Mark Esper, former defense secretary and a three-time Wash100 awardee, has been appointed a partner and chairman of the national security practice at venture capital firm Red Cell Partners.
He will be responsible for overseeing investment and business development activities across defense, space, aerospace, cybersecurity and international affairs segments in his new position, Red Cell said Wednesday.
Esper serves on the board of directors at Epirus, an energy defense software startup co-founded by Grant Verstandig, CEO and founding partner of Red Cell.
âHis expertise across the spectrum of disruptive technologies is unparalleled and will be key to Red Cellâs ongoing ability to identify, create and scale innovative and sustainable businesses in both the public and private sectors,â said Verstandig.
Esper was confirmed as secretary of the U.S. Army under the Trump administration in 2017 and became the 27th secretary of defense in 2019. Prior to his Army nomination, he served as vice president for government relations at the Raytheon Company.
Tysons, Virginia-based Red Cell Partners works with entrepreneurs to help them bring new technology to the national security and health care markets.
