Tom Goffus currently serves as Executive Partner, Global Security within Elara Nova as a senior enterprise leader. He integrates elements of defense strategy, operational complexities, industrial base capabilities, and geopolitical realities to provide government and industry actional recommendations that help co-create and implement innovative solutions to key operational challenges in support of national security.
Immediately prior to working with Elara Nova, Tom was the senior civilian responsible for NATO operations and the NATO Secretary General’s special coordinator for counterterrorism. In those roles, he helped government and industry of 32 Allies provide a decisive edge by operationalizing key functional areas including space, air and missile defense, data-sharing for multidomain operations, and drone/counter-drone. In this role he provided strategic and operational insights to the NATO Secretary General and the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, was responsible for defense of the Alliance, security assistance for NATO’s 35 partners, oversight of more than $6B of assistance to Ukraine, as well as capturing insights from the battlefield.
Before NATO, he served at the highest levels across multiple branches of the US government as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy, Policy Director of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Director for Strategic and Eastern European Affairs for the National Security Staff at the White House.
Tom is an Air Force command pilot with over 3,000 hours in the F-15, T-37 and T-6 aircraft, served as a squadron and group commander, and is a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy with Masters Degrees from the University of Washington and the U.S. Naval War College.
Brad Head is a widely recognized leader in the field of international space cooperation, bringing nearly three decades of expertise in security cooperation, international relations, and defense strategy. Brad’s career in the U.S. Air and Space Forces was marked by a series of high-impact leadership roles, where his strategic vision and diplomacy helped advance U.S. interests across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Throughout his distinguished career, Brad has driven major international defense initiatives. As Chief of Defense Planning at the U.S. Mission to NATO, he was instrumental in reshaping NATO’s defense posture in response to the Russian annexation of Crimea. He negotiated critical agreements that ensured Allied nations met defense spending goals and capability targets during a pivotal time for transatlantic security. Later, as Chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation in Brussels, Brad managed all U.S. security cooperation efforts with Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union, and NATO. His leadership resulted in a landmark $5.1 billion F-35 sale to Belgium, and he negotiated the first-ever Space Memorandum of Understanding with Luxembourg, bolstering NATO’s satellite communications capabilities.
Brad’s operational expertise is equally notable. He deployed to Iraq in 2007 to help rebuild the Iraqi Air Force, contributing to the stabilization of a key regional ally. In 2010, he deployed to Afghanistan, leading efforts to assess and improve the capabilities of the Afghan Air Force. His broad understanding of global diplomacy and defense partnerships was further strengthened when he became the first U.S. Air Force Fellow at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Nairobi, Kenya. In that role, Brad worked closely with interagency partners on humanitarian initiatives and international development efforts, aligning them with U.S. foreign policy objectives.
Following his retirement as a colonel in 2022, Brad served as the Director of International Affairs at Space Operations Command (SpOC), where he oversaw the command’s global partnerships and space cooperation efforts. In this role, Brad was the principal advisor on political-military and foreign policy matters, managing foreign disclosure programs, arms control treaty compliance, and foreign military sales. He played a pivotal role in fostering global collaboration to advance the strategic goals of the U.S. Space Force in an increasingly contested space environment.
At Elara Nova, Brad leverages his extensive experience to drive international partnerships and guide clients through the complexities of global space cooperation. His ability to blend strategic vision with hands-on leadership makes him an invaluable asset to the company’s mission of advancing space technology and fostering cross-border collaborations.
Brad is married to Meredith, and they have four children: Conner, Taryn, Gavin, and Rylan. His dedication to building strong global partnerships and advancing space cooperation continues to be the hallmark of his career, making him a key leader in shaping the future of the international space industry.
Lieutenant General (Retired) Steven L. Basham served more than 36 years in the United States Air Force, holding a series of high-impact leadership roles across the Department of Defense and on the global stage. He brings extensive expertise in strategic planning, large-scale operations management, and risk mitigation, with a proven record of overseeing substantial budgets and diverse government, civilian, and military workforces. He is known for clear communication, collaborative leadership, and driving organizational change while delivering high-impact results.
From July 2022 to July 2024, Lt. Gen. Basham served as Deputy Commander of United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany, where he led a warfighting headquarters overseeing more than 85,000 U.S. personnel in Europe. In this role, he worked closely with NATO allies and partners to deter Russian aggression, support global operations, and counter transnational threats. Previously, he served as Deputy Commander of United States Air Forces Europe–Air Forces Africa at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Lt. Gen. Basham is recognized for his leadership, extensive operational expertise, and deep understanding of defense policy, legislative affairs, and acquisition processes. He served as the United States Air Force Legislative Director, advocating for the service’s interests on Capitol Hill, and played a key role on the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, shaping defense capability development. His strategic experience also includes work in the Indo-Pacific region, where he focused on operational requirements related to China and North Korea in collaboration with Pacific allies.
Lt. Gen. Basham has accumulated more than 3,400 flying hours in the B-1, B-2, B-52, T-38, and T-37 aircraft. He is among a select group of pilots to have flown all U.S. operational bombers and was one of four pilots to fly the B-2 on its combat debut.
Lt. Gen. Basham holds a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Western Kentucky University and was commissioned through Officer Training School in 1989. He has earned multiple master’s degrees in management and strategic studies from institutions such as Webster University, Air Command and Staff College, Army War College, and the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. His executive education includes programs at the University of Virginia, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Harvard Kennedy School, and the Center for Creative Leadership.
Air Vice-Marshal (Rtd) Mark Chappell is a highly experienced defense and security consultant having completed over 36 years in the UK Armed Forces in a broad range of international military roles. Through Elara Nova, he supports international clients to resolve solutions for today’s defense and security challenges. He specializes in digitized command and control systems, precision strike, and full spectrum air defense and he has expertise in aircraft procurement and development, weapons integration, and synthetic training.
During his career he has: commanded all levels and deployed on numerous operations across the globe. He is a strategic level crisis and emergency response expert and has worked at the most senior-levels in UK government. In his last military role he was the Senior British Military Adviser to the US 4-star commander of Central Command. He maintains strong links and associations with a broad range of senior industry executives and military officers in the UK, USA, Europe, and the Middle East.
Heidi Grant is a highly effective business leader with expertise in defense, aerospace, and economic security as well as business transformation and security sales and services. She has extensive experience and excels at developing global strategy, competitive positioning, and generating revenue. With decades of executive leadership across the U.S Department of Defense and Fortune 100 global industry, Heidi Grant brings her unmatched expertise to a select set of government, defense, and aerospace clients through her consulting practice – Heidi Grant Global. She is a trusted advisor for results that matter. She is known for unlocking opportunity at the intersection of diplomacy, defense, and business. Her leadership is grounded in real-world impact, earned over 20 years representing the U.S. at the highest levels.
Grant joined Boeing in November 2021 and served as Vice President of Defense Global Growth & Engagement and Vice President of Business Development, where she led a team of nearly 500 people in 25 states and 16 countries representing the company’s defense, space, and government services portfolios. Her team developed and maintained customer relationships that aligned Boeing’s products and services with customer mission requirements, capturing new business and achieving business growth of over $24B annually.
Before joining Boeing, Grant served in the U.S. Department of Defense, where she was a member of the Senior Executive Service for 19 of her 32 years, with her last appointment as the Director for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, responsible for all DOD security cooperation programs involving defense articles military training and other defense-related services. She oversaw more than 15,000 foreign military sales cases with more than 150 countries valued at over $600 billion. She also managed a certification program for 20,000 civilian and military personnel. Before leading the agency, Grant was director of Defense Technology Security Administration, responsible for developing and implementing global technology security policies for international transfer of defense-related goods, services, and technologies.
From 2010 through 2018, Grant served as deputy undersecretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, providing oversight and guidance for international policy and for programs supporting global national security objectives, technology and information disclosure, security assistance, education and training, and cooperative research and development. She also managed the Air Force Foreign Liaison Office and attaché affairs.
In 2002, Grant was appointed to the Senior Executive Service and assigned as the first civilian director of resources and analysis for USCENTCOM: the Middle East, Central and South Asia, and Northeast Africa. Collaborating with senior representatives from 65 countries, she led resource strategy and analysis for operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. She later helped establish U.S. Africa Command as its first director of resources, leading personnel and financial programming that served as the foundation for successful interagency and international partnerships for global security.
Grant currently serves as a Strategic Advisor for WestExec, Spectrum, New Vista Capital, and Intertec Engineering. She serves as a board member for the Space Force Association (SFA), Foreign Area Officers Association (FAOA) and the Royal Air Force Museum American Foundation (RAFMAF). She is also on the Global Special Operations Forces (GSOF) Advisory Council and the Armed Forces Communication Electronics Association (AFCEA) International Executive Committee. Grant is also a member of the Business Executives for National Security and the Council on Foreign Relations.
James (Jungwoong) Lee has over 35 years of experience in the South Korean military focused on nuclear strategy, missiles, and joint operations. He has extensive expertise in designing nuclear deterrence, strategy, force structures, and planning joint and combined operations, including 8 years of experience in the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As the Commander of the Strategic Missile Command, he planned CNI (conventional nuclear integration) and strong deterrent measures against North Korea. He served as the Capital Corps Commander, Army Mobilization Commander, and G-3 Director of the Ground Component Command, executing sensor-to-shooter systems and experimental MUM-T in joint environments.
As the Director of J-5 and the Nuclear Center in the ROK JCS, he was a principal architect and planner in the Korea 3-Axes, Military Reform 2.0, and Targeting-based force development. James is known for his ability in ROK force modernization, ROK-US war planning, ballistic missile defense, space capabilities, and mobilizations. He graduated from the Korea Military Academy (’89), was an infantry officer, educated at the Joint Forces Staff College, and has an MA in Diplomacy and Security from Kyung-Gi University.
Kevin M. O’Connell is a recognized expert on space commerce, the global space economy, global intelligence activities, and U.S. national security matters. For almost four decades, he has focused on space commercialization and technological competitiveness and how to advance them in global markets. He has also focused on how these innovations impact U.S. and allied national security.
Previously, Kevin served as Director of the Office of Space Commerce (OSC) within the U.S. Department of Commerce from 2018-2021. He was the principal advocate in the U.S. government for the commercial space industry, including new ways to facilitate innovation and increase market growth. He focused on the growing role of the private sector in space, encouraged new space partnerships, worked to ensure the competitiveness of the U.S. commercial space industry, encouraged regulatory reform, and advanced American leadership in space safety and sustainability. Mr. O’Connell has testified before Congress on eight occasions about space policy and regulatory issues, U.S. space competitiveness, and the growth of space commerce. He was awarded the Vice President’s Dedicated Service Award for his support to the National Space Council.
Mr. O’Connell’s prior government roles includes positions in The Department of Defense, The Department of State, The National Security Council, Office of the Vice President, and Office of the Director of Central Intelligence.
David S. Germroth is a seasoned leader in the defense, space, and intelligence sectors. He is recognized for facilitating complex business-to-business, business-to-government, and government-to-government project development across the United States, Europe, Japan, and FYVE nations. With a particular focus on the highly competitive sectors of defense, secure communications, and geospatial intelligence, Mr. Germroth provides strategic guidance in international business development and government relations.
Mr. Germroth brings over 30 years of extensive experience to his role, having previously served as a principal at PACE Global Solutions. He was also the Vice President for Defense and Geo-intelligence programs at Airbus GmbH and Tesat Spacecom, where he played a pivotal role in advancing critical defense and intelligence initiatives on a global scale. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in representing multinational companies, as well as national security and trade organizations in Europe and Asia, before key U.S. government bodies, including Congress, the White House, the Department of State, and the Department of Homeland Security, as well as various international governments and defense and intelligence agencies.
A United States Air Force veteran, Mr. Germroth specialized as a German Linguist, HUMINT specialist, and War Readiness Material expert. His military experience laid a strong foundation for his subsequent roles, which include serving as a legislative assistant in Congress and as the Assistant Director for Program Outreach at the United States Information Agency. His thought leadership in the field is further evidenced by his tenure as a visiting fellow at prestigious institutions such as the Brookings Institution and the Eisenhower World Affairs Institute.
Mr. Germroth’s unparalleled expertise and commitment to advancing global defense and intelligence capabilities have solidified his reputation as a trusted advisor to both government and industry leaders. His strategic vision continues to drive the success of DSG Global Solutions in navigating the complexities of international defense and security landscapes.
Travis Langster is an influential and results-driven executive in the national security space and defense sector, with experience in developing policy, strategy, and investment decisions at the highest levels of government and industry. Most recently serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International & Industry Engagement, Travis has played a pivotal role in strengthening the defense industrial base, advancing international defense armaments cooperation, and enhancing supply chain resilience. Through strategic and senior level engagements within DoD and interagency leadership, industry stakeholders, and international partners, Travis has driven mission-critical initiatives that bolster national security and global defense production and collaboration.
As Principal Director of Space & Missile Defense Policy, Travis was instrumental in launching the Department of Defense’s first commercial space integration strategy. He managed the strategy development, engagement with industry and government stakeholders, coordination across the Defense Department as well as the strategy rollout. Travis also led the international expansion of the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) Initiative and ushered in the working group realignments focused on operational readiness.
Prior to joining the Department of Defense, Travis held executive leadership roles in the private sector, where he managed profit & loss, business growth, market expansion and international ventures in space intelligence and operations, space domain awareness and spaceflight safety.
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.