Industry Advisory Council
David Kris
Founder, Culper Partners LLC
David Kris
David Kris, an expert in intelligence, law enforcement, security, and cybersecurity, has over 30 years of experience. In the private sector, he held roles as a board member, general counsel, deputy general counsel, and chief ethics and compliance officer. As a CFIUS-approved proxy holder, he served on a foreign-owned entity’s board. In government, he’s served since George H. Bush, holding positions as Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Associate Attorney General, and federal trial and appellate prosecutor. He currently advises multiple intelligence agencies, teaches law to Intelligence Community lawyers, and serves as an amicus curiae to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Courts. Kris authored and co-authored extensively on national security, including the legal treatise, National Security Investigations and Prosecutions (3rd ed. 2019). He’s a board member and contributing editor at Lawfare, a Georgetown University affiliate. He also serves on advisory boards for the NSI, TLS Program, and Pandemic Response Commons. Kris has received numerous awards, including the National Intelligence Superior Service Medal, the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service, the CIA Agency Seal Medal, the Department of Justice Edmund J. Randolph Award, and twice the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service.
Michael Ostrom
Chief Strategy Officer, McLarty Diversified Holdings
Michael Ostrom
Michael Ostrom, Chief Strategy Officer at McLarty Diversified Holdings, leads strategic solutions in professional services across engineering, transportation, and technology. With over two decades of experience, he holds multiple patents using behavioral, demographic, and spatial data to improve predictions and critical infrastructure protection. A keynote speaker and featured media personality, Michael has advised technology startups and supported STEM initiatives.
Previously, Michael served as a Director at Burns & McDonnell/1898 & Co., helping Fortune 100 clients develop adaptive strategies and enhance innovation. His recent work focuses on autonomous vehicles, electrification, and digital transformation.
Michael launched the first nationwide predictive traffic model, designed Abu Dhabi’s traffic management system, and led the initiative for Audi’s near-term traffic light prediction system. As a former CEO and CIO, he has served on multiple boards and is an alumnus of Yale University School of Management.
Tim Faulkner
US Department of Defense
Tim Faulkner
With over 20 years of experience, a Senior Executive and Strategic Military Leader with Top Secret SCI and CI Polygraph Security Clearance, he advises Four-Star Generals and Senior Government Officials on US strategy. He specializes in transforming strategic vision statements into results-driven plans and securing multi-million and billion-dollar contracts.
He successfully secured multi-million contracts in competitive industries, increasing market share. Developing and implementing strategies for $2.8B in requirements and future capabilities, he counter-malign influence, expand logistics reach, and develop human capital. As an award-winning leader, he established the Army’s innovation incubator, approved 37 technologies, and assisted in 21 Operational Demonstrations, resulting in over $200 million in new capabilities.
Collaborating with organizations like Los Alamos Labs, Amazon, SpaceX, Purdue University 5G, and Data Science Centers, he established the Army’s sole innovation and operational assessment process. He also worked with INDOPACOM and US Special Forces Command Pacific to build an $800M Joint Data Exploitation facility.
Leading a team in Hawaii, he created and implemented a Workforce Development Plan, resulting in the first internships focused on Geo-Special technologies, Cyber, IT, and Data Science. Prioritizing stakeholder engagement and building bridges for alignment, he serves as a trusted voice.
Christopher Leichtweis
President of AERO-B Motorsports and Applied
Christopher Leichtweis
Mr. Leichtweis, President of AERO B Motorsports and Applied (“AERO-B”), offers full-service motorsports opportunities to enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. AERO-B, a Leichtweis Family business, provides services from racing to licensing and data acquisition.
Before AERO-B, Chris Leichtweis led North Wind Group, a $600 million engineering and IT company with over 2,300 employees. In nine years, he achieved 1000% organic growth and drove innovation.
Previously, Chris founded and led Safety and Ecology Corporation (“SEC”), a $105M global environmental and nuclear engineering company acquired by Permafix (NASDAQ: PESI). As President and Director of Homeland Security Capital Corporation (HSCC), he grew the parent’s portfolio 43%.
Mr. Leichtweis serves on boards like the University of New York Foundation Board. He holds a B.S. in Physics from SUNY Brockport and an MBA from the University of Tennessee. He won the Southeast United States 2005 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.
Mel Wesley
CFO – Deepwatch
Mel Wesley
Mel Wesley, a seasoned CFO with over twenty years of experience in publicly traded and private technology companies, currently serves as the CFO of Deepwatch, Inc. He oversees finance, legal, and corporate development during the company’s hyper-growth phase. Prior to Deepwatch, Mel served as the CFO of Cofense, Inc. (formerly PhishMe, Inc.) from 2017 to 2023. He supported growth initiatives and IPO-readiness efforts, leading to a $400 million sale to private equity firms. Mel also played a key role in driving significant growth and overseeing billion-dollar exits involving NASDAQ-listed technology companies like SteelCloud, OPNET Technologies, Mandiant, and FireEye.
Mr. Wesley, with extensive SEC reporting experience, has actively participated in mergers and acquisitions, particularly in CyberSecurity and Intelligence, which align with the Company’s current prospects and customer interests. Mel began as an auditor in public accounting, holds a B.S. in Accounting and an MBA from George Mason University, and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Virginia.
Kevin O'Connell
Director of the Office of Space Commerce
Kevin O'Connell
Mr. O’Connell, with over four decades of expertise in technology, intelligence, space, government, and US competitiveness, has served in various government roles, including the Department of Commerce, Defense, State, National Security Council, Vice President’s Office, and Central Intelligence.
As CEO of Space Economy Rising LLC, he provides advisory services to space companies, high-tech companies, and stakeholders, offering strategy, finance, regulatory advice, market trend analysis, investment opportunities, and pathways for increased participation. He also chairs the Advisory Board of the Institute of Space Commerce and serves on the boards of the Association of Commercial Space Professionals and the Lunar Policy Platform.
Mr. O’Connell, with expertise in space policy, commerce, and security, has led international outreach to advance space partnerships, regulation, and sustainability with US allies. He’s held senior roles in various government agencies and founded a consulting firm.
As an educator, Kevin has over two decades of graduate teaching experience at Georgetown University and the RAND Graduate School. Currently a Professor of Practice at Thunderbird School of Global Management, he lectures on space commerce at MIT, SDA Bocconi, George Washington University, and the University of Tokyo.
Trusted by Global Enterprises & US Government Agencies
