Mr. Garland is a seasoned executive, product developer, and marketer who has founded and exited multiple technology start-ups over the past three decades. In 2021, he led the acquisition of Armstar's patent portfolio, reorganized the company, and re-designed the platform technology. Armstar was then relaunched as a Boombang Ventures Portfolio company., a Los Angeles-based incubator that has developed and commercialized over 300 software and hardware products for companies in various sectors, including consumer, industrial, and medical, for Fortune 500, 100, and 50 companies.
Mr. Garavaglia has completed over $5 billion in corporate transactions, including buy-side and sell-side engagements. He has undertaken transactions with and for privately held and publicly traded counterparties. He has also led restructurings, reorganizations, and liquidations for debtors and creditors. He has worked extensively in complex business litigation. He has completed transactions in financial services, insurance, energy (hydrocarbon and renewable energy), tech, gaming, real estate, and manufacturing sectors.
Mr. Brown was a cameraman and editor in the entertainment industry when he invented the first version of the Armstar wearable platform and secured international patents. This led him on a multi-year journey to develop wearable technologies for law enforcement, private security, military, and civilian applications. He is a crucial team member, bringing over a decade of field experience and valuable insights for future versions of Armstar.
General Counsel Dienes is a seasoned corporate lawyer with over 30 years of experience advising boards, management, and investors on domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, and equity and debt finance. He has an impressive track record, closing transactions valued at over $10 billion. Mr. Dienes has also served as a senior partner in a major international law firm and acted as general counsel for a private equity-backed multinational with operations across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions.
Mr. Whitmire previously served (retired) as a Sales Executive with Ross Perot's Electronic Data Systems Corp (EDS) Large Financial Industries Gp. He has over 40 years of sales, leadership, and management expertise for significant IT, business, financial, and manufacturing clients. Additionally, he has served as the CEO and president of several small companies and is a retired USAF Air Traffic Control Facilities Manager and Commercial Pilot. He is also a retired sworn Federal Law Enforcement Officer (US DOL).
Mr. Toscano is a strategic advisor who offers consulting services to clients involved in unmanned systems and the force protection community. He served as the President and CEO of AUVSI for almost six years. He chaired the Physical Equipment Action Group at the Pentagon. In this role, he supervised research budgets exceeding $90 million annually for three DoD joint programs involved in Robotics and Force Protection.
Mr. Riser has over a decade of experience in the security industry, including corrections, law enforcement, and the military. He is a sought-after subject matter expert in developing security systems and workflows that seamlessly merge IT, OT, physical security, and force protection to create complete and effective security coverage for various corporate and government clients. His clients have included critical infrastructure, retail, executive protection, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety.
Mr. Wall has over 25 years of experience safeguarding people, property, and assets. He served as a Business Development Executive for the US Government at Distech and as Senior Strategist and Director of the Government Contract Group at ESI Convergent. Mr. Wall holds a Level 4 certification with both the NSA and DHS and is recognized as a subject matter expert in emergency readiness and preparedness. He has participated as a panelist in numerous seminars on Homeland Security, SLED Contracts, GSA Contracts, and venue/campus security.
Mr. Bedard is an experienced professional in the public safety sector with over twenty-eight years of experience. He has traveled extensively, domestically and internationally, to provide training and expertise to police, corrections, military, and civilian audiences as a part of RRB Systems International. This unique global training experience has helped him understand how law enforcement, prison services, and security practices occur in different environments and conditions. Mr. Bedard has firsthand knowledge of how policies are developed, shaped, and implemented in various geographical and political climates to address high-stress situations in different geographical and political climates.
Mr. Zand is a highly experienced systems engineer with over 40 years of experience in highly technical product development and engineering projects. He has worked extensively in the medical, industrial, and military sectors and is regarded as a thought leader in electronic packaging and miniaturization.
Mr. Dames is the head of ARMSTAR's software development team and has over three decades of experience in UX design, software architecture, digital systems, and service design. He holds multiple patents in situational awareness and advanced UX for military and law enforcement communications technologies. He has played a crucial role in designing and developing more than a dozen unique products for the defense and public sector markets.
Mr. Bourgeix is a highly experienced security consultant and innovator with a career spanning over 30 years. He has worked with several industry leaders, such as ADT, HySecurity, Wallace International, Tyco, and Secure State. Currently, he serves as the CEO of ESI Convergent, Inc. His primary expertise is physical, IT, OT, and cybersecurity governance. Mr. Bourgeix is a recognized thought leader and SME in these areas, focusing on video security analytics and integration. He is fluent in English, French, and Arabic.
Mr. Rusby began his career with the U.S. State Department as a Special Assistant within the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs. He has been affiliated with By Light Professional IT Services, LLC since 2006. Since 2019, he has been the company’s Vice President for International Programs in the government and national security sectors. He began his professional career with the U.S. State Department as a Special Assistant within the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs.
Mr. Siegel is a seasoned professional with over 35 years of experience in computers and communications. He is an expert in small-form-factor computing for enterprises and governments in contested environments. Throughout his career, he has held management positions with Microsoft Corporation, where he led the company's mobile and embedded efforts across the US Government, and Motorola, where he managed Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) projects, among others. He holds an MBA and various government clearances and is based in Washington, DC.
Ms. Jacobs is an accomplished entrepreneur from Detroit with expertise in the investment housing, restaurant, and hotel business sectors. A golf-travel-media business consultant and writer/editor for publications including Sports Illustrated, she is also a professional musician and performer, organizing concerts and other benefit events. She serves as President of Detroit's Navy League of the U.S. She assists other local community, veterans, and military organizations, including her service as a Board Member for Detroit Metro Airport’s Freedom Centers, which directly serve veterans and men and women in uniform.
Ms. Skop is a seasoned professional with extensive experience developing effective go-to-market strategies for various consumer sectors. She has worked with renowned brands such as Jack Daniels, Tyson, Neurofenix Health Systems, and Sylde Medical Devices. Ms. Skop is based in Florida, and her responsibilities include identifying and cultivating customer and investor relationships in the southeastern United States.
Mr. Young has served as the elected Sheriff of Clark County Sheriff's Department in Las Vegas, NV. He is a retired veteran with 28 years of experience in Law Enforcement & Corrections. He is the Senior Vice President of Compliance and Security at Station Casinos, LLC, based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sergeant Muller is a 36-year Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department veteran. He recently retired from his position as the Commanding Officer of the Sheriff's Response Teams and Emergency Operations Bureau. Muller was also a member of the NIJ Special Technical Committee on Civil Disorder Units and Personal Protective Equipment, and he previously served as a member of the International Law Enforcement Forum (ILEF) on Non-Lethal Weapons.