Pallas Advisors

#FellowFriday Introducing one of our current SkillBridge Fellows, Steve Ferenzi! Steve is joining the team as a Fellow through the DoD-SkillBridge program. A graduate of Lehigh University and Columbia | SIPA, he comes to us from the US Army with extensive leadership and operational experience as an Army Strategist and Special Forces officer. He spent the last three years serving in U.S. Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) as the command strategist and lead campaign planner. Fun Fact: When he isn’t working, you can find Steve exploring nature with his family, hanging with his boxer dogs and adding books to his library.

It was great to have Helene Cooper, A Pentagon correspondent for The New York Times, lead a Leader Professional Development Session for the Pallas Foundation team. Hearing her incredible journey—from escaping war in Liberia to becoming a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist—was inspiring. Helene also shared stories from her career at The White House and Pentagon, including her work on conflicts in Iraq and Ukraine. She emphasized the importance of diverse perspectives in Pentagon leadership for better decision-making and policy development and highlighted the need for thorough, well-rounded reporting on global conflicts and national security issues to keep the public informed and engaged. Thanks for stopping by, Helene!

Admiral Mike Mullen, 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Pallas Foundation’s Mullen Initiative namesake, published an op-ed today calling for a “cultural shift in how the DoD incentivizes innovation.” Drawing upon the Defense Innovation Board’s most recent report, ADM Mullen argues success “requires substantial investments in technology and an infrastructure built for innovative national-security research and education” to maintain the United States’s strategic position and influence in the international arena. In the article, ADM Mullen also credits Leon Panetta and Mike Gallagher for their The Wall Street Journal op-ed discussing the importance of the DoD rapidly adopting new commercial technologies. Check out the rest of ADM Mullen’s article here:

ICYMI – Chandler Myers, a Senior Associate at Pallas Advisors, recently attended the Aspen Security Forum | Aspen Strategy Group as part of the ASG Rising Leaders program. Check out his takeaway below! “The uniqueness of the Aspen Security Forum is in its ability to convene industry and government leaders who aren’t afraid to question the framing of problems or get distracted by opinion battles. This kind of collaboration is critical to national security. Maybe the thin air helps," Chandler said. "It is safe to say, people left the Forum feeling more inspired and more determined to make a difference.”

ICYMI: The United States Department of Defense released its 2024 National Strategy for the Arctic Region, highlighting its newest NATO members, Finland and Sweden. The strategy underscores that Moscow and Beijing are collaborating in the Arctic, especially after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and emphasizes curbing their ambitions in the region. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks stated, “The historic accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO not only makes them safer but strengthens our alliance, particularly in the high north…..We will continue to train and exercise together, strengthening deterrence and deepening cooperation to ensure our shared security in the Arctic.” Shamila Kohestani, who manages Pallas’s Allies and Partners Portfolio, added, “Sweden and Finland's inclusion in NATO significantly bolsters the alliance's strategic presence in the Arctic region, enhancing collective defense capabilities.” Read the full article in Breaking Defense at the link below:

⏳ Final Call: Fall Fellowship Applications Closing Soon! ⏳ The Pallas Foundation’s Fall 2024 Fellowship Program is only open for 3 more days! Our program offers: 🔍National Security Ecosystem Exposure: Dive deep into the world of national security with insights from the Department of Defense, intelligence community, homeland security agencies, think tanks, media, and more. 💡Cutting-Edge Tech Experience: Work with AI, space, cyber, robotics, biotech, and more. Assist in business development and strategy. 🤝Senior Leader Interaction: Engage with top government officials and C-suite private industry leaders through our Leader Professional Development (LPD) program. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! Apply now before the deadline on July 29th, 2024.

After 5 impactful years at Pallas, Director Paul Benfield is embarking on a new chapter in his career journey. His outstanding contributions have helped dozens of companies deliver the best technology to our troops. “Six years ago, Pallas was just an idea pitched to me in a coffee shop. It has been nothing short of astounding to witness the growth of the Pallas enterprise,” Paul said. “I'm honored to have played a small part in it and look forward to watching Pallas continue to excel.” While we bid him farewell in his current role, Paul will remain a valued member of the Pallas family – as a Principal. “Paul has been with Pallas since day one and we wouldn't have had our amazing growth and success without his hard work and commitment over the past six years. The good news is Paul is part of the family, and he isn't going far. It will be exciting to watch him in his next endeavor.” - Tony DeMartino.

ICYMI – Last week, the United States Department of Defense and the Ministry of Defence of Singapore signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) regarding Data, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Cooperation. As the DoD Press Release says, this “SOI represents an important opportunity to deepen collaborative efforts, strengthen interoperability, and promote values-based global leadership on responsible AI in defense.”

Pallas Principal LTG (Ret.) Robert (Bob) Ashley’s take on TurbineOne’s Front Line Perception no-code software platform captures how critical of a role it plays in mission operations - to distill actionable insights for decision makers as fast as possible. This is one example of how AI and automation demonstrate the potential to accelerate asymmetrical advantage for national security. Pallas Ventures is proud to count TurbineOne among its portfolio companies.

Pallas Advisors welcomes Kathryn Elliott Culberson, who has joined the team as an Associate. Katie joins Pallas after nearly a decade of working in the think tank and nonprofit space. She has a background in cultivating relationships across the U.S. government, academia, think tanks, and the private sector. In her previous role, she developed innovative programs that fostered interagency collaboration and public-private exchanges. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame and an M.A. in Security Studies from Georgetown University. Fun Fact: In her free time, Katie enjoys exploring the DC food scene and cheering on the Fighting Irish.