From left to right: Michael Steed, Lt. General Ken Minihan, Mark Maloney
We at Paladin Capital Group are devastated by the loss of Lieutenant General Ken Minihan, a man who shaped this firm and the people behind it into who and what we are today.
Lt. General Ken Minihan embodied the rare combination of strategic vision, unwavering patriotism, and genuine mentorship that defines a true leader. A veteran of the Vietnam War who rose to become the 14th Director of the National Security Agency and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, General Minihan dedicated more than three decades of active service to protecting our nation. He was both a proud old-school patriot and a man of the world, someone who taught us that the first casualty of war is the plan yet never wavered in his commitment to preparedness and innovation.
At Paladin, his impact on our organization and our people cannot be overstated. In fact, the firm as we know it today would not exist without his guidance. His outreach to us and our ensuing discussions shortly after the September 11th attacks redefined our mission. He firmly believed that private investment could deliver returns while doing something good for America and our allies. He infused Paladin with a national security mission and culture that transformed our investment thesis focus towards identifying and investing in technologies that could defend our critical infrastructure and make our society more resilient.
Lt. General Minihan was a man who spoke his mind with clarity and conviction – a quality that made him both an invaluable advisor and an inspiring mentor to countless team members here at Paladin. He pushed young staff members into the deep end of the work and taught them to swim and thrive. He instilled lessons learned through his decades in the military to our leadership team. And he brought invaluable experts into our firm’s Strategic Advisory Group who have helped to continue his work driving our investment thesis on national security.
In 2023, Paladin honored Lt. General Minihan with our inaugural Beacon of Light recognition – a tribute that captured his role as a source of inspiration, guidance, and hope. Ken was a beacon in the truest sense, illuminating a path forward that honored both mission and values. His passing leaves an immeasurable void, but his influence endures in the culture he helped build here at Paladin, the people he mentored, and the mission he championed. Our firm, and indeed our nation, stands as testament to his vision and his service. He will be carried forward with the work he inspired and the lives he touched.
– Michael Steed and Mark Maloney