About Defense Venture Group

Business Units   |  Board of Directors   |  Business Unit Managers

Defense Venture Group (DVG) designs and manufactures innovative force protection systems and products primarily for government applications through three business units: ArmorLine, Indigen Armor and Dynamic Runflats. DVG is a portfolio company of J.F. Lehman & Company, a leading middle-market private equity investment firm focused solely on the defense, aerospace and marine sectors.

The company was founded in 2004 by military veterans with extensive Special Operations and high-risk protection backgrounds. The founders, JFL and DVG are deeply committed to the development of cutting-edge force protection technologies, systems and products to help ensure the safety of government personnel.

Business Units

ArmorLine is a leading manufacturer of transparent Spinel ceramic – a revolutionary ceramic material whose combination of high-hardness, lightweight, and broadband optical transmission properties make it ideal for transparent armor and sensor applications. Spinel has significant advantages relative to other transparency alternatives. For example, Spinel requires >50% less weight and thickness for a given level of ballistic protection, offers better chemical and physical erosion resistance and produces superior optical transmission relative to current glass-based alternatives. DVG is currently growing its Spinel manufacturing capabilities to produce large size plates at high volumes and expects to be on-line in 2011. Low volume Spinel production capabilities currently exist and samples are available for purchase.

Indigen Armor is a leading designer and manufacturer of purpose-built armored vehicles designed specifically to blend into local operating environments. Indigen Armor’s vehicles are designed to meet each customer's specific performance and appearance requirements and are engineered as a total system to provide a no compromise protective solution. Our purpose-built vehicles are designed and engineered from the inside out to provide end users with better protection, durability and performance than retrofitted alternatives.

Dynamic Runflats has developed a revolutionary ballistic-resistant, three-piece polymeric run-flat tire system designed specifically for government vehicles. This system has been designed to outperform all currently fielded run-flat tire systems and for rapid replacement under adverse field conditions. Further, the systems exceed U.S. Army TACOM endurance, on-road and mission profile requirements and have been tested extensively at the Nevada Automotive Test Center, TARDEC Test Lab and the Yuma Military Proving Grounds.

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Board of Directors

Tig H. Krekel - Chairman of the Board, Interim President and CEO of DVG and Vice Chairman of J.F. Lehman & Company. Prior to joining JFL, Mr. Krekel served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Hughes Space and Communications, President of Boeing Satellite Systems and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aerospace Equipment Systems Group of Allied Signal (now Honeywell).

C. Alexander Harman - Partner, J.F. Lehman & company. Prior to joining JFL, Mr. Harman was a member of the Global Energy Group at J.P. Morgan & Company where he focused on mergers and acquisitions as well as debt and equity financings.

General John P. Abizaid, U.S. Army (Ret) - retired from the United States Army after thirty-four years, during which he rose from infantry platoon leader to become the youngest Four Star General in the Army and the longest-serving commander of the United States Central Command.

General Ronald R. Fogleman, U.S. Air Force (Ret) - retired from the United States Air Force in 1997 following a thirty-four year career. A decorated fighter pilot and combat veteran, he later served as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff becoming the first United States Air Force Academy graduate to advance to Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

Forrest W. Carroll III - Co-founder and Vice President of DVG, Mr. Carroll is a former U.S Army Paratrooper and the former President of The Scotti School of Defensive Driving. Mr. Carroll has provided specialized security training and protective services to corporations and in support of U.S. national security interests worldwide.

Ronald A. Griffin - Co-founder and Vice President of DVG, Mr. Griffin served nine years in the military including five years in the U.S. Army Special Forces. Following his military service, Mr. Griffin provided close combat protection in support of U.S. national security interests.

In Memoriam

John M. Zinn - Co-founder, Former President and CEO of DVG. Mr. Zinn was a former U.S. Navy SEAL who following military service led combat operations in support of U.S. national security interests. His vision and leadership were major contributing factors to the success of DVG. He will be missed.  May we strive to continue his dream.

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Senior Managers

Mike Rowland - Senior Vice President of DVG. Mr. Rowland brings over 25 years experience in the Military and Aerospace marketplaces. His previous experience includes serving as Vice President and General Manager of the Defense and Aerospace Division of Special Devices, Inc. and AlliedSignal Aerospace, which became Honeywell International, were he held leadership and managerial positions of increasing responsibility in Manufacturing Engineering, Business Administration, Logistics Operations, R&O Operations, Program Management and Sales and Marketing. Mr. Rowland has a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Millikin University and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Arizona State University.

Christopher N. Cathers - General Manager of Indigen Armor, Mr. Cathers is a former Green Beret who following military service provided close combat protection in support of U.S. National security interests.

Lawrence Shaffer - General Manager of ArmorLine Corporation, joined Defense Venture Group in January 2010 after 20 years with PPG Industries in their transparent armor, aerospace transparencies, and automotive glass businesses.

Michael D. Marquart - General Manager of Dynamic Runflats, Mr. Marquart brings over 30 years of private sector automotive experience to DVG, with a broad background in management, sales, marketing and manufacturing operations.

Joseph J. (J.J.) Nick - Director of Manufacturing Engineering, Mr. Nick worked for AlliedSignal / Honeywell Aerospace for 17 years as a Ceramic Engineer and Engineering Manager. Mr. Nick has 15 years of experience applying Six Sigma, Design for Six Sigma and Lean principles in engineering and manufacturing environments.

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