James Sullivan is a President & Managing Director at Elara Nova, a global strategic advisory and professional services firm, and leads it Financial Advisory Solutions team in supporting Elara Nova’s Space, Aerospace & Mission Systems, and Cyber, Data & Communications’ clients providing private capital formation, M&A advisory, strategic transaction execution, valuations, and placement of structured financing.
Mr. Sullivan has more than 30 years of senior-level corporate finance, Capital Markets, C-level leadership, and Board roles of both public and privately held organizations. He has deep experience working as an Operating Partner with and on behalf of Private Equity, Venture Capital, family offices, specialty consulting, and other institutional investment firms with broad industry expertise including a decade within the Space industry.
Prior senior leadership roles have included technology, aerospace & defense, healthcare, media, energy, and other industries. Mr. Sullivan has earned a reputation as a valued partner to CEOs and others in senior leadership, boards, investors, and key stakeholders on strategy development, finance, scaling operations, M&A, and delivering creative solutions in high-growth and change management situations.
Mr. Sullivan did his undergraduate work in Economics at the University of Vermont, holds various professional designations and certifications, is SEC/FINRA-licensed (Series 79, 63, 82, with 24 pending) has been a lecturer for NYU’s graduate programs, and serves as an independent director on various boards.
Brandon Burgess is a Director in Elara Nova’s Capital Advisory Services practice, where he advises private equity sponsors, corporate boards, and executive leadership teams on complex mergers and acquisitions, strategic capital raises, and value‑defining financial transactions. He brings deep expertise across the Aerospace, Defense, and Government sectors, where he has helped clients navigate diligence, valuation, and transaction execution in dynamic and fast‑evolving national security markets.
Brandon has supported or led more than $5 billion in closed transactions, spanning high‑profile buy‑side and sell‑side mandates, carve‑outs, growth equity investments, divestitures, and strategic recapitalizations. His work is distinguished by rigorous analytical depth, exceptional command of complex diligence processes, and the ability to guide senior leaders through mission‑critical decision making.
Prior to joining Elara Nova, Brandon served in investment banking roles at Jefferies, William Blair, and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, where he focused on middle‑market corporate finance and M&A across aerospace and defense, industrial services, transportation and logistics, and energy. His recent transaction experience includes advising on landmark ADG transactions such as the sale of Guidehouse, the sales of York Space and Firefly Aerospace to AE Industrial, the carve‑out of Honeybee Robotics to Blue Origin, and multiple space, defense, and intelligence‑focused mandates that advanced strategic capabilities across the national security ecosystem.
Brandon graduated Summa Cum Laude from Clemson University with dual degrees in Financial Management and Economics, earning departmental honors and multiple academic distinctions.
Rick served as a Lieutenant General in the US Air Force. His 32 year military career culminated with his assignment as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. As the Air Force’s senior Planner/Programmer, he directed and coordinated activities ensuring the Air Force plans for, builds, and employs effective air and cyber forces to achieve national defense objectives. To accomplish these tasks, he lead the development, integration, evaluation, and analysis of the Air Force’s program objective memorandum and resource allocation plan.
Lt. Gen. Moore graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, and subsequently earned a Master of Engineering Management from Washington State University in 1997. He also holds two Master of Art Degrees from Air University: one in Military Operational Art and Science and the other in Strategy. He is a command pilot with more than 4,000 hours in the KC-135R/T Stratotanker, C-12F Huron, C- 5A/B/M Galaxy/Super Galaxy, C-17A Globemaster III, and C-130J Super Hercules.
In addition to multiple staff jobs at Headquarters, US Air Force, The Joint Staff, and Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Lt. Gen. Moore has commanded two squadrons, a group, and two wings. The largest of these commands was the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The 86th is comprised of 8,400 personnel in 6 countries operating 4 airfields and 17 assigned aircraft. The wing’s budget exceeded $1B annually and included a P&L of 28.9M.
Currently, Rick Moore is the Managing Member of The RGM Group, LLC. The RGM Group provides Strategy, Leadership, and Management consulting, focusing primarily on the defense sector.
Jim Zukin serves as an Executive Partner to Elara Nova’s Financial Advisory Solutions sector. Jim was a Co-Founder of Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin, now known as Houlihan Lokey (NYSE “HLI”), where he served for 38 years as a Senior Managing Director and later the Chairman of Asia. During Jim’s tenure, the firm grew to be a top investment bank and leader dominating mid-market M&A. Jim is a noted pioneer in the development of the M&A field, having led, reviewed, or supervised over 1,000 M&A transactions, and co-authored seminal texts on financial valuation. He has established, with his partners:
Jim established Zukin Partners in 2021, an M&A boutique. Its affiliate, Zukin Certification Services, is a leading provider of Projection Reviews for public filings for SPAC acquisitions. ….
Zukin graduated from UC Berkeley with a concentration in macroeconomics and poetry. He received an MBA from Harvard Business School. Zukin is an accomplished poet. His awards include the Robert Creeley Prize from Marsh Hawke Press, judged by Mary Jo Bangs in 2023.
Mr. Shawn Barnes joined Elara Nova in July of 2024. He is the Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Congressional Budget and Appropriations Liaison.
As a board member of the Space Force Association, he contributes to strategic decisions shaping the future of space defense. In his recent role as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Congressional Budget and Appropriations Liaison, Shawn successfully advocated for the Air Force and Space Force budgets for fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2025, securing critical funding for future operations. Additionally, Shawn is the owner and founder of Polaris Strategic Solutions, LLC, where he guides industry through the national security ecosystem.
During his tenure in the Senior Executive Service since 2014, he spearheaded the development of the Air Force’s thirty-year resource allocation plan, enhanced legislative relations, and established the Air Staff’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Space Operations. His pivotal role in the inception and formation of the United States Space Force ensured a robust framework for future space operations. Additionally, he executed the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, driving significant advancements in space acquisition processes.
From 1985 to 2013, Shawn’s career in the United States Air Force was marked by significant achievements. He was instrumental in standing up the nation’s first Space Numbered Air Force, designing the future Space Domain Awareness architecture, and commanding both the 12th Space Warning Squadron and the 595th Space Group. He led the DoD’s effort to craft President George W. Bush’s National Space Policy and brokered international agreements with the United Kingdom and Australia, enhancing strategic missile warning capabilities.
Beginning his service in 1981 with the Department of Agriculture at Plum Island Animal Disease Laboratory, NY, Shawn played an important role in protecting the nation’s livestock from exotic viruses like swine flu and hoof and mouth disease.
Richard Donohoe brings 35 years of domestic and international project development and valuation experience in space, aerospace, energy, life sciences, biotech, AI, mineral, semi-conductor, and defense technology markets. He leads technical and financial valuation aspects for regulatory compliance and economic valuations of operating companies, venture, and Intellectual Property (IP). Engagement experience focuses on M&A, SPACs, management of Joint Ventures (JVs) and Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) companies, IP technology valuation for commercial and market fit, fairness opinions technical analysis and business valuations. His role is evaluating Private Equity, SEC compliance and Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) family offices technology companies in advanced manufacturing as well as critical supply chain for defense, space, and energy markets.
Recent transactions included the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) lead technical advisory for X-Energy / Ares Capital / Dow Chemical / Ontario Power (OPG) merger; Churchill Capital / Oklo SPAC merger, evaluations of two other SMR potential SPACs, SPAC and debt funds to support market and commercial analysis of critical minerals for Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) family office for determination the geopolitical and economic valuation for seven alternative rare earth mines in Australia, Canada, Africa and USA rare earth processing facilities to support Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) off-takers.
Richard has also been engaged directly in AUKUS and other defense related activities providing IP, financial and technology analysis for a 5000+ semi-conductor patent portfolio purchase by Australia’s largest private equity fund as well as Australian IP and technology for autonomous ship docking, steerage and position, navigating and timing with potential commercial and defense. Recently Richard led engagement to provide technology and IP assessment of two ground satellite companies owned by large family office in the advanced ground cellular communications and space to ground communications market.
Mr. Hughes currently serves as a Senior Executive Advisor for defense support, information technology, and small businesses using C-Suite skills garnered from CEO, COO, CFO, and CMO roles in $10M to $1.8B annual revenue organizations. In addition, he is an independent advisor to multiple technology-related, defense contracting and local small business boards providing strategic planning, operational evaluation, financial assessment and audit, merger-acquisition and integration, and governance support. High net worth (HNW), private equity (PE), and venture capital (VC) investors seek his expertise to conduct due diligence, plan and execute post-merger operation and business integration, and serve as an interim executive in a variety of roles. Mark is also a technical/business executive consultant to the Air Force and Intelligence Community on major space and fighter weapons systems.
He served 24 years in the Air Force, retiring as a Colonel. In his last military position, he was the principal personal advisor to the Under Secretary of the Air Force. Previously, he provided leadership and operational expertise at various command levels, initially as a tactical and training aircraft instructor pilot, academic instructor and flight examiner and later leading the development and acquisition of our nation’s most advanced tactical aircraft and satellite systems.
Dr. Lorie Khatod, a North Carolina native, is a transformative leader with a diverse and impactful career, recently serving as Chief of Staff in the United States House of Representatives. She is a 22 year former Department of Defense civil servant, 18 year former active duty military spouse, respected small business owner with ventures across multiple states, and dedicated patriot and philanthropist.
During her prestigious career Dr. Khatod served both in the Legislative and Executive branches. In South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, she directed initiatives across key committees, managed congressional operations and staff, and ensured legislation and policy alignment with both district and national priorities. At the Department of Defense, she served under twelve different commands leading multi-agency and international teams driving policy and program change across five countries and three continents. Her diverse expertise lies in the fields of defense, change management, business development, public affairs, healthcare, policy, strategic planning, and government relations.
Her numerous accolades include ten superior individual awards, most notably a presidential award for strategic innovation and an Order of Merit Medal for professional excellence and selfless service, and fifteen national programmatic awards, one garnering her organization a significant Malcolm Baldrige budgetary award.
Dr. Khatod holds a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of Oklahoma and professional certificate in Legislative Affairs from Georgetown and has completed advanced research involving legislative impact on health behaviors.
While Dr. Khatod’s business pursuits have allowed her to work and live both domestically and internationally, her passion for travel and desire to engage in different cultures has broadened, not only her business acumen, but her support of diverse philanthropic causes in her personal life. She both hosts and financially supports numerous charitable events throughout the calendar year. She prioritizes child advocacy groups, including Tuesday’s Children and Paul Newman’s Serious Fun Camps, and Moms for America, military and veterans causes, and international charities, such as Para la Natureleza and African Children’s Choir.
Kishen Raghunath is a distinguished engineer, entrepreneur, and investor with a wealth of experience in the aerospace and defense industry. Over the past decade, he has played a pivotal role in various defense platforms and contributed significantly to human spaceflight through his involvement in NASA’s Artemis program.
After a successful tenure in venture capital, Kishen co-founded a startup, which he later sold, facilitating the acquiring company’s growth. During this period, he was instrumental in raising over $100 million in venture capital and closing acquisitions worth $50 million.
Kishen’s latest entrepreneurial venture focuses on acquiring, expanding, and scaling already profitable businesses. In addition, he invests in, advises, and consults for early to growth-stage startups, leveraging his extensive expertise to drive innovation and growth.
In his spare time, Kishen focuses on giving back to support early education in India through a venture philanthropy group founded by himself and 4 other Georgia Tech alumni. He also volunteers with Engineers Without Borders, helping to build a functional biogas plant for a small village in central India.
He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.