DEFENSE TECHADVISORY COUNCIL
Scattered demo events, copy/paste accelerator programs, and PowerPoint prototypes won't win the next war.
How do we get breakthrough technologies from concept to field faster than our adversaries?
How do we enable the brightest minds to solve the most pressing challenges?
We don't claim to have the answer. That's why we're forming DTAC.
Build the Future of National Security—Together
The National Capital Region sits at the intersection of policy, defense, capital, and world-class research. DTAC unites the pioneers of these domains: entrepreneurs, technologists, investors, researchers, and government champions to accelerate mission-critical innovation.
Why We Exist
What We're Building
What We're Building
Pending discussion and shaping by DTAC, here are the base pillars we're developing to accelerate defense innovation.
In Formation: These programs are being actively shaped by the Council. Structure and details will evolve.
Open-Innovation Challenges
Real Problems, Funded Solutions
Translating real defense problem statements into funded prototypes. We connect the operators who understand the mission with the builders who can deliver solutions at speed.
Meet the Council
Entrepreneurs, technologists, investors, researchers, and government champions united to accelerate mission-critical innovation.
Callye Keen
CEO K-Form, Cofounder Startups Ignite
CEO Red Blue Collective, Host End Hype
The valley of death is a myth
Mike Meyer
CEO - Disruptive Innovations & Solutions
Chief of the Digital Integration Office AETC/USAF
Innovation isn't about chasing shiny objects... It's about grinding long enough to make something real, then having the stamina to keep pushing when others would've cashed out. The future belongs to people who can outlast the hype cycle.
Emma Bates
Founder & CEO - Cachai
Technology & National Security Fellow, Army Futures Command/Defense Innovation Unit, Defense Advisor, Data Vortex Technologies, Research Associate, Center for Strategic & International Studies
A problem that excites me is the incomprehensible complexity of interrelated and sometimes undistinguished problem-solution sets that will make or break our defense modernization efforts.
Michael (Mike) MacKay
Co-Founder - Frontier House
US Marine Raider, Congressional Affairs, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations | Chief of Staff, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counterterrorism and Irregular Warfare | National Security Advisor, Chairman-Defense Appropriations, US House | National Security Advisor, Ranking Member-Emerging Threats and Capabilities, US Senate
Delivering what the Sgt. Mike of today needs to win in tomorrow's fight!
Nic Adams
Founder & Managing Principal - Adams Atlas Group
Army Officer (Lieutenant Colonel), National Security Advisor for Senator John Cornyn and Senator Joni Ernst, Professional Staff Member on the Senate Select Committee for Intelligence
Where others see chaos, I see opportunity. We are living in a moment of American tech renaissance - getting builders, innovators, investors, and policymakers together to build the American future is happening and I'm pumped to be a part of it.
Iris Ferguson
President - IAF Strategies
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Arctic & Global Resilience
I'm here to cut through the noise and skip the coloring books.
Noam Oz
Head of Navy Strategy - Divergent
Director of Innovation Operations at NavalX | Fielding & Transition Lead at Navy's Unmanned Task Force | Director for Systems Integration & Test for the Guided-Missile Frigate Program
Make It Matter! Problem that excites me: Distributed autonomous, cross-domain UxV teams adapting in real-time through secure and safe AI infrastructure
Robert Fehlen
Managing Principal - Dark Corner Solutions
2x Exit Founder, $2.5B PE Head Analyst
From the earliest days, progress has come not solely from individual genius, but from collective effort. Tribes, villages, and communities have always been the force multipliers behind every leap forward. Today the problems are different, the tools are different, but the solution is the same: find the others.
Art Trevethan
Ringmaster of Acceleration Reach Transition, Defense Tribe
Industry Champion Army Applications Laboratory
It takes real humility and effort, to realize you are very good at one critical thing, and seek out partners who are very good at other critical things, to make a very good solution. Don't create a mucked up solution because you tried to do it all.
Cynthia Traeger
CEO - Pacific, Chair - DCNeXT
Advisor to the NIH Commercialization Accelerator; Partner to State Department's Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST); Executive mentor to the American Association for the Advancement of Science; Trustee, Harrisburg University
A Manager strives to move a team from point to point — a Leader moves that team to where it never thought was possible. Be a LEADER.
Amu Fowler
CEO Startups Ignite
Interim CEO Ceres Ventures (Symbol: CEVE), President Akai Technologies
The world is data, and people are feelings.
Join the Movement
We're forming DTAC to unite entrepreneurs, technologists, investors, researchers, and government champions. If you're building the future of national security, we want to hear from you.
Defense Tech Founders
Building solutions for national security challenges
Government Innovators
Champions inside DoD, Congress, and federal agencies
National Capital Region
Where policy, defense, capital, and research converge