Our Advisory Council

Dr. Mark T. Esper

Former Secretary of Defense

The Honorable Mark T. Esper served as the 27th Secretary of Defense and previously as the 23rd Secretary of the Army. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, Dr. Esper spent 10 years on active duty before beginning a series of senior jobs on Capitol Hill, in DC-based think tanks and trade groups, at the Pentagon, and in the defense industry.  As Army Secretary, he established Army Futures Command and the AI Task Force at Carnegie Mellon University to accelerate the service's modernization as it focused on near-peer threats.  As Secretary of Defense, Dr. Esper established the Space Force, took measures to enhance the nation's cyber capabilities, proposed a future force structure for the U.S. Navy, and co-led the government's response to COVID-19 under Operation Warp Speed.

Mr. Mike Hayes

Chief Operating Officer, VMware

Prior to joining the private sector, Mr. Hayes spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy SEALs where his last tour was Commanding Officer SEAL Team TWO where he ran all Special Operations in southeast Afghanistan. Mike was previously Deputy Commander for Special Operations in Anbar Province, Iraq, a White House Fellow, served as Director, Defense Policy and Strategy in the Bush and Obama administrations, and a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations. His military decorations include the Bronze Star for valor in combat in Iraq, a Bronze Star for Afghanistan, and the Defense Superior Service Medal from the White House. Mike is on the board of the Medal of Honor Museum and author of the best seller, "Never Enough" where he donates all profits to his 501c3, The 1162 Foundation, which quietly pays off mortgages for Gold Star families.

Mr. Michael Morell

Former Deputy Director of the CIA

During his 33-year CIA career, Mr. Morell served as deputy director for three and a half years and served twice as acting director, leading the CIA when Leon Panetta was confirmed as Secretary of Defense and again after David Petraeus left government. Mr. Morell has received the Presidential Rank Award for exceptional performance; the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the CIA’s highest award; the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal; the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal; and the Department of Defense Service Medal.

Gen (Retired) John W. “Jay” Raymond

Former Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force

As the first chief of space operations of the U.S. Space Force, General Raymond served as the senior uniformed Space Force officer responsible for the organization, training, and equipping of all organic and assigned space forces serving in the United States and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the chief of space operations and other service chiefs function as military advisers to the secretary of defense, the National Security Council, and the president. Among General Raymond’s more notable staff assignments included serving in the Office of Force Transformation, Office of the Secretary of Defense; as the director of plans, programs, and analyses at Air Force Space Command; as the director of plans and policy (J5), U.S. Strategic Command; and as the deputy chief of staff for operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.

Ms. Jennifer “JJ” Snow

Venture Partner, Allied Ventures

Jennifer “JJ” Snow is a retired Air Force Intelligence Officer and current Venture Partner for Allied Ventures. Ms. Snow served as the Chief Technology Officer for AFWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Air Force, and the Chief Innovation Officer for SOFWERX and the Donovan Group at Special Operations Command. Ms. Snow served three combat tours with AFSOC, JSOC, SOCOM/NCR in Afghanistan and Iraq and has held multiple leadership roles within the special operations and special mission unit communities.