Kim Crider is a Founding Partner of Elara Nova. She brings more than 35 years of experience managing multibillion-dollar global operations and technology programs in space, aerospace, cybersecurity, IT, data, and AI to the core team.
A recently retired U.S. Air Force (USAF) Major General, Crider was the first Chief Technology and Innovation Officer for the newly established U. S. Space Force (USSF) where she oversaw a $2.5B Space Science & Technology portfolio and directed a $750M digital services and cybersecurity portfolio to advance the $15B global military space enterprise for 16,000 personnel. Prior to that, Crider was the Air Force Chief Data Officer, a first in the DoD, where she led the implementation of a $100M enterprise data management portfolio to assure availability of operational and business data to over 850,000 military, civilian and contract users across the Department of the Air Force’s $126B enterprise, and established a strategy for enterprise data management that has seminally influenced other DoD level data strategies and initiatives.
Crider regularly advises US Political Appointees, Service Secretaries, Military Service Chiefs, and Civil Agency leaders, as well as international military, civilian and industry leaders, on the strategic use of technology to achieve competitive advantage. She has extensive international experience having served in Europe, Australia, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, and has been a seminal leader in global space, air and cyberspace operations, coalition and NATO command, control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and international information sharing. She built and led two multimillion-dollar specialty consulting firms focused on IT/data strategy, cybersecurity, and digital services in the education, architecture & engineering, financial services and health technology sectors. A senior engineer at the MITRE Corporation for over 15 years, Crider led the engineering for global enterprise networks, cybersecurity, and advanced surveillance radar systems across the DoD and Homeland Security.
Crider earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Duke University, an M.B.A. from Western New England University, and a Graduate certificate degree in Organizational Behavior from Harvard University. She graduated with distinction from the USAF Air Command and Staff College and the National Defense University Industrial College of the Armed Forces and has been an executive fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the University of Tennessee.
Mike Dickey is a Founding Partner of Elara Nova. Dickey is a career aerospace executive focusing on national security and U.S. space competitiveness for the 21st century. Mike’s experience includes both serving as an Air Force officer, as well as a civilian senior executive level during the stand-up of the United States Space Force. He also has extensive experience advancing space strategy and business development within the space industry.
Dickey’s military career spans a variety of roles and mission areas including space operational commands in the Air Force and National Reconnaissance Office, early development of the Navy’s Theater Ballistic Missile Defense System for the Missile Defense Agency, and flight test of the B-2 Spirit bomber. He was also detailed to NASA, supporting requirements for the International Space Station.
As a civilian, Dickey served as Chief Architect of Air Force Space Command and then the U.S. Space Force and was instrumental in standing up the Space Warfighting Analysis Center. His efforts helped lead advance strategic shift of the Air Force’s space enterprise to a more resilient and combat effective posture.
Dickey has a B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the University of Colorado and a Master of Strategic Studies from Air University. He is a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and three professional military education courses. His honors include 27 military awards, the NASA Group Achievement Medal and the National Reconnaissance Office Gold Medal.
He participated in leadership programs from Penn State’s Smeal College of Business and the Center for Creative Leadership, and is an Associate Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Eddie Papczun is a Founding Partner of Elara Nova responsible for driving business development and providing solutions for global clients capitalizing on his extensive experience in the Space sector, supporting both private and military organizations.
Papczun is a successful entrepreneur and executive leader with a wealth of expertise in support of national security space imperatives. A proven connector and facilitator, he helps clients navigate opportunities within the public and private sectors of national and international security space so they can actualize the strategic advantages of the space domain.
Prior to co-founding Elara Nova, Papczun served as senior consultant to the Air & Space Forces Association. In this role, he provided AFA’s leadership with insight on how best to maximize advocacy on behalf of the two services, to include talent recruitment, identification and implementation of best business practices, facilitating senior military leadership engagement as well as establishing and curating national security dialogue events on behalf of the association.
Papczun served on active duty in the Air Force for 10 years, and is married Lt General Nina Armagno, the U.S. Space Force’s first permanent Director of Staff. He earned a B.A. and ROTC commission from Kent State University. Additionally, Papczun holds a Master of Legislative Affairs degree from George Washington University.
Roger Teague is a Founding Partner of Elara Nova. He is a widely recognized senior space executive and retired U.S. Air Force Major General who has built and led high performing teams to great success in multi-scale organizations across the public and private sector. He has led strategy, growth, and operations as President, Space and Intelligence Systems for Terran Orbital Corp.; Chief Executive Officer and President of PredaSAR Corp., Vice President of Space, Intelligence, and Missile Defense for The Boeing Company; and is President and Founder of Teague Strategies LLC.
Serving over 31 years in the Air Force, Teague led his unit during launch, test, and operational activation of three Milstar protected communications satellites, and led development, launch, test, and on-orbit checkout of the final Defense Support Program satellite, the first two Space Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) polar orbiting payloads, and the first SBIRS geosynchronous satellite. Teague commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels and served in executive leadership positions at Headquarters U.S. Air Force and Headquarters Air Force Space Command. While at Terran Orbital, he led strategic direction, strategy and growth, business operations, and program execution. His leadership was instrumental to a successful SPAC transaction, raising $350M, and taking the company public. As the first employee, Teague stood up PredaSAR Corporation and secured $25 million Series Seed funding, directed spacecraft development, and built an industry leading space company poised to field the world’s largest and most advanced commercial constellation of synthetic aperture radar satellites.
Teague is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and holds an MBA from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Master of Strategic Studies from Air University. He was also a Senior Executive Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and attended other executive leadership development programs at the University of Virginia, the University of Tennessee, and the Center for Creative Leadership. Teague is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and among numerous awards and recognitions, he earned the Distinguished Service Medal and the 2017 AIAA Von Braun Award for excellence in Space Program Management. He has served on several non-profit boards and currently serves as a Trustee and chief financial officer for United Through Reading.
Lieutenant General (retired) Dave “Abu” Nahom culminated a 36 year Air Force career serving as Commander, Alaskan Command; Commander, Alaskan NORAD Region; and Commander, Eleventh Air Force. In this role he served as the senior military officer in Alaska, responsible for the integration of all military functions in the Alaskan theater of operations, synchronizing the activities of more than 21,000 active-duty and reserve forces from all services. His duties additionally included the effective surveillance, monitoring, and defense of the region’s airspace, while also overseeing the training and readiness of five wings and Air Force installations located in Alaska, Hawaii and Guam.
Prior to his time in Alaska, Abu served on the Headquarters Air Force staff at the Pentagon as the Deputy Chief of Staff for planning and programming (HAF/A8). In this role he led a team responsible for the strategic planning and programming of resources across the entire Air Force.
Lt Gen Nahom was commissioned through ROTC at the University of Colorado. In his career he commanded at the squadron, group, wing and numbered Air Force level and is a command pilot with more than 3,400 hours in the F-22A Raptor, F-15A/B/C/D Eagle and F-111F Aardvark.
In addition to his flying and command experience, Abu graduated from U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the NATO Defense College. He has held additional headquarters-level assignments at a NATO Combined Air Operations Center, U.S. Forces Korea, Pacific Air Forces, and Air Forces Central Command.
Chad retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2023 as a general officer with 29-years of cyber operations, communications, and information technology experience. He is a 9-time commander, including the White House Communications Agency. Prior to retirement, Chad served as Director of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Cyber, as well as Chief Information Officer for U.S. European Command.
Chad currently serves as President and CEO of The Raduege Group LLC, as a Partner with Elara Nova, and as Chairman and CEO of the Air Force Cyberspace & Air Traffic Control Association. He also serves on multiple Boards of Advisors, to include America’s Future Series, and on the Board of Directors for AFCEA International. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from The Ohio State University.
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.
General (Ret) Timothy D. Haugh served for more than 30 years in the United States Air Force, culminating in his assignment as the 4th Commander, U.S. Cyber Command and 19th Director of the National Security Agency. In these roles, Gen Haugh served as the National Manager for all federal government National Security Systems and led all DoD cyber operations.
A native of Hughesville, Pennsylvania, Gen (Ret) Haugh earned his commission in 1991 as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at Lehigh University.
During his career, Gen (Ret) Haugh commanded at the squadron, group, wing, numbered air force, and joint levels. His other notable tours included assignments as Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force Ares, Commander of Cyber National Mission Force, and Commander of Sixteenth Air Force.
In addition to earning his Bachelor of Arts in Russian Studies from Lehigh University, Gen (Ret) Haugh holds Master of Science degrees from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, the Naval Postgraduate School, and Southern Methodist University.
Gen (Ret) Haugh and his bride, Mrs. Sherie Haugh, have been married for more than 34 years, and have a son, daughter, daughter in law, and granddaughter.
In addition to his role as Senior Principal Advisor at Elara Nova, Gen (Ret) Haugh serves as a Distinguished Fellow at the Blue Center at Yale University; Distinguished Fellow at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service; and also serves as an advisor to multiple funds and companies.
James Hecker, a retired General, serves as a Senior Principal Advisor for Elara Nova. He has over 36 years of experience in aircraft, space, and missile operations.
Before retiring in 2025, General(ret) Hecker held the positions of Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Commander of U.S. Air Forces Africa, and Commander of Allied Air Command, headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. General(ret) Hecker commanded eight times across various levels including squadron, group, wing, numbered air force, and major command.
He modernized NATO airpower for the 21st century by integrating new members, pioneering tactics, and improving readiness. He adopted cost-effective technologies like sUAS, counter sUAS, and acoustic sensor networks, enhancing airpower effectiveness. He ensured timely delivery of military aid to Ukraine, strengthening their defense and supporting allied security.
Gen. Hecker was commissioned in 1989 through the U.S. Air Force Academy. He served as Commander and President of Air University, Deputy Director J3 on the joint staff, Commander of NATO Air Command-Afghanistan, and Commander of the 19th Air Force. He holds an MS in Aeronautical Sciences from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an MS in Strategic Studies from Air War College and attended the Harvard Seminar for New Presidents at Harvard University. As a command pilot, he has logged over 3,700 flying hours in the F-15C, F-22, MQ-1B, and other aircraft.
General (ret) Dan Hokanson brings deep expertise and experience in leading complex organizations, international relations, national security and crisis management. His experience and life-long commitment to continuous learning over three decades of military service resulted in Dan achieving the rank of 4-Star General and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Dan served as the 29th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the highest-ranking officer in the National Guard, an organization of over 430,000 in all fifty states, three territories, and DC. As Chief, he oversaw the Guard’s historic response to the COVID pandemic, civil-disturbances, and numerous major disasters, while simultaneously meeting every global military operations requirement asked of the organization. He also led the National Guard and Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, with over one-hundred member countries. In this role, he regularly conducted senior government and military leader engagements at home and abroad, including hosting senior world leaders from ninety-three nations in Washington, DC for the program’s thirtieth anniversary.
Prior to serving as Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Dan served as Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Director of the Army National Guard, Deputy Commander of U.S. Northern Command, and the 30th Adjutant General of Oregon. As Vice Chief, he was a member of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council and Deputies Management Advisory Group, advising on high interest acquisitions and assessing joint capabilities for the nation’s military services. As Director of the Army Guard, he planned, developed, and implemented re-establishment of the Division force structure, the largest combat formation in the Army, to improve readiness and talent management, and better support the US National Defense Strategy. As The Adjutant General of Oregon, he developed and implemented the Nation’s first Disaster Playbook for the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake threat, designed to synchronize response efforts across the region while defining the mission critical roles and responsibilities of all State agencies.
A Master Army Aviator, he has flown over 2600 hours in more than thirty different aircraft and was a member of Team USA at the 1996 World Helicopter Championships. He founded the nation’s first Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic and Military Air Rescue Team (MAST/MART) program and has aircraft flight test, firefighting, combat, and rescue experience; and was featured on the TV series “Expeditions to the Edge”.
A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in Aerospace Engineering, he later earned master’s degrees in international security and civil-military relations from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, as well as a masters in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He was also selected for the Department of Defense’s year-long National Security Fellowship at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
General (ret) Hokanson is an avid athlete and outdoorsman born and raised in Happy Camp, California. He and his wife Kelly have three adult children all serving in the military, and four grandchildren.