Pallas Ventures

Co-founder and former senior government official in the Office of the Secretary of Defense who recognized the challenges of getting innovative technology into the defense ecosystem.

Richard Spencer is a Managing Director of Pallas Ventures, a fund focused on dual-use technology companies. He previously served as the 76th Secretary of the Navy and was Managing Director of Fall Creek Management LLC. Earlier in his career he was Vice Chairman and CFO of Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE:ICE) and President of Crossroads Investment Management LLC; he holds an undergraduate degree from Rollins College and served as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Bob Ashley is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General with more than 36 years of military intelligence experience across the U.S. Army and Joint Force. He previously served as Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and as Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2, advising the Secretary of the Army and Army Chief of Staff on intelligence, counterintelligence, and security, and completed combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Appalachian State University and master's degrees from the National Intelligence University and the United States Army War College.

Brian McSorley is a Director at Pallas, focused on building partnerships between the private sector and government, NGOs, and academia. Before joining the firm, he served 25 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, including roles as a Special Assistant and Director of the Chairman's Action Group to the 20th and 21st Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with experience in military budgeting, public policy, regulatory solutions, and legislative negotiations. He holds a Master's in History from the University of Connecticut and a B.S. in Government from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Duane Green is a Director at Pallas Ventures, where he also serves as CIO and leads the firm's mentorship, scholarship, and talent management programs. He manages a portfolio spanning cybersecurity, high performance compute, AI/autonomy, UAS, operational energy, and building technologies, drawing on a background in cybersecurity, data management, and enterprise IT. He previously served 30 years in the U.S. Army as a communications officer, including roles as Executive Officer to the Army CIO/G6, Chief of Staff to the Joint Staff J6, and Commander of the 160th Signal Brigade. He holds a B.S. from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, an M.S. from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an M.A. in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Gema Robles spent 21 years as a US Army Officer and Aviator, flying UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and serving as a Battalion Commander in the 101st Airborne Division and Aide-de-Camp to the 39th Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. She later moved into private equity, working in strategic business planning, financial modeling, and risk management. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Millersville University.

Jamie De Coster is a Principal at Pallas Ventures, where she oversees a portfolio spanning space, wearables, and AI/ML technologies and draws on her national security and strategic communications background. She previously ran the firm's talent management efforts, including the Pallas Foundation fellowship and the Pallas Advisors Skillbridge program, and helps develop thought leadership content for the Pallas Foundation. Before joining the firm she served in government civilian and military roles, including Director of the Commander's Action Group for USASOC, advisor to the Commanding General at CENTCOM, and Special Advisor to the Commander at International Security Assistance Force. She holds a PhD and a Master's in International Relations from Tufts University and a B.A. from the University of Southern California.

Judd Floris is a Director at Pallas, where he leads business development and oversees the firm's New York operations, advising clients including technology companies, nonprofits, banks, and investment firms. He previously served in the U.S. Army as an Infantry and Special Forces officer and held roles as a policy advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict and as an operations officer on the Joint Staff. He earned a Master's in Policy Management from Georgetown University and a B.S. in Systems Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy.

Julian Wurpel is a Director at the firm, where he leads client relationships focused on areas including emerging technology, AI/ML, edge computing, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing, and supports business development. He previously worked at the United States Institute of Peace, held research roles at The American University, and spent nearly a decade in client strategy in the music industry. He earned a B.A. in Business Administration from Belmont University and a Master's in International Relations from The American University.

Matthew "Jerry" Glavy is a retired Marine Corps Lieutenant General and U.S. Naval Academy graduate who served as Deputy Commandant for Information, functioning as the Marine Corps' Chief Information Officer and Director of Intelligence. A Marine aviator, he commanded at multiple levels, including as a Marine One pilot and Commander of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, and led U.S. Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command and the inaugural Marine Corps Forces Space Command. Across a 39-year career he worked on cyber warfare, information operations, and digital transformation efforts.

Michele Massey leads administrative, operational, and office management functions at the firm, overseeing daily operations and organizational support. She has over 25 years of experience in professional services and previously served as Director of Workplace Solutions and Administrative Operations at Grant Thornton Advisors, where she managed operations, personnel, and firm-wide security programs across multiple U.S. offices.

Mike Dana is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General who served 37 years before retiring in 2019, with final roles leading Marine Corps Logistics and serving as Director of the Marine Corps Staff. He deployed ten times and held joint assignments including NORTHCOM J-4 and PACOM J-5, and founded the Next Generation Logistics Team (NEXLOG) to apply emerging technology to Marine Corps logistics. He holds a Master's degree from the Naval War College and graduated from the School of Advanced Warfighting.

Nancy Hann is a retired Vice Admiral who previously served as Deputy Under Secretary for Operations at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), functioning as the agency's chief operating officer overseeing a 12,000-person operation of satellites, research vessels, and aircraft. During her 30-year career she held senior leadership roles including Director of NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, and was the highest-ranking active officer in the NOAA Corps at her retirement. She holds an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School and a Master's in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Paul Benfield advises companies on go-to-market strategies for the national security sector and supports Pallas Ventures on venture capital and dual-use emerging technology. Before entering the private sector, he served over 20 years in the U.S. Army, finishing as Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense with a focus on innovation and modernization. He is an Adjunct Senior Fellow for the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and holds an M.A. in Policy Management from Georgetown University and a B.A. from Campbell University.

Trevor Jones is an analyst at Pallas who works with clients across the national security ecosystem, including companies building edge communications infrastructure, robotic maintenance systems, and airborne refueling technology. Before Pallas, he worked in Ukraine with organizations deploying drones to the frontline and spent three years at Only One leading international ocean conservation campaigns. He holds an M.A. in International Affairs from Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs and a bachelor's degree in International Affairs from Elon University.

Caroline Gage supports Pallas leadership by preparing briefing materials, managing the firm's calendar, and helping with firm-wide events. She previously worked in public relations, communications, and journalism, including a role at the Global Situation Room through the Harvard Institute of Politics Director's Internship Program. She graduated from Harvard College with a degree in Social Studies focused on European history and politics, and holds a language citation in Italian.

Christian Amelia is a Senior Associate at Pallas Ventures who works with clients in the national security and defense ecosystem, including AI-enabled autonomous flight and ammunition manufacturing companies. He previously served over a decade in the U.S. Navy as an MH-60S pilot, worked as a Program Manager at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency on Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction efforts, and finished his service as Aide to the Commander of Carrier Strike Group Ten. He holds a B.S. in Political Science from the United States Naval Academy and an M.A. in Security Studies from Georgetown University.

Danny Pellegrino is an Associate at Pallas who works with clients in areas such as tactical communications, advanced manufacturing, digital modernization, aerospace, and critical infrastructure. Before joining the firm, he worked in open-source intelligence analysis and in political data, polling, and campaign strategy, and previously served six years as a U.S. Navy Diver with Hawaii's Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One, operating across the Indo-Pacific. He holds an M.A. in Security Studies from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and a B.A. in History from Franklin & Marshall College.

Dennis Blair is a retired U.S. Navy Admiral who served over 30 years in the Navy, including as Director of National Intelligence and Commander of U.S. Pacific Command. He is Executive Chairman of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA and serves on the Board of the Center for Naval Analysis, and comments on Indo-Pacific economic and security matters. A Rhodes Scholar, he holds a master's degree from Oxford University and a B.S. from the United States Naval Academy.

Diego Garcia works with clients in the defense and technology sectors, drawing on his background in national security, policy, and communications. He previously advised senior government and industry leaders, including the CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and executives at a Fortune 500 defense contractor. As Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering, he supported initiatives such as CHIPS Act implementation and the National Defense Science & Technology Strategy. He is a graduate of Harvard College.

Francesca Gortzounian Turner advises organizations at the intersection of AI, advanced computing, and telecommunications, focusing on turning technological innovation into strategic impact. She previously served as a Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State, where she designed and managed U.S. government-funded foreign assistance projects across the Middle East and North Africa. Her expertise includes international program management, strategic planning, and government relations. She holds a B.A. in Arab and Islamic Studies from Villanova University and a Master's in International Affairs from George Washington University's Elliott School.

Gary Cohn focuses on global markets and economic security. He previously served as Director of the U.S. National Economic Council, acting as chief economic advisor to President Donald Trump, and spent over 25 years at Goldman Sachs, including 11 years as President and Chief Operating Officer. He holds an undergraduate degree from American University (1982) and is active as a philanthropist and venture capital investor.

James Hnat is a former public company C-suite executive and corporate attorney with nearly 25 years of experience in transportation and aviation legal matters. He previously served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of JetBlue Airways, where he oversaw Legal, Government and Airport Affairs, Sustainability and Cybersecurity, and earlier practiced law at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley and McCloy. He holds a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame and a B.A. from Boston University.

Jocelyn Moore is a Senior Advisor at Pallas Ventures who serves as an independent director on the board of DraftKings. She previously was Executive Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs at the National Football League, a Managing Director at The Glover Park Group, and spent 15 years working in the United States Senate, including as Deputy Staff Director of the Senate Finance Committee. She is also a Senior Advisor at LISC's New Markets Support Company and Executive In-Residence at The Gathering Spot.

Lindsey Bock is an analyst at Pallas who works with clients in the national security and defense space, including AI/ML and SaaS companies and dual-use firms. Before Pallas, she worked in the nonprofit sector and at the U.S. Department of State, managing programs in conflict environments and researching the effects of AI and emerging technologies on security policy. She holds an M.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins SAIS and a B.A. in Political Science from U.C. Berkeley.

Moshe Wander is an Associate at Pallas Ventures who works on client relations for a portfolio of dual-use technology and AI. He previously worked as an insights analyst at a digital media company and on the editorial staff of a magazine covering Middle East politics. He holds a B.A. in History with a minor in Politics from New York University and an M.A. in Security Studies from Georgetown University, where he studied nuclear weapons, missile defense, and civil-military relations.

Salwa Balla is an Associate at Pallas Ventures, where she supports clients across AI/ML, human performance wearables, and submarine industrial base services, and leads the firm's think tank and speaking engagement projects for its principals. Her earlier experience includes an internship at the Atlantic Council's Middle East Center covering MENA affairs and US foreign policy, a legislative internship in Congress, and research on human trafficking trends in Latin America for the US Department of State. She holds a B.A. in International Public Policy from Virginia Tech with a focus on national security, foreign affairs, and Arabic.

Shamila Kohestani is a Senior Associate at the firm, where she leads the allies and partners portfolio and supports clients in AI automation, systems integration, and strategic communications. She has more than a decade of experience in international development, focused on civic technology projects in the Middle East and North Africa, and has managed multi-million dollar government development projects. She holds a B.A. in Political Science with a focus on International Relations and a minor in Sociology from Drew University.

Sophie Wagner is an Analyst at Pallas who advises clients—including firms building AI platforms, advanced wearables, and cloud-based services—on operating within the national security ecosystem. She previously worked in the U.S. Senate, gaining experience with the legislative process, and applies a background in congressional affairs and defense strategy to help clients engage with government stakeholders and the acquisition system. She holds a B.A. in International Politics from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, with a minor in Spanish.

Taylor Cameron is an analyst whose client work covers AI/autonomy, telecommunications, and advanced computing hardware, helping organizations manage policy, acquisition, and operational challenges. She also supports the firm's external branding and strategic communications. Her prior experience includes defense projects applying AI to national security missions, newswriting, and product development for risk management technology.