- Fortem has tapped retired top military leaders to serve on its newly created government advisory board
- The board will help guide Fortem’s strategy as it expands its counter-drone and airspace security business
- The move comes as governments and security organizations seek stronger defenses against rapidly evolving drone threats
Fortem Technologies has established a government advisory board composed of former senior U.S. military leaders to provide strategic guidance as the company expands its counter-drone and airspace security offerings.
The Lindon, Utah-based company said Wednesday the board will support efforts to align its technologies with the operational requirements of military organizations, homeland security agencies and critical infrastructure operators facing an increasing threat from unmanned aerial systems.
Who Will Serve on the Fortem Advisory Board?
Ret. Army Maj. Gen. Clay Hutmacher will chair the board. His four decades of service include leadership roles with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
Other advisory board members include:
- Ret. Gen. Steve Townsend, former commander of U.S. Africa Command
- Ret. Gen. Jim Slife, former vice chief of staff of the Air Force
- Ret. Gen. Andrew Poppas, former commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command
- Ret. Vice Adm. Mary Jackson, former commander of Navy Installations Command
- Ret. Rear Adm. Matt Burns, former commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare Development Group
- Ret. Lt. Gen. Sam Mundy III, former commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command
- Ret. Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, former director of the Army National Guard
- Ret. Lt. Gen. John Deedrick, former U.S. military representative to the NATO Military Committee
- Geoff Downer, former USSOCOM program executive officer for rotary wing
Why Is Fortem Creating the Advisory Board?
Fortem said the board was formed amid growing concerns about the use of low-cost drones in military and security operations worldwide. The company pointed to recent attacks involving Iranian drones targeting military installations, energy facilities and commercial shipping routes as evidence of the evolving threat environment.
Jon Gruen, CEO of Fortem Technologies, said the advisory board will help the company continue delivering counter-drone capabilities to government and allied customers by drawing on the experience of leaders who have addressed national security challenges at the highest levels.
The board’s creation comes as Fortem continues to expand its presence in the defense market, including securing a $25 million strategic investment from Lockheed Martin to accelerate the deployment of AI-powered counter-drone capabilities. The company also recently received government awards, including an $18 million Army contract for counter-UAS technologies and a Department of Homeland Security award to help protect 2026 FIFA World Cup venues from drone threats.
