Mission Success Doesn’t Happen by Chance
Mission success doesn’t start with the mission itself. It starts here. With honing every skill, tightening every nut, masterminding every plan. Preparing you for the worst so you can always be your best. Our exceptional staff, a vast differentiated fleet and leading technology are engaged each and every day, in each and every task. To prepare you for combat, to search for the missing, to deliver aircraft in top shape. To save lives. Our services are exclusive, exceptional and absolutely vital.
Because when operating in a congested airspace, a mile is an inch. When you are called upon to make a split second decision it has ramifications that could live on for decades. Lives, borders, even world order is at stake.
We are engaged. Prepare to prevail.
Your Mission Success. Every Time.
We ensure our customers succeed in every single operation they undertake.
We Sharpen Warriors, Protect Borders and Save Lives.
With exceptional service and knowledge we provide readiness when it matters.
Prepare to Prevail.
Mission success doesn’t happen by chance. It comes from rigorous preparation.
Leadership
Executive
Nic Anderson
CEO
Nic was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Draken in 2023. His previous roles include Chief Executive Officer UK Defence at QinetiQ as well as a number of Managing Director roles including at Babcock International Group, VT Group and CAE. Nic graduated in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and in 1999 received an Engineering Doctorate from the University of Warwick. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Programme and a qualified coach with an Advanced Diploma in Executive Coaching.
Sarah Harrison
CFO
Sarah Harrison is the Chief Financial Officer for Draken, where she leads the Finance and Accounting teams and is responsible for the finance strategy and financial activities. Before joining Draken, Sarah was a Group Controller at Cobham Plc, a multi-national FTSE 250 group, where she played a key role in Cobham being taken private by Advent International, separating the organization into standalone businesses. Before her employment at Cobham, Sarah was a Director at PwC, the professional services firm, where she specialized in the Aerospace and Defense sector, serving high profile FTSE 250 clients.
Board of Directors
General David Goldfein
Blackstone Senior Advisor
Prior Roles: 21st Chief of Staff U.S. Air Force, Vice Chief of Staff to the U.S. Air Force, Director Joint Staff, the Pentagon Gen. David L. Goldfein was the 21st Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. As Chief, he served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of 685,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. As members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Chief of Staff and other service chiefs function as military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the President. General Goldfein was the Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, where he presided over the Air Staff and served as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Requirements Oversight Council and Deputy Advisory Working Group. Before serving as the Vice Chief, General Goldfein was the Director, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. General Goldfein received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1983. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and is a command pilot with more than 4,200 flying hours in the T-37, T-38, F-16C/D, F-117A, MQ-9 and MC-12W. He has flown combat missions in operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Allied Force and Enduring Freedom.
General The Lord Houghton of Richmond
Crossbencher, UK House of Lords / Constable of the Tower of London
Prior Roles: Former UK Chief of Defence Staff, Former Chief of Joint Operations, in charge of all overseas operations of UK Forces, Former Colonel Commandant of the Intelligence Corps In his 43 year military career, earned operational awards as a Commanding Officer and Brigade Commander Gen. Houghton deployed as Senior British Military Representative and Deputy Commanding General, Multi-National Force – Iraq during the Iraq War. Later, he became Chief of Joint Operations at Permanent Joint Headquarters and served as Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff General Houghton took over as Chief of the Defence Staff with critical objectives to re-shape the Armed forces in the post-Afghanistan era.
Gary L. Thomas
Former CEO, Draken International
Prior Roles: Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources. While on active duty, General Thomas served in several FA-18 squadrons. He commanded VMFA-323 during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM while embarked aboard the USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64). He also commanded Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), and he served as the Commanding General, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) in Afghanistan as well as the Commanding General, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing in Cherry Point, North Carolina. He also served as Assistant Wing Commander of 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, the assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation, and as the Marine Corps Deputy Director of Operations. His joint assignments include service in the Joint Staff Strategic Plans Directorate (J-5) and in the Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment Directorate (J-8). General Thomas is a graduate of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, the Navy Fighter Weapons School, Air Command and Staff College, and the National War College. He holds a MS from National Defense University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas.
Deborah Ricci
Guidehouse - Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer (Washington D.C.)
Prior Roles: Constellis Group, Centerra Group, A-T Solutions, Allied Defense Group, Hemagen Diagnostics Prior to her promotion to CFO, Deborah Ricci served as the SVP of Finance and Accounting at Constellis. Previously, Debbie had served as the CFO of Centerra Group since November 2015. Prior to her CFO role at Centerra, Debbie was the CFO of a leading counterterrorism firm from 2010 to 2015, where she led the sale of that company to a large government contractor. Deborah Ricci has more than 23 years of experience as a proven financial executive in public and nonpublic manufacturing and product development organizations. She served as the Chief Financial Officer of Allied Defense Group Inc., from April 6, 2007 to June 1, 2010 and also served as Treasurer since April 2007, was responsible for all financial management, including financing, SEC reporting, long-term business planning, treasury management and internal control monitoring. She served as Controller and Company Secretary of Allied Defense Group Inc. from 2006 to April 2007.
Roderick McLean
Lockheed Martin Corporation - Vice President and General Manager Air Mobility & Maritime Missions, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.
Prior Roles: Lockheed Martin: VP and Gen. Mgr. F-16/F-22 Integrated Fighter Group, VP and Deputy, Program Director In his more than 27-year career with Lockheed Martin, Roderick has consistently demonstrated his ability to manage large-scale, complex programs and deliver results. Previously, he served as F-16 deputy vice president and F-16 program director for various countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. Roderick began his Lockheed Martin career as a Radar Systems engineer in Moorestown, N.J, and he has held numerous leadership roles since that time. Roderick holds an Electrical Engineering degree from North Carolina A&T State University, a master’s degree in Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.
Mario Parisi
Swiped.com – Founder
Prior Roles: MSND Financials, MSI Merchant Services Inc Mario’s entrepreneurial spirit and extraordinary business acumen have led to financial success. Mario invested and launched MSI Merchant Services, Inc which grew into a leading nationwide card processor. In 2014, Mario and his partner sold the company. Honoring his five-year non-compete agreement, he and two partners established another card processing company, SWIPED, in 2019. Mario became involved in the funding and developing of Opportunity Zoned Properties. Opportunity Zone Funding is a national community investment instrument that connects private capital with low-income communities in the U.S. and allows investors to mitigate tax consequences from capital gains. He also owns rental properties in several New Jersey neighborhoods and finances the commercial enterprises of those seeking monetary loans through the limited-liability company, MSND. Mario converted a seven-figure debt structure into equity of Draken, securing him a 30% interest in the largest jet fighter company in the world. In 2019, Blackstone purchased Draken. This prompted Mario to sell 24% of Draken, leaving him with a significant stake in the company. Mr. Parisi attended Seton Hall Preparatory High School and went on to study at St. John’s University
Todd Hirsch
Blackstone – Senior Managing Director in the Tactical Opportunities Group
Prior Roles: Deutsche Bank, Littlejohn & Co. LLC, Schroder Wertheim & Co. Todd has led a number of TacOpp’s current and past investments including InComm Payments, North American Bancard, PayPal Credit, Global Supply Chain Finance, Peridot Payments, BTIG, CF SPAC, Acrisure, Draken, Amergint Technologies, Danbury Mission Technologies, Bridger Aerospace, Van Metre Homebuilders, Hudson Structured Capital Management, YES Networks, ZO Skin Health, Valkyrie Aviation, GeoComply Solutions, Certified Collectibles Group, and DECA Dental. Todd started his career at Schroder Wertheim & Co. as an analyst after graduating magna cum laude from Duke University.
David Kaden
Blackstone – Principal in the Tactical Opportunities Group
Prior Roles: White House, Federal Reserve Bank of New York David Kaden is a Principal in the Tactical Opportunities Group, where he is involved in the execution of the firm’s investments. Tac Opps is Blackstone’s opportunistic investment business which invests globally across asset classes and industries and seeks to identify and execute on attractive, differentiated investment opportunities Mr. Kaden is currently a member of the Board of Directors of ARKA, Draken and Diamonds Direct and an observer to the board of Bridger Aerospace and Cargo X. Mr. Kaden received an AB from Harvard College, a JD from Yale Law School, and served as a law clerk to Judge Jose A. Cabranes on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.