8-K
APPLIED ENERGETICS, INC. (AERG)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT
REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION
13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) September 25, 2025
APPLIED ENERGETICS,
INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
| 001-14015 | 77-0262908 |
|---|---|
| (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 9070 S Rita Road, Suite 1500, Tucson, Arizona | 85747 |
| --- | --- |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(520) 628-7415
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (seeGeneral Instruction A.2. below):
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
|---|---|
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| --- | --- |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| --- | --- |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
| --- | --- |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company: ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 8.01 –Other Events
On September 25, 2025, Applied Energetics, Inc. issued a press release announcing the appointment of Brigadier General (Ret) Samuel “Luke” Peterson to its Board of Advisors. For his services on the Board of Advisors, Gen. Peterson is to receive compensation including a monthly cash stipend and stock options which are subject to vesting.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
| Exhibit 99.1 | Press Release, dated September 25, 2025-- Applied Energetics Appoints BG(Ret) Samuel “Luke” Peterson to Advisory Board |
|---|---|
| 107 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
1
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| APPLIED ENERGETICS, INC. | |
|---|---|
| By: | /s/ Christopher<br>Donaghey |
| Christopher Donaghey | |
| President<br>and Chief Executive Officer |
Date: September 25, 2025
2
Exhibit 99.1
Applied Energetics Appoints BG(Ret) Samuel “Luke” Petersonto Advisory Board
TUCSON, Ariz. – September 25, 2025 – Applied Energetics, Inc. (OTCQB: AERG), a leader in ultrashort pulse laser (USPL) and directed energy technologies, is pleased to announce the appointment of Brigadier General (Retired) Samuel “Luke” Peterson to its Advisory Board. BG(Ret) Peterson brings nearly 35 years of distinguished military service and senior-level acquisition experience across the U.S. Department of Defense, including leadership roles in some of the Army’s most critical modernization initiatives.
Most recently, BG(Ret) Peterson served as Program Executive Officer for Combat Support & Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS), where he led a team of over 1,100 personnel managing a portfolio of 248 acquisition programs with annual budgets exceeding $3 billion. His prior assignments include senior leadership roles at U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), and Army Contracting Command, among others. He currently serves as President of Alpha2Omega Consulting Solutions, LLC.
“We are honored to welcome BG(Ret) Luke Peterson to our Advisory Board,” said Chris Donaghey, CEO of Applied Energetics. “His extraordinary leadership, deep acquisition expertise, and hands-on experience delivering next-generation capabilities to the battlefield are perfectly aligned with our mission to rapidly develop and field game-changing USPL and directed energy solutions for the Department of Defense.”
Throughout his career, BG(Ret) Peterson played pivotal roles in programs supporting the development and transition of critical technologies such as hypersonics, high-energy lasers, and high-power microwave systems. As Deputy Director for Strategic Planning at RCCTO, he oversaw more than $5.2 billion in prototyping efforts for cutting-edge capabilities such as Long-Range Hypersonic Weapons System, Directed Energy Maneuver-Short-Range Air Defense, Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser, and Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Power Microwave.
“Applied Energetics is at the forefront of delivering transformational directed energy capabilities,” said BG(Ret) Peterson. “I am excited to contribute to their innovative efforts and help accelerate the deployment of these technologies to protect our warfighters and safeguard national security.”
BG(Ret) Peterson holds advanced degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School and the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, and is a recipient of numerous military awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Bronze Star Medal.
About Applied Energetics, Inc.
Applied Energetics, Inc. specializes in advanced laser and photonics systems, particularly fiber-based ultrashort pulse (USP) laser technologies. With 27 patents and 5 patents pending, Applied Energetics' proprietary architecture enables orders of magnitude size-weight-power reductions, a key differentiator when compared with traditional continuous wave (CW) laser technology with larger footprints. AE's powerful, dual-use systems are designed for integration and deployment on numerous potential defense platforms for the delivery of high intensity, ultrashort pulses of light to disable or destroy a target. These technologies have applications in both national security and commercial markets. Today, AE's USP optical technologies are being designed to offer flexibility and power for complex missions in national security such as enhancing layered defense strategies to counter complex threats.
For more information about Applied Energetics and its innovative technologies, please visit www.appliedenergetics.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to the historical or current facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may," "believe," "will," "expect," "project," "anticipate," "estimates," "plans," "strategy," "target," "prospects," or "continue," and words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of our management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect our current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition and may cause our actual results, performances or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. We do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking statements.
Applied Energetics, Inc. Investor information contact:
Kevin McGrath, Managing Director
Cameron Associates, Inc.
kevin@cameronassoc.com
T: 646-418-7002
SOURCE: Applied Energetics, Inc.