Dan Olson is Vice President and General Manager for Northrop Grumman Armament Systems Business Unit headquartered in Plymouth, MN. The business unit, in unison with its customers and industry partners, creates and delivers superior armaments and services for those who defend their nation’s security. Dan is responsible for the unit’s culture of success, execution of current programs and their associated financial performance and the organization’s future through ensuring that it is positioned to grow through innovation, continuous improvement and profitability.

With more than 20 years’ experience, Dan has significant experience in Strategic Planning, Business Development and International Business. He has applied these on the success of individuals and the development of high performing teams; the integration of capabilities and products to create longstanding customer relationships and, most recently, the organization and growth of the division to succeed internationally and deliver outstanding business results.

Dan holds a bachelor’s degree in business and economics from Bethel College, and a J.D. from Hamline Law School, both located in St. Paul, MN.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide.

Jim O’Leary currently serves as Executive Chairman and Interim CEO of DMC Global. He has extensive expertise in the construction and industrial manufacturing industries and is on the board of publicly traded Builders FirstSource, Inc. He has served as Chairman of Kinematics, a global leader in creating motion control solutions for the utility- cale solar, satellite and industrials sectors since 2015; and as a director of privately held ProSource Plumbing Supply.

Mr. O’Leary was chairman of publicly traded BMC Stock Holdings, Inc. prior to its merger with Builders FirstSource in 2021. He was also Chairman and CEO of Kaydon Corporation, Inc., a leading, publicly traded manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products. He more recently served as chairman and CEO of WireCo, a leading supplier of steel and synthetic rope and electromechanical cable for global energy markets. His experience also includes extensive work as a director and senior advisor at several leading private equity firms.

Mr. O’Leary began his career at Deloitte & Touche LLP, and holds an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He earned a B.B.A. from Pace University in New York and is a CPA in the state of New York.

US Navy (retired) is CEO and co-founder of SupplyTrust Technologies. Using human and artificial intelligence, SupplyTrust analyzes complex, multi-tear supply chains to accelerate throughput and mitigate risk.

Admiral Morgan entered the US Navy in 1972 and for the next 36 years was steeped in the practical side of planning, executing, and leading success. On Sept. 11, 2001, John was commanding 10,000 men and women of the USS Enterprise carrier battle group, just then exiting the Strait of Hormuz. Upon getting word of the second plane hitting the World Trade Center he immediately turned the group—on his own authority—to be first in the theater of operations against al Qaeda and the Taliban. For his leadership in combat, John was awarded the Bronze Star.

Admiral Morgan capped his naval career as a key advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. As a deputy to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, John constantly dealt with risk and reward calculations in selecting the next generation of military equipment and systems. In the Navy, John is credited with elevating the role strategy plays in making smart investments.

Admiral Morgan was the Chairman and CEO of private equity owned Nobles Worldwide where he grew the business to record profitability leading to a rapid exit in 2014, at an extraordinary valuation after which he remained with the business for the next owners’ hold. In 2019, Admiral Morgan became the CEO of Nautilus Integrated Solutions. He graduated with an economics degree from the University of Virginia.

U.S. Navy (ret.), is the Dean of the Center for Maritime Strategy. He is a 1981 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. ADM Foggo is also an Olmsted Scholar and Moreau Scholar, earning a Master of Public Administration at Harvard University and a Diplome d’Etudes Approfondies in Defense and Strategic Studies from the University of Strasbourg, France. He commanded the attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723) in 1998, which was awarded the Submarine Squadron 8 Battle Efficiency “E” award and the Admiral Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy, for being the most improved ship in the Atlantic Fleet.

Following command of USS Oklahoma City, he would go on to command eight more times to include: Submarine Squadron 6 in Norfolk, Virginia; Submarine Group 8; Allied Submarines South; the U.S. 6th Fleet; Allied Striking and Support Forces NATO; Naval Forces Europe; Naval Forces Africa; and Allied Joint Forces Command (NATO), all headquartered in Naples, Italy.

During these command tours, he participated in combat operations as the Operations Officer for Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn (Libya) in 2011 and Commander Naval Forces Europe for strike operations against Syrian chemical weapons sites in April 2018.

Throughout his career, Foggo has been a champion of the Navy as an extended arm of diplomacy. He maintained close relationships with the U.S. ambassadors in his area of responsibility from Europe to Africa and into the Middle East. He sponsored numerous regional ambassadors conferences at his headquarters in Naples to address security challenges in the Balkans, Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions. Throughout 2021, he taught a seminar at the Foreign Service Institute on civil-military relations for rising foreign service officers. In November 2021, Foggo was named to the American Academy of Diplomacy as one of a handful of retired flag officers who serve alongside more than 200 retired ambassadors with the common goal of enhancing American diplomacy around the globe.

Foggo is a Distinguished Fellow of the Center for European Policy Analysis and a Distinguished Fellow of the Council on Competitiveness. He is a member of the board of directors of the Olmsted Foundation and the Naval Historical Foundation. He occupies a seat on the editorial board of the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Explorer’s Club of New York. Admiral Foggo sits on the Senior Military Advisors Group at the United States Institute of Peace.

His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit and NATO Meritorious Service Medal. In addition, he is the recipient of the French Chevalier de l’Ordre National de Merité and the Legion d’Honneur, the Cross of Saint George (Portugal), the White Cross of the Naval Order of the Spanish Armada, the Meritorious Service Cross from the Governor General of Canada, the rank of Commendatore from the President of Italy, and Knight of the Grand Cross of Kingdom of Two Sicilies.

Bio Coming Soon

U.S. Navy (retired) served as a career Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy from 1977 to 2011. While in command of USS Russell (DDG-59) he executed Tomahawk strikes in support of Operation Desert Strike in 1996. In major command of Destroyer Squadron 31 Daly served as Sea Combat Commander for Abraham Lincoln Battle Group which included a Persian Gulf deployment supporting Operation Southern Watch.

As a flag officer, Daly served at sea as Commander, Carrier Strike Group11. During this tour, he deployed to 5th and 7th Fleet Areas of Responsibility executing combat operations in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. As Commander, Carrier Strike Group 11, he led Task Forces 50, 152, and 58 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and maritime interception operations in the Persian Gulf.

Additionally, he served ashore as Deputy Director for Resources and Acquisition (J-8) in the Joint Staff, Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, Deputy N3/N5 and Acting N3/N5 in the OPNAV Staff. He was Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

Upon retiring from the Navy, Daly served as CEO of the U.S. Naval Institute from July 2011 through November 2023. During this period, the Naval Institute reformed its governance, recapitalized itself, and digitized its content. The Naval Institute exponentially increased its reach and engagement, executed a start-up of USNI News, greatly expanded social media, increased its program of live events, and completed a major capital project — the building of the Jack C. Taylor Conference Center.

Alan Bersin has held numerous high-level positions at the federal, state, and local levels of government. After serving as the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Mr. Bersin served as the Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs and Chief Diplomatic Officer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Previously, he was Secretary of Education in California, the Superintendent of Public Education in San Diego, and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California and the Attorney General’s Southwest Border Representative at the Department of Justice. He also served as Vice President for the Americas and on the Executive Committee of INTERPOL and as a Senior Fellow with the Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Before entering public service, Bersin was a senior partner in the law firm of Munger Tolles & Olson.

Mr. Bersin is now a Senior Adviser at the law firm of Covington & Burling, LLP, a Global Fellow at the Wilson Center for International Scholars, the Inaugural North America Fellow at its Canada and Mexico Institutes and the Executive Chairman of Altana Technologies, a company that applies artificial intelligence to large, organized sets of supply chain data in order to facilitate visibility and comprehensive value chain management in global trade.

Vice President of Business Development

Jack joined Compass in 2025. He focuses on originating new investment opportunities, supporting the investment process, and assisting portfolio companies.

Before joining Compass, Jack worked at a private credit fund focused on the aerospace, defense, and renewable energy sectors and served as a Nuclear Submarine Officer in the U.S. Navy.

Jack graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a degree in Quantitative Economics, where he was the captain of the men’s lacrosse team.

Vice President of Investor Relations and Administration

Torey joined Compass Partners in 2018. She is responsible for the firms Investor Relations efforts, as well as HR & Recruiting and Accounting & Administration.

Before joining Compass, Torey worked at Basso Capital Management, providing support to the CEO, Marketing & Investor Relations, Accounting, and Legal & Compliance teams. She also worked as a conference coordinator in the Global Access group at Jefferies and as an associate at Silicon Valley Bank in Boston.

Torey completed her BA in Communication at Boston College while captaining its Division-1 swim team.

Co-Founder & Managing Director

James joined Compass in 2014. He manages the firm’s investment business and day-to-day operations in addition to leading Compass deal teams from sourcing through execution.

Before joining Compass, James served as a US Navy SEAL platoon commander and as a White House staffer, including a stint at the Office of Management and Budget.

James received his BA cum laude from Harvard College and his MBA from Harvard Business School where he was a George F. Baker Scholar.

Founder & Chairman

Steve founded Compass in 1997 and is its Managing Partner.

He assisted in raising and subsequently managed Compass’ successful $900+ million European Equity Fund. In 2016 that Fund’s team completed a €1.7 billion portfolio purchase of assets from Bridgepoint.

Prior to Compass, Steve ran the Mergers & Acquisitions departments at Lehman Brothers and then Morgan Stanley, and was on the latter’s Operating Committee as Co-CEO of Morgan Stanley International in London. He was Chairman of the US Naval Institute and remains on its Foundation’s Board, as well as those of Valero and Boston Private Financial, which he chairs.

Steve was a George F. Baker Scholar at Harvard Business School, Lieutenant in the US Navy, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard College.

Associate

Jim joined Compass in 2024. He assists the firm’s sourcing of new investment opportunities, modeling and analyses for potential investments, and monitoring of portfolio companies’ financial performance.

Prior to Compass, Jim worked for Kroll’s Transaction Advisory Services group providing Quality of Earnings and key financial analyses for buyers, sellers and banks in M&A transactions. He also worked for Deloitte in their Risk and Financial Advisory practice.

Jim graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2019 with a bachelor’s and master’s in accounting.

Managing Director

Antoine joined Compass in 2012. An aerospace engineer, banker, and investor, he leads Compass deal teams from sourcing through execution in addition to managing relationships with lenders and debt providers.

His 30 year experience includes: international operations in aerospace and defense at Airbus, Matra, Fairchild and L3 Technologies; investment banking at Salomon Brothers, Hambros Bank, and BNP Paribas; and private equity at 21 Partners, KCP, and Lagardere.

Antoine graduated from ISAE/SupAero, received his MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management as a Rotary Foundation Scholar, and completed specialist executive programs in operations, strategy, and negotiations from Harvard and MIT.

Analyst

Christian joined Compass in 2016 following a successful internship. He focuses on business development efforts, conducts in-depth analytics, and supports all facets of deal execution.

Prior to Compass, Christian worked as a financial analyst at an industrial manufacturing company.

Christian graduated from Johns Hopkins with a major in International Studies.

Senior Advisor

Gene joined Compass in 2008. He is responsible for sourcing and executing the firm’s advisory assignments and assists in execution on investing opportunities.

Prior to Compass, Gene was a senior banker at The Blackstone Group and Salomon Brothers, with over 20 years of experience advising companies and investors in the technology, communications, energy, chemicals, industrial products, personal care, retail & apparel, entertainment, business services, food & beverage and media sectors.

Gene was previously a Law Clerk to the Honorable J. Clifford Wallace, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Gene graduated from Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School and also attended the California Institute of Technology as a graduate student in chemistry.