5 Questions with the CEO - BENS.org Business Executives for National Security (BENS)

General Joseph Votel speaks with BENS New York member, David Bonfili. David is CEO of Acme General Corporation, a consulting firm leveraging decades of experience as warfighters, researchers, investors, and entrepreneurs to bridge the gap between government problem holders & non-traditional solvers. The conversation explores Bonfili's experience as a nuclear submarine officer and naval intelligence officer, proposed reforms for defense innovation, and helping startups and small companies work more effectively with the national security enterprise.

General Joseph Votel speaks with BENS Southeast member, Ryan Millsap. Ryan is the Chairman & CEO at Blackhall Americana, an Atlanta-based streaming service which seeks to create aspirational high-action and high-intensity content that reaffirms the American spirit. The discussion explores the how Millsap entered the film industry, approaches to the creative problem solving that goes into designing and building a few of his favorite movie sets for blockbusters filmed at his studios, his experiences in Hollywood, and his goals for the future of Blackhall Americana.

General Joseph Votel speaks with BENS Texas member, Ross Perot, Jr. Perot is Chairman of the Perot Companies and Chairman of Hillwood, a leading global real estate development company he founded in 1988. The discussion explores the soft-power role of private business in response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine; the strong growth achieved through Perot’s Fort Worth Alliance, the nation’s first industrial airport and a unique public-private partnership; venture funding for applications of self-driving trucks and delivery drones; what brought him to BENS, and more.

General Joseph Votel spoke with BENS DC member Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, President of NEC National Security Systems (NSS). Dr. Kiernan is a former Assistant Director of the ATF, where she served 29 years and blazed the trail for women rising to positions of leadership at the Bureau.  Throughout the conversation, Votel and Dr. Kiernan discuss her experiences in advancing diversity and inclusion within the federal law enforcement talent pool, her facilitation of critical incident management exercises for government and private sector organizations, launching the new NEC division developing powerful biometric, AI and machine learning technologies, and more.

General Joseph Votel spoke with BENS Chicago member Jennifer Pritzker, founder of Tawani Foundation and Pritzker Military Museum & Library which works to increase the public’s understanding of military history, military affairs and national security by providing a forum for the study and exploration of our military past, present, and future. Pritzker is a retired Illinois Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel, previously served on active duty in the U.S. Army, and is a prominent investor and philanthropist. Throughout the conversation, Votel and Pritzker discuss her background and military service, the importance of military advocacy, and her lifelong interest in collecting and archiving military books and memorabilia.

In this edition of 5 Questions with the CEO, General Joseph Votel speaks with BENS Boston member Dr. Lisette Cooper. Dr. Cooper is Vice Chair of Fiduciary Trust International following its 2020 acquisition of the pioneering impact investment firm Cooper founded in 1993: Athena Capital Advisors, LLC. In her role at FTI, Cooper oversees risk management and sustainable investing for the firm. Throughout the conversation, we get insight into Cooper’s transition from Geology to investing, the future of impact investing, the risks of disinformation and privacy threats on social media platforms, and what brought her to BENS.