Chris VanSant is a retired Delta Force operator with over 20 years of military service and 11 combat deployments. He later led capability development and procurement for 1st Special Forces Command, overseeing a $2.1B acquisition portfolio and personally fielding 23 new Programs of Record.

Post-service, he scaled Tyr Tactical from $8M to $50M+ as COO, gaining deep insight into defense manufacturing and procurement. In 2022, he launched VanSant Ventures to help founders navigate the defense ecosystem, combining elite operational credibility with rare acquisition and business expertise.

Nick Ferguson is a retired Special Forces veteran with 20+ years of military service and seven combat deployments. He served as Senior Enlisted Advisor to PEO-C4 within SOF-AT&L and as the Acquisition Program Manager for SOF Tactical Communications, overseeing a $250M annual portfolio of advanced communications systems—guiding programs from funding and development to testing, procurement, and fielding across Special Operations Forces.

After continuing in that APM role post-retirement, he joined VanSant Ventures to help defense companies navigate acquisitions and deliver mission-critical tech to the warfighter.

Thomas Burton is a retired U.S. Army Special Operations Master Sergeant with 20+ years of service and 7 combat deployments. He spent 11 years in Special Operations, including 7 as a Ground Mobility Assault Driver in Delta Force, before managing SOF ground mobility programs for U.S. Special Operations Command and overseeing platforms like the Polaris MRZR, GMV 1.1, and multiple non-standard vehicles.

After leading SOF mobility training programs, he founded two West Virginia businesses before joining VanSant Ventures, where he applies his combat, technical, and acquisition expertise to help defense companies deliver trusted mobility and tactical solutions.