Leadership
- Experience in Defense Acquisition, Intelligence and Tier 1 Special Operations
- Experience in Contingency Operations Planning, Combat Operations, Stability Operations and Irregular Warfare both during active military service and as civilian subject matter experts
- Individual Top Secret and facility clearances
- West Point Graduates with Advanced Degrees - MBA, MS Science & Technology Commercialization
Ernie Benner
President
Ernest Benner graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science. He spent 20 years in the U.S. Army as an accomplished Infantry and Special Forces officer. His positions included Deputy Operations Officer for the Combat Applications Group and Chief of Operations for the Joint IED Defeat Task Force, Pentagon at which he was recognized as a leading DoD Improvised Explosive Device Defeat expert. He holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Kentucky. Upon his retirement from the Army he began a successful consulting practice career with the military. In 2006 he co-founded the Red Gate Gate Group, a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, and serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. His natural ability to lead teams has led RGG on the path of systematic and managed growth.
Wade Jost
Vice President
Wade Jost graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management. He spent the first 10 of his 20 years in the U.S. Army as an Infantry Officer before transferring to the Acquisition Corps for his remaining military career. As a Program Manager for the US Army's Rapid Equipping Force (REF) he successfully executed the management and acquisition of myriad urgently needed solutions for technology requirements in support of OIF/OEF. During this time, he became the first Program Manager for the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Task Force which eventually became the Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO). He holds Masters Degrees in Business Administration from George Mason University and Science & Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas at Austin. Upon his retirement from the Army in 2006 he co-founded the Red Gate Group and serves as the Chief Operating Officer. His accomplishments have included managing research and development (R&D) on energy demand reduction efforts and alternative energy for the Department of Defense (DoD) Deputy Director for Research & Engineering (DDR&E) while managing the DoD Power Surety Task Force (PSTF).
Thomas Iak
Vice President
Thomas J. Iak "TJ" graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics, concentrating in Mathematics, and a Minor in Computer Science. He spent 5 years in the U.S. Army Engineer Corps as a Combat Engineer Officer. After leaving the Army, he was contracted as Senior Project Officer for the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army's Rapid Equipping Force and a Technical Advisor to the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Task Force. He later joined In-Q-tel where he excelled at evaluating new start-up technology firms on behalf of the CIA, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), NSA, and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). In 2006 he co-founded the RGG and serves as Vice President and Director of Business Development.