Washington, D.C. – Paladin Capital Group, the multi-stage investor in cyber, AI and advanced technology, is pleased to announce that former U.S. National Cyber Director Chris Inglis and retired Air Force four-star General Mike Minihan have been named as Managing Directors.
Both Inglis and Gen. Minihan are currently members of the firm’s Strategic Advisory Group (SAG), a team of experienced advisors specializing in security, government and commercial markets to support the firm’s investment strategy and portfolio companies. In their new roles on Paladin’s leadership team, Inglis will also serve as a member of Paladin’s Executive Committee, and General Minihan will serve on the Cyber Fund III Investment Committee.
“Chris and Mike are dedicated leaders whose years of experience serving our nation is unparalleled,” said Michael Steed, Founder and Managing Partner of Paladin Capital Group. “At Paladin, we are fortunate to have them as members of our executive leadership team. Together, their keen insights and strong command of evolving issues related to cybersecurity, defense, national security, AI and protecting our critical infrastructure will serve our investment team well for years to come.”
From 2021 to 2023, Inglis served in the White House as the first Senate-confirmed U.S. National Cyber Director, where he oversaw the development of national security and cyber workforce education strategies, and strengthened public-private collaboration to improve accountability in cyberspace. This role followed his time as a Commissioner on the U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission (2019-2020) where he crafted policy recommendations to guide U.S. cybersecurity strategy. He also served as a Paladin Managing Director for seven years prior to his nomination by President Biden as the nation’s first National Cyber Director. Before that, he served as the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of the National Security Agency (NSA) from 2006-2014.
Inglis also recently received the Intelligence and National Security Alliance’s (INSA) esteemed 2026 William Oliver Baker Award. This distinction, considered a highly prestigious honor in U.S. national security and intelligence communities, recognizes Inglis’s sustained commitment and excellence in intelligence and national security affairs.
“For years I have had the privilege of working with Paladin’s leadership team and have seen firsthand their commitment to drive innovation in cyber and advanced technologies at a pivotal moment for national security,” said Former National Cyber Director Inglis. “I’m thrilled to rejoin this talented group and for the work that lies ahead to support Paladin’s investment strategy and our portfolio companies as they address our most pressing security imperatives.”
General Mike Minihan is a former Air Force 4-star general who now heads his own aerospace and technology consulting firm, Mavericks Advisors. Gen. Minihan helps executives manage risk and exploit opportunities, especially in global operations, logistics, risk management, multi-domain integration, and innovation. He served for over three decades in the U.S. Air Force, where in his last role he led the world’s largest flying operation with over 100,000 airmen executing global air mobility missions with a fleet of over 1,000 aircraft. He organized forces on urgent, high impact operations including delivering weapons to Ukraine, sending humanitarian supplies to Gaza and security assistance to Israel, and completing the most demanding military exercise ever in the Indo-Pacific region.
Previously, Minihan served as Deputy Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, which covers over 40 countries in Asia and in an area with more than 50 percent of all global population and trade. Throughout his 34+ year career, he commanded at multiple levels including squadrons, wings, and a task force, accumulating over 3,400 flying hours as a command pilot in airlift and tanker aircraft.
“I’m honored to step into this new role with Paladin,” said General Minihan. “Having spent a career managing global operations and emerging security challenges, I understand the critical importance of investing in breakthrough technologies and believe deeply in Paladin’s mission. I’m committed to leveraging my expertise to identify and support innovations that will enhance our nation’s capabilities and competitiveness in an increasingly complex threat environment.”
About Paladin Capital Group
Paladin Capital Group was founded in 2001 and has offices in Washington DC, New York, London, Luxembourg, and Silicon Valley. As a multi-stage, dual-use investor, Paladin’s core strength is identifying, supporting, and investing in innovative companies that develop promising, early-stage technologies to address the critical cyber, AI, defense and advanced technology needs of both commercial and government customers.
Combining proven investment experience with deep expertise in global security, cyber technology, and cutting-edge research, Paladin has invested in more than 90 companies since 2008 and has been a trusted partner to investors, entrepreneurs, and governments for over two decades.
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