People

Devin is the Founder and Managing Partner of Enlightenment Capital. Prior, he was a Vice President with D. E. Shaw’s direct capital strategy, where he helped establish the group’s Washington, DC area office and built its defense & government vertical. Prior to that, Devin was at TCG Financial Partners, a merchant bank founded by former Defense Secretary William Cohen, focusing on the defense & government sector. Devin began his career in the mergers & acquisitions group at Lazard in New York and worked part-time at The Carlyle Group during graduate school. He received his J.D. and MBA degrees from Georgetown University, and his B.A., magna cum laude, in Law and Spanish from Amherst College, where he was a four-year varsity soccer player (NCAA Final Four; NESCAC All-Academic).

Devin co-founded GenerationEngage (a youth civic engagement non-profit), is on the board of DC SCORES (a non-profit that provides after school and summer programming that combines soccer, poetry, and service-learning), was named to M&A Advisor’s “40 Under 40” (as an emerging leader in the finance industry before the age of 40), is a former term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and former advisory board member of the Aspen Security Forum, and is a member of the New York State Bar. His op-eds have appeared in the Washington Post, the Washington Times, Politico, the Washington Examiner, Capitol File, and the San Jose Mercury News. He has a Top Secret security clearance.

Jason is a Partner of Enlightenment Capital and brings decades of experience in both operational roles and as a principal investor in the aerospace, defense, security, and government contracting industries. Prior to joining Enlightenment, he served as a Principal and Washington DC office lead for LLR Partners, a private equity firm where he led aerospace, defense, security, and government services related deal activity. Prior to joining LLR, Jason was a Managing Director at Monument Capital Group and Principal with The White Oak Group, private equity funds with a range of investments in the defense, government services, and security related industries. Before the White Oak Group, he was a senior vice president in the diversified industrials investment banking practice at Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Capital Markets (FBR) where he led M&A and capital raising efforts in the aerospace, defense, security, and government services industries. Prior to FBR, Jason spent over a decade in senior operations roles for middle market government contractors, including seven years with Pearson Government Solutions.

Jason is on the Advisory Board of AlphaTech (a group of senior industry professionals focused on helping select entrepreneurs in the cyber security and data analytics industry segments grow and scale their businesses) and is a past President of the National Capital Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG). He holds a Top Secret security clearance.

He received his MBA from Columbia Business School, an additional MBA from London Business School, and a Bachelor’s Degree from Radford University where he played on the school’s Division 1 lacrosse team.

Jeff is the CFO at Enlightenment Capital. Prior to joining Enlightenment, Jeff was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for Gates Group Capital Partners, a private equity firm, where he was responsible for accounting and finance, including financial reporting and investor relations, as well as transaction support. Prior to that, he was a Managing Consultant with Navigant Consulting in Washington, DC and was the Chief Financial Officer for a hospitality management and development company. Jeff began his career as an auditor with Arthur Andersen and was Assistant Controller of Washington Sports & Entertainment, former owner of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals.

He received his MBA from The Mason School of Business at William and Mary and a B.S. from The University of Virginia.

Pierre is a Co-Founder and Operating Partner of Enlightenment Capital. He brings three decades of aerospace/defense investment, equity analysis, investment banking, strategy management consulting and M&A due diligence expertise. Prior, he co-founded Renaissance Strategic Advisors (RSAdvisors), a premier Washington, DC and London based aerospace & defense strategy, and mergers & acquisitions due diligence firm. From 1995-2003, Pierre was an Institutional Investor ranked aerospace & defense equity analyst with Smith Barney, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, and Credit Suisse First Boston. He led the #1 ranked U.S. and global aerospace & defense team every year eligible.

He began his career as a mergers & acquisitions banker in the New York and London offices of Prudential-Bache Capital Funding focusing on aerospace & defense. He was also a director at JSA International, a Boston/Paris-based management-consulting firm that focused on the aerospace & defense industry and a Senior Fellow and Director of Defense-Industrial Initiatives at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington, DC non-partisan think tank. He is a guest lecturer at the National Defense University and the Defense Acquisition University, and was a member of the Secretary of Defense's Defense Business Board.

Pierre earned dual degrees from M.I.T. and is a holder of the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He has a Top Secret security clearance.

Robert is a Vice President at Enlightenment Capital. Prior to joining Enlightenment, Robert was a Senior Director for General Dynamics Information Technology, where he led the business analysis group and was the finance integration lead for the CSRA acquisition. Prior to that, he was a Vice President with KippsDeSanto & Co. and spent over 10 years focused on M&A, strategic consulting, and private financing for growth-oriented technology and aerospace / defense companies. Robert began his career as an associate in KPMG’s structured finance group.

He received an MSF from the Wallace E. Carroll Graduate School of Management at Boston College and a BS from Virginia Tech.

Tommy is a Vice President at Enlightenment Capital. Prior to joining Enlightenment, Tommy worked for The Carlyle Group, where he managed financial reporting and analysis for the US Buyout and Financial Services funds. He began his career at EY working primarily with clients in the aerospace, defense, government, and technology sectors.

He received his MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina and his BS from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.

Austin is a Vice President at Enlightenment Capital. Prior to joining Enlightenment, Austin was an investment professional at Veritas Capital, where he focused primarily on investments in aerospace, defense, government, business services, and technology. Prior to that, he worked in investment banking at Deutsche Bank and focused on structuring and executing leveraged buyouts, mergers and acquisitions, and other debt and equity financings. Austin began his career in entrepreneurship with early-stage technology companies.

He received his BS from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.

Amanda is a Senior Accountant at Enlightenment Capital. Prior to joining Enlightenment, Amanda was an Experienced Core Assurance Associate with PwC, where she worked primarily with private equity and venture capital clients. She received her BS in accounting from Towson University.

Nate is an Associate at Enlightenment Capital. Prior to joining Enlightenment, Nate was an investment banking analyst with Stephens, working in the Consumer & Retail group where he executed mergers and acquisitions, equity, and debt financing transactions. He received his BBA from The Mason School of Business at William and Mary.

Anish is an Associate at Enlightenment Capital. Prior to joining Enlightenment, Anish was an Associate in the corporate development group at ICF, where he executed mergers and acquisitions primarily in the government, energy, healthcare, and marketing services sectors. He began his career at Stout Risius Ross in the valuation advisory practice, primarily working with clients in the defense and government sector. Anish received his BA from the University of Virginia.

Simon is the Executive Assistant at Enlightenment Capital. Prior to joining Enlightenment, Simon was a sports science intern at the soccer club AFC Ajax in Amsterdam. He received an MSc in Human Movement Science, with a concentration in Biophysics in Sport, from the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. He received a BS and a BA from the University of Maryland.

Bob Work was the Deputy Secretary of Defense from 2014-2017. He is an expert in defense strategy, planning, programming and budgeting, dual use technologies, and defense transformation. He is a Distinguished Senior Fellow in Defense and National Security at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), a Senior Counselor at the Telemus Group, a Senior Fellow at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and a member of the Enlightenment Capital Advisory Board.

Following a 27-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he attained the rank of Colonel, Bob was a Senior Fellow and Vice President for Strategic Studies at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA). In 2008, he served on President-elect Barack Obama’s Department of Defense Transition Team as leader of the Department of the Navy issues team. From 2009-2013, he was the Undersecretary of the Navy, responsible for the day-to-day management of the Department of the Navy. Following a year as CEO of CNAS, President Obama appointed Bob as the 31st Deputy Secretary of Defense. During his three years as Deputy Secretary, Bob oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Department of Defense and the development of its $600 billion program and budget for three different Secretaries of Defense. He was an adjunct professor at George Washington University, and is a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Bob earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the University of Illinois, a Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, a Master of Science in Space System Operations from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Master in International Public Policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

General James Cartwright retired from active duty on 1 September 2011, after 40 years of service in the United States Marine Corps. Unique among Marines, General Cartwright served as Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, before being nominated and appointed as the 8th Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's second highest military officer. General Cartwright served his four year tenure as Vice Chairman across two Presidential administrations and constant military operations against diverse and evolving enemies. He became widely recognized for his technical acumen, vision of future national security concepts, and keen ability to integrate systems, organizations and people in ways that encouraged creativity and sparked innovation in the areas of strategic deterrence, nuclear proliferation, missile defense, cyber security, and adaptive acquisition processes.

Born in Rockford, IL, he attended the University of Iowa and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Marines in 1971. He was both a Naval Flight Officer and Naval Aviator who flew the F-4 Phantom, OA-4 Skyhawk, and F/A-18 Hornet. In 1983 he was named Outstanding Carrier Aviator of the Year by the Association of Naval Aviation. General Cartwright graduated with distinction from the Air Command and Staff College, received a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, completed a fellowship with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and was honored with a Naval War College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award.

General Cartwright currently serves as the inaugural holder of the Harold Brown Chair in Defense Policy Studies for the Center for Strategic & International Studies. He is also a member of Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee which provides independent, informed advice to the Secretary of Defense on long-term, enduring issues central to strategic planning. In addition, General Cartwright serves in an advisory capacity to Accenture Federal Services, Enlightenment Capital, Logos Technologies and Opera Solutions. He is also affiliated with a number of professional organizations to include the Aspen Strategy Group, The Atlantic Council, Nuclear Threat Initiative, and The Sanya Initiative.

Ken Krieg was the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics from 2005-2007. He was responsible for advising the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense on all matters relating to the Department of Defense Acquisition System, research and development, advanced technology, developmental test and evaluation, production, logistics, installation management, military construction, procurement and environmental security matters. Before his appointment to USD (AT&L), Ken served at the Department of Defense as Special Assistant to the Secretary and Director for Program Analysis & Evaluation. He joined the Department of Defense in July 2001 to serve as the Executive Secretary of the Senior Executive Council. Prior to joining the Department of Defense, he worked for International Paper, most recently as Vice President and General Manager of the Office and Consumer Papers Division. He had responsibility for the company's $1.4 billion retail, commercial office, and consumer papers businesses. During his 11 years with the Memphis, TN-based company, Ken held marketing and sales positions and was actively involved in the merger of three major paper companies into International Paper. Before moving to industry, Ken worked in a number of defense and foreign policy assignments in Washington, DC, including positions at the White House, on the National Security Council Staff, and in Office of the Secretary of Defense.

He received his BA degree in history from Davidson College and his Masters in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Ken runs Samford Global Strategies, a consulting practice focused on helping clients lead and manage through periods of strategic change. He is a member of the Board of Directors of API Technologies, Twisted Pair Solutions, Aurora Flight Sciences, and JackBe, and the Board of Trustees of LMI, as well as the SSA Board for DRS Technologies. He serves on the Advisory Board of Enlightenment Capital, several other CEO advisory boards, and is a distinguished fellow at the Center for Naval Analyses.

Matt Olsen is the Chief Trust and Security Officer at Uber, where he leads a global team responsible for cybersecurity, corporate security and investigations, and law enforcement engagement.

He previously worked for over two decades as a leading government official on national security, cyber, and intelligence. Matt served for three years in the Obama Administration as the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center and helped to lead the government’s counterterrorism efforts. Prior to joining NCTC, he was the General Counsel for the National Security Agency.

Matt also served in leadership positions at the Department of Justice, where he managed national security and criminal cases and helped establish the National Security Division. He also was Special Counsel to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For over a decade, Matt worked as a federal prosecutor and began his public service career as a trial attorney in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

In addition to his public service, Matt was a co-founder and president of IronNet Cybersecurity and a national security analyst for ABC News. He also teaches at Harvard Law School and the University of Virginia. He is an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and serves on the board of Human Rights First and several advisory boards.

Matt graduated from Harvard Law School and the University of Virginia.

Alan B. Thomas, Jr. served as Commissioner of the U.S. General Services Administration’s Federal Acquisition Service from June 2017 to October 2019. In this position he led 3,500 acquisition and technology professionals in the delivery of more than $60 billion of products, services, and solutions to save taxpayer dollars and enable federal agencies to accomplish their missions as efficiently as possible. Thomas also served on two government-wide boards created in legislation, the Technology Modernization Fund and the Federal Acquisition Security Council.

Prior to his role at GSA, Alan held positions in both industry and government, including as the Chief Operating Officer at Berico Technologies and as a Vice President at Data Networks Corporation. Alan also served in a number of roles within the federal government, including as a program manager for a portfolio of special access programs, service on the Department of Defense's Task Force to Improve Business and Stability Operations in Iraq, and as a Presidential Management Fellow on both the Army staff and in the Office of the Secretary of Defense where he earned the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence and the Vice President’s Hammer Award for innovation in public service.

Alan holds a Master in Business Administration from Carnegie Mellon University, a Master in Public Affairs from the University of Texas’ LBJ School, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Grinnell College.

Kevin Kelly has more than 25 years of experience in the areas of research, engineering, strategic planning, and organization leadership. He most recently served as President of the National Security and Innovative Solutions Sector (NSIS) of CACI International. He joined CACI after the company’s acquisition of LGS Innovations, where he served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for more than seven years. Prior to being appointed CEO, he served as the company’s Chief Operating Officer and Senior VP of Strategy. Kevin also held senior positions within General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems and Lockheed Martin.

Kevin is the recipient of many academic and industry awards recognizing his numerous achievements and contributions to STEM education and the promotion of innovation in the National Defense industry. In 2016, he was selected as a Finalist for the “Executive of the Year” award sponsored by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and Professional Services Council and in 2017 was named a finalist for EY’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” as well as one of WashingtonExec’s “25 Leaders in Government Contracting You Should Know About.”

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from The George Washington University. He has held Board seats with LGS Innovations, BlueCat Networks, and Penn State’s Alumni Association for the College of Engineering. He previously served as chairman for the Innovative Technologies Council of INSA and the National Advisory Council for GW-SEAS. Kevin is a proud 2015 Inductee to the Engineering Hall of Fame at The George Washington University.

Joe Cormier is a longstanding government contracting executive and CFO. He is the former CFO of Camber, a Cyber, Intelligence, Unmanned Systems, Engineering, and Technology company backed by New Mountain Capital. Prior, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Sotera Defense Solutions, which provides mission-critical, technology-based, systems, solutions, and services for national security agencies and programs of the U.S. government with particular focus on the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, Department of Homeland Security, and federal law enforcement agencies. Joe joined Sotera in January 2010 – formerly Global Defense Technology & Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:GTEC) – after its IPO in November 2009 and oversaw its successful sale to Ares Management in April 2011, upon which the Company rebranded itself Sotera.

Prior to joining Sotera, Joe was Senior Vice President, Corporate Development for ManTech International Corporation, where he was the corporate officer who led and executed ManTech's M&A, capital structure and investor relations programs. Before ManTech, Joe was the Vice President, Corporate Development for DigitalNet, which GTCR sold to BAE Systems, North America in 2004 following its IPO in 2003. Prior to DigitalNet, Joe was an investment banker in the Technology Group at Banc of America Securities, LLC.

Joe has a BA in Economics and Political Science from Columbia University.

William Forman is the President and CEO of North Atlantic Industries, Inc. (NAI), a leading independent designer and manufacturer of unique Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) and custom electronic subsystems for military, industrial, and aerospace markets. Bill acquired the business in 1992 and broadened its focus through a series of acquisitions and significant engineering investments. Bill has been named "Long Island Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year" and won the "40 Under 40" award sponsored by Long Island Business News. Bill's philanthropic pursuits focus on the lives of disadvantaged children.

He serves as a board member of Publicolor, a not-for-profit organization that engages at-risk youths through the beautification and revitalization of public and civic spaces, and NAI supports FIRST, a high school robotics program meant to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. Bill is a board member of the U.S. Eastern Region of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and serves on the Advisory Board of Enlightenment Capital. Previously, Bill held positions as Director of Finance at Dell Computer and Division Controller at Advanced Micro Devices.

He holds a BA and MBA from the University of Rochester.

Ben Jacobs co-founded JBG, one of the Washington, DC area's most successful real estate firms, an owner or manager of $10 billion in assets. Ben has over 49 years of experience at JBG in the acquisition, development, ownership and management of commercial, hospitality, retail and residential real estate. Ben is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Brookings Institution, a member of the Trustees' Council for the National Gallery of Art, and serves on the Advisory Board of Enlightenment Capital.

Ben received his BA and JD degrees from American University. His achievements in the real estate industry were recognized in 2002 when the Urban Land Institute awarded him its first annual Lifetime Achievement Award.