Advisory Board
Chairman: The Honorable William "Mac" Thornberry
After serving in Congress for 26 years, Mac Thornberry continues to work at the intersection of technology and national security. He serves various companies and non-profit organizations as a board member and advisor. A former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, he was also a member of the House Intelligence Committee for more than a decade. Prior to his election to Congress representing the 13th District of Texas, Mac served in the State Department during the Reagan Administration, as staff on Capitol Hill, and practiced law. He graduated from Texas Tech University and received a law degree from the University of Texas.
Mac was the recipient of NDIA’s Dwight D. Eisenhower Award in 2017 as well as other recognitions, including the Peace Through Strength Award from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in 2021.
General John Hyten, USAF (Ret)
Gen. John E. Hyten served as the 11th Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In that capacity, he was the nation's second highest-ranking military officer and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He retired Nov. 19, 2021.
General Hyten attended Harvard University on an Air Force Reserve Officer's Training Corps scholarship, graduated in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and applied sciences, and was commissioned a second lieutenant. General Hyten’s career began in engineering and acquisition before transitioning to space operations. He has commanded at the squadron, group, wing, and major command levels. In 2006, he deployed to Southwest Asia as Director of Space Forces for operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He commanded Air Force Space Command, and prior to his current assignment, was the Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, one of eleven Combatant Commands under the Department of Defense.
The Honorable Ellen Lord
Ms. Lord is a high energy executive with extensive experience in aerospace and defense. Her expertise lies at the intersection of industry and government in addition to general management. She develops efficient and cost-effective business processes to commercialize technology for aircraft, maritime, space and automotive systems that mitigate cybersecurity threats. Ms. Lord understands how products and services are successfully sold to U.S., particularly the Department of Defense (DoD), and international government entities.
Ms. Lord brings 33 years of industry experience in conjunction with 3 ½ years in a senior political government position, the combination of which provides an understanding of the nexus of industrial capability and government ability to procure. She leverages her experience to focus on national and economic security issues that intertwine industrial and government entities. Ms. Lord's technology know-how, coupled with her business acumen, uniquely positions her to envision capability delivery to meet customer demand. In industry, she is respected for her strategic perspective, operational know-how, and the ability to recruit, develop and retain critical talent.
Ms. Lord served as the first Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, leading the Department of Defense’s personnel, policy and processes for acquisition of products and services, lifecycle sustainment and the security and resiliency of the defense industrial base. Ms. Lord is credited in her government work for driving significant acquisition policy change focused on simplicity and speed. She implemented procedures that recognize major platforms and weapon systems are hardware enabled yet software defined. Additionally, she is recognized for addressing cyber vulnerabilities and incorporating an aggressive cybersecurity posture into acquisition policy. Ms. Lord also focused on a high level of communication with all stakeholders and strengthening human capital. During her time with the DoD, she developed strong relationships with Congressional members in both a bipartisan and bicameral manner.
After leaving her DoD role in January 2021, Ms. Lord established EML Enterprises, LLC, providing advisory services that leverage her industrial and government experience. Prior to her government appointment, Ellen was President and CEO of Textron Systems, a subsidiary of Textron Company where she led a broad range of products and services supporting defense, homeland security, aerospace, infrastructure protection, and customers around the world.
She is the former Vice Chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and served as Director of the U.S. – India Business Council. Additionally, Ms. Lord served on the Task Force providing guidance for the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) “Future Foundry: Forging New Industries for Defense” project which was formed to examine key technological trends and challenges facing the global defense industry. Ms. Lord also served as a Trustee on the Board of the U.S. Naval Institute Foundation. Ms. Lord has a Master of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of New Hampshire and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from Connecticut College.
Mr. Paul Madera
Mr. Paul Madera co-founded Meritech in 1999 and helps lead the firm’s consumer, enterprise and fintech practices.
Prior to co-founding Meritech, Mr. Madera was a Managing Director and the Head of the Private Equity Group at Montgomery Securities, where he advised private tech companies on equity financings. He began his career in finance as an investment banker with Morgan Stanley in New York, and prior to joining Morgan Stanley, he served in the US Air Force as an F-4 and F-16 pilot based in South Korea, Spain, and Utah.
Mr. Madera has been named to the Forbes 'Midas List' multiple times, a recognition given to the world's top tech investors.
Mr. Madera holds a B.S. from the United States Air Force Academy and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He currently serves as a trustee of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and on the Board of the U.S. Air Force Academy Foundation. In addition, he is on the Defense Business Board which advises the Secretary of Defense on business and commercial practices. Paul spends his time away from the office cycling across the Bay Area to prepare for ‘century rides.'
Theresa S. Mayer - S&T Advisor to the Board
Theresa S. Mayer is Carnegie Mellon University’s Vice President for Research, providing leadership for the University’s research enterprise and advocating for the role that science, technology, and innovation play nationally and globally.
Theresa holds joint faculty appointments in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering.
Theresa was previously Purdue University’s executive vice president for research and partnerships and a professor of electrical and computer engineering. There she oversaw Purdue’s research enterprise.
Mayer served as vice president for research and innovation and a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Virginia Tech. Prior to her role at Virginia Tech, Mayer was at Pennsylvania State University for more than 20 years, where she served as a distinguished professor of electrical engineering, associate dean for research and innovation in the College of Engineering, the site director of the National Science Foundation’s National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network and director of the Materials Research Institute Nanofabrication Laboratory.
She is internationally recognized for her research in applications of nanotechnology to electronic and photonic devices with new and previously unexplored functions. Her work in directed and self-assembly of nanoparticles has been used to expand the types and complexity of materials that can be integrated into devices beyond standard lithographic approaches, enabling a wide range of novel structures from low-power integrated nanosensor circuits to nanostructured gradient index optical components.
She has more than 350 technical publications, invited presentations and tutorials, and holds eight patents. Several of her co-inventions have been transitioned into commercial products. She is a fellow of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and has received numerous awards for her teaching and research, including the NSF CAREER award. Throughout her career, she has supported the advancement of women in science and engineering.
Mayer earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech, and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Purdue.
