini-sivil-havacilik-sektorune-tasiyor/
