Quick Facts

Defence Acquisition

$11.8B

in international defense acquisition programs

Industrial Manufacturing

Decades of production, quality, and operational leadership

Capital & Transactions

$1B+

in M&A and capital markets experience

Regulatory & Compliance

Defense trade, export controls, government procurement, and lifecycle management

Our People

Bryan Cardwell

Partner

Bryan Cardwell is a retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel, business advisor, educator and expert in defense and commercial arms sales, exports, acquisition, manufacturing and logistics.

As the Chief Executive of the LeafStar Enterprise, leads the operational and industrial implementation of a European-based defense manufacturing firm (Lövstjärnan Fabriks AB), supporting NATO-aligned production and international OEM partnerships.
Served as a US Government Liaison for international Partner Nation’s requirement generation and major weapon system acquisition. Responsible for $11.8 billion in Acquisition in-support-of international partner nation Military and Defense requirements.
Planned, programmed and budgeted the contracting and acquisition of two manufacturing lines-of-supply in government owned ammunition factories, resulting in over 90 million ammunition components sold into the U.S.
Consults and advises the U.S. Government and over 30 U.S. defense and weapons manufacturers in international sales strategies and the development of business acquisition programs, processes and policies, and procedures. Authored the International Business Acquisition Process Manuals for both the “#1” and “#5” ranked U.S. Defense Manufacturers.

Fady Mansour

Partner

Fady Mansour is an attorney, adjunct law professor, legal author, and strategic advisor. He has been called upon to provide advice to Canadian law makers on proposed firearms legislation.

Serves as the strategic advisor for business operations, legal affairs and investor relations for the LeafStar Enterprise.

Provides strategic, business and legal advice to firearms manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Participated in, and led, transactions varying from $5 million to $700 million in enterprise value.

Specializes in business plans, complex deal structuring, equity and debt financing, contract negotiations, regulatory/legal compliance and coordinating international legal advice for complex multinational matters.

Adjunct law professor and co-author of the “Annotated Firearms Act & Related Legislation”. Specific expertise in firearms laws and regulations, and is a subject matter expert in the legalities of firearms and arms manufacturing.

Mathieu de Broin

Chief Industrial Strategy Officer

Mathieu de Broin has over 15 years of experience leading high-growth ventures and complex industrial programs, including the build-out of a European defence manufacturing platform aligned with NATO and EU production frameworks.

Supports the development of a European-based defence manufacturing firm (Lövstjärnan Fabriks AB), establishing industrial capabilities for small arms and crew-served systems production.

Leads the comprehensive development and coordination for Program Management Planning throughout the LeafStar Enterprise.

Co-Founded and acted as the Chief Operating Officer of a U.S.-based fintech company delivering solutions to government and large enterprise clients.

Held C-suite roles across private and public companies, driving organizational strategy, leadership, and execution in regulated industries.

Directed cross-functional operations spanning engineering, finance, scaling programs from early-stage development to structured growth.

Erin Cathey

Chief Accountability andCompliance Officer

Erin Cathey is a strategic and operational leader. She is an expert in change and business transformation; driving actionable and profitable long-term strategic growth.

Leading the comprehensive start-up through full-operational capabilities of new business implementation, accountability and compliance activities for a European-based defense manufacturing firm (Lövstjärnan Fabriks AB).

Directs all facets of accountability and compliance programming within the LeafStar Enterprise.

More than 20 years of leadership, accountability and compliance experience in the electric utility industry, has led various multi-year projects exceeding $150 million in capital costs.

Provided strategic leadership and accountability oversight for a multi-state Regional Transmission Organization (RTO), with members ranging from investor-owned utilities, cooperatives, municipalities, and independent power producers.

Erin Kahanic

Chief Acquisition andLife Cycle ManagementOfficer

Erin Kahanic previously was a Senior US Department of Defense Acquisition Corps Civilian certified as Level III in Acquisition Program Management and Logistics and Life Cycle Management.

Leads acquisition for more than $27 million in CAPEX and the full-spectrum Planning, Programming, Budgeting, Execution and Sustainment for a European-based defense manufacturing firm (Lövstjärnan Fabriks AB).

Develops and implements the full spectrum acquisition and lifecycle management activities across the LeafStar Enterprise.

Supported international operations, policy and resourcing for six major US Army Missile and Space project offices, sustaining over 560 Foreign Military Sales cases spanning 65 partner nations, and valued at over $65 billion.

Led a $38 million Foreign Military Sales Administrative budget, and facilitated team efforts in Planning, Operations and Strategy for two major U.S. Government Organizations involving more than 2,500 employees.

Mike Conn

Director, Industrial Process

Requirements and 4MProgramming

Mike Conn has successfully built 4 companies through a combination of his unique and innovative approach to process improvement, and an intuitive capability to realize industrial, mechanical and electrical engineering procedures.

Owner/operator of a company that manufactures firearms and components, annual sales exceeding $15 million.

Consults and supplies foreign militaries and international defense industries on best practices and methods for manufacturing and production of firearms and components.

Founded an alarm and electronics system integration company.

Started a manufacturer’s representation firm advocating and facilitating on-behalf-of US based small arms and components producers, is the distributor for 2 US based CNC machining manufacturers.

Keith Fairchild

Director, DefenceManufacturing

Keith Fairchild has 26 years of Program, Project, Quality, and Manufacturing Management experience. Keith has Degrees in Physics and Electrical Engineering.

Manages industrial requirements and operational manufacturing implementation throughout the LeafStar Enterprise, serves as the Senior Project Manager for a European-based defense manufacturing firm (Lövstjärnan Fabriks AB).

Provided program management over-sight to 150 direct/indirect reports and delivered over 500 Patriot II Propulsion Sections to foreign countries. Proposed, negotiated and managed numerous foreign military contracts between $50 million and $200 million.

Served as the Systems Integration and Test Lead during the development and start-up of the THAAD Missile Defense System Program at Lockheed Martin-Camden. Responsibilities included all launcher, fire control unit, missile round pallet and canister integration and testing.

Managed the testing and yield analysis of over 700 analog semiconductor devices for Texas Instruments. More than seven billion units shipped per year.

Santy Guiao

Director, Technology, Security and Product OT&E

Santy Guiao is a retired US Army Green Beret, a top-performing Special Operations professional with decades of global experience in leading, planning, managing, and conducting Special Operations in austere and complex environments.

Co-directs the planning and implementation for all multi-disciplinary functions across the domains of security within the LeafStar Enterprise, serves as a principle security and products advisor to a European-based defense manufacturing firm (Lövstjärnan Fabriks AB).

Served as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to an Afghan Special Operations Unit responsible for mentoring, training, equipping and developing a sustainable plan for transition to unilateral operations for over 400 Commandos.

Led instruction and collective training to over 100 Special Operation Critical Skill Operators (CSO) in preparation for operational deployments, Special Activities, advanced reconnaissance skills, patrolling, mission planning, small unit tactics, CQB, explosive demolitions/breaching, foreign weapons, crew served weapons, mortars and rockets.

Excelled in Operational Leadership and Team Building for the US Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha specializing in Military Free Fall, Foreign Internal Defense (FID), and Unconventional Warfare.

Stef Benning

Director, IndustrialProcesses, Security and4M Programming

Stefen Benning is a retired US Army Special Forces Chief Warrant Officer, combat veteran, and proven leader, who is well versed as Foreign Military Sales, Weapons and Tactics, and Military Intelligence.

Co-directs the planning and implementation for all multi-disciplinary functions across the domains of security within the LeafStar Enterprise, serves as a principle security and products advisor to a European-based defense manufacturing firm (Lövstjärnan Fabriks AB).
Facilitated Security Assistance Training in Asia focusing on basic/advanced rifle and pistol marksmanship, communication techniques, movement formations, & battle tactics.
Conducted Counter Narcotics Operations with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, US Agencies, and Joint Interagency Task Force West, including Planning conferences with US Embassy and host nation forces.
Monitored and evaluated student progress in courses in advanced technical systems; coordinated and participated in cyclical field training and remote practical exercises. Trained, tested, and evaluated Army Special Operations Soldiers as part of the Special Forces Qualification Course certifying soldiers in survival field craft and antiterrorism tactics, techniques, and procedures.

Theodora Von Hohenstaufen Noll

Senior Director of GlobalTrade and EnterpriseCompliance

Theodora von Hohenstaufen Noll is a PMP-certified security assistance and defense trade specialist with extensive experience in international agreements, export control, and OEM market access — including frontline field assignments and over a decade advising on U.S. security cooperation programs at the state and federal level.

PMP-certified compliance and trade specialist with extensive experience in export controls, foreign military programs, and international defense cooperation, supporting organizations operating across complex global regulatory environments.

Supports the development and implementation of international trade, compliance, and industrial cooperation frameworks, with direct experience drafting and negotiating agreements at U.S. Army Headquarters and the Office of Defense Exports and Cooperation.

Former International Monitoring Observer stationed at a forward patrol base in non-government-controlled territory in Ukraine, monitoring adherence to ceasefire agreements.

Former Senior Program Manager at a U.S. nonproliferation organization — managed WMD proliferation prevention and export control projects across multiple regions.

Over a decade with a state-level economic development authority managing a global defense program, advising on FMS, FMF, BPC, DCS, ITAR, and export licensing.

Jose D. Ayala

Director, IndustrialMarkets and PartnerEngagements

Jose D. Ayala is a senior program and logistics executive with over 30 years of experience supporting U.S. Government and international defense operations, combining a decorated U.S. Army career with civilian leadership in multinational defense contracting and security cooperation across Latin America and Europe.

Leads strategic partner development in defense manufacturing across Europe with focus on Sweden and NATO-aligned markets — building collaborative manufacturing solutions and enabling secure, compliant industrial capabilities within allied nations.

Senior program and logistics executive with 30+ years supporting U.S. Government and international defense operations, including multi-million-dollar contracts and multinational teams of 150+ personnel.

Former Director of Latin America Operations at a U.S. defense services firm, establishing in-country operations in Colombia; subsequently served as Country Manager supporting U.S. Embassy Security Cooperation operations in-country.

During a 24-year U.S. Army career, managed supply chain activities valued at $276 million+ and led 200+ personnel — recognized with the Bronze Star Medal.

Ryan J. Shaver

Chief Relationship Officer

Ryan J. Shaver is a defense industry executive with nearly three decades of experience in foreign military sales, global logistics, and OEM partnership development, with a track record spanning government-to-government transactions and defense logistics across more than 30 countries.

Leads OEM partnerships, co-production frameworks, and long-term commercial relationships expanding LöFAB's global reach as Sweden's only ISP-licensed manufacturer of small arms and infantry weapons.

Drives foreign military sales strategy and growth-stage venture development across NATO and allied defense markets with nearly three decades of experience in defense manufacturing and global logistics.

Founder and CEO of a U.S.-based defense advisory firm supporting $65 million+ in foreign military and government-to-government transactions across 30+ countries.

Co-founded an ISO-registered defense logistics and sustainment firm, scaling it to $27 million in annual revenue across 12 IDIQ contracts supporting U.S. State Department, DoD, and NATO programs in LATAM, West Africa, and Central Asia.

Former Director of Customer Solutions at a satellite communications firm (subsequently acquired), contributing to growth from $45 million to $125 million in revenue.

Gene Mundy

Sr. Director, IndustrialOpportunities and Markets

Gene Mundy is a defense and national security professional with over four decades of experience spanning U.S. Army service, government contracting, and international defense business development, including senior operational and advisory roles across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

Leads global market development, market intelligence production, and industrial positioning in support of LöFAB's strategic growth across NATO and European defense markets.

Drives OEM engagement strategy and business development with over four decades of operational, program management, and international defense experience.

Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel with 24 years of service spanning combat arms command, senior joint interagency assignments, and advisory roles.

Held senior management roles at multiple U.S. government defense contractors — managing portfolios exceeding $100 million and contributing to $500 million+ in total contract awards.

Led mission support operations supporting NATO forces in Western Europe and managed expeditionary programs across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

Julie Fairchild

Chief People Officer

Julie Fairchild has a 20+ year background in corporate training, business operations and personnel management, and specializes in workforce efficiency and optimization of product integration for the client’s desired outcomes.

Leads the Human Capital Strategies across the LeafStar Enterprise, and is responsible for the Manpower and Workforce development initiatives for a European-based defense manufacturing firm (Lövstjärnan Fabriks AB).
Planned and executed multiple Programs of Instruction on the implementation of software for practitioners to utilize in proper management of business operations in the healthcare industry.
Managed multiple offices of more than twenty employees each. With total budgets over $10 million, responsible for all aspects of planning, programming and budgeting for the workforce.
Formally certified as a trainer in the Society of Human Resources Management principles, the Mandt system of conflict resolution, hazardous materials management, and has been a qualified educator and manager under the United States Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities.

Mike Cosic

Senior Financial Advisor

Mike Cosic is a seasoned public company executive, CFO, and Audit Committee Chair with over 30 years of experience in financial management, investment oversight, and M&A execution for both public and private companies.