Oct 11, 2023   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Leonid Capital Partners Welcomes Former Assistant Secretary of the Navy James “Hondo” Geurts, and Former Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Brian Hibbeln to their Board of Advisors

Leonid Capital Partners (“LEONID”), an alternative investment management firm focused on private credit with the US National Security market, is proud to welcome James “Hondo” Geurts, and Brian Hibbeln to their Board of Advisors. "Hondo and Brian, both, represent a truly vast wealth of civilian and military knowledge to our team,” said Leonid Co-Founder Chris Lay. “We share their passion for emerging technology, and are honored to be working with these distinguished leaders to advance the mission of LEONID.”

Mr. James Geurts, known to most as “Hondo”, brings over 34 years of extensive leadership and acquisition experience in the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the United States Air Force.

Hondo most recently performed the duties of Under Secretary of the Navy, a position he was appointed to on February 4, 2021. In this role, he served as the Department of the Navy’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Management Officer. He previously served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition from 2017-2021, where he oversaw an annual budget of $148 billion consisting of research, development, acquisition, production, contracting and sustainment for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines Corps, and Allies and Partners.

Mr. Brian Hibbeln is a Venture Partner at SineWave Ventures, a firm dedicated to accelerating new technologies. After serving in the Air Force, he spent over 20 years as a senior civilian in the US Government, as the Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Special Capabilities in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). Mr. Hibbeln recently served as the director of the Naval Postgraduate School's Remote Sensing Center-National Capital Region, where he managed over $8B in US Government contracts. In this position, he provided recommendations to the Director of Central Intelligence, Congressional Staffs, senior policy and decision makers, and numerous operational and intelligence customers.

Mr. Hibbeln has spent 23 years as an Air Force Reserve Officer with assignments at both the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

Upon release from active duty, Mr. Hibbeln was awarded the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, a certificate of achievement from the Director of the CIA, and the NRO Silver Medal. In 2001, he was recalled to active duty to serve in Operation Enduring Freedom. During this tour, he led a number of new initiatives utilizing National, Civil, and Commercial space systems to combat terrorism and provide operational support to forces and the Intelligence Community. During this time, he also supported the White House Military Office as White House Social Aide to the President.

“Hondo and Brian know the challenges faced by the DOD and their contractors firsthand,” said LEONID Co-Founder James Parker. “We are thrilled that both of these gentlemen, having collectively managed hundreds of billions of government acquisitions, appreciate what LEONID is bringing to the table in supporting innovation within the DOD and ensuring a technological advantage for US National Security interest.”

About Leonid Capital Partners

LEONID is the leading financial services platform supporting U.S. Federal Government contractors. As an official Department of Defense Trusted Capital Provider, LEONID offers advance financing on all government contracts, including SBIR and STTRs, and can help companies improve their strategic and working capital position to help finance growth strategies and manage operating expenses. Learn more at leonidfinance.io.