About

Tim is a Managing Partner with Nextfed where he co-leads the firm’s strategy and merger and acquisition-related engagements in the aerospace, defense and government services markets.  He joined Nextfed after spending five years at Tangible Security, where he served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and led all M&A and investment efforts.

Previously, Tim worked for eight years as Director of Sales and Trading for Toronto-based Cambridge Mercantile Group, where he led all M&A and corporate strategy initiatives for the firm and headed the successful expansion of the firm’s presence in the United States.

Tim graduated from James Madison University with a BA in Finance, and he earned a MBA from Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business.

Josh is a Partner with Nextfed, where he co-leads the firm’s strategy and M&A-related engagements in the aerospace and defense markets.

Prior to joining Nextfed, Josh spent 9 years with Airbus. He served as the Director of Strategy and Corporate Development for Airbus in the Americas covering all aspects of growth strategy and corporate development across the three divisions within North and South America. He also held a number of roles in the Commercial Aircraft and Helicopters divisions both in France and in the US. During his time at Airbus, he was the Director of Marketing for Airbus Helicopters, North America covering market analysis and sales support teams for all of Airbus Helicopters customer groups in North America.

Josh started his career as a consultant with Avascent Group where he managed client engagements related to strategy and M&A in the Aerospace and Defense industry. He holds a BA in International Studies and Economics from the Ohio State University.

Brian is a Partner with NextFed, where he leads the firm’s Post-Transaction and Cost/Price strategy practice areas.

Brian joined NextFed following 6 years as a Principal at Avascent where he built and led a practice area focused on cost strategy and post-merger integration advisory and support. Prior to Avascent, Brian spent 17 years in the A&D industry leading business operations and price strategy teams at firms including Lockheed Martin, BAE, Leidos, and PAE. Through his combined industry and consulting experience, Brian supported some of the industry’s largest and most complex integrations, transformations, and captures.

Brian earned a BS in Finance from the University of Tennessee, an MS in Information Technology from the University of Virginia, and an MBA from American University.

Jim is a seasoned technology and investment professional with a principle focus on companies with technologies that can have a positive impact on operational efficiencies, particularly in the public sector markets. He began his career in Washington in the mid 70’s as a U.S. Government scientist. After eight years with the government, Hunt founded BDS, Incorporated, where he served as CEO for ten years. In 1991, BDS was merged with BTG, Incorporated, and Jim assisted in the integration of the two companies. In 1992, BTG was taken public in a successful offering.

Subsequent to his tenure at BDS/BTG, Jim created Price Waterhouse’s system integration practice. After two years at PW, he was recruited away with 17 PW colleagues and founded Ernst & Young Technologies (EYT), where he was CEO for eight years. EYT was subsequently sold to Cap Gemini and Jim served as President of Cap Gemini Technologies for two years.

After leaving Cap Gemini Technologies, Jim founded“The MITA Group with two colleagues. The Washington-based consultancy focused on public affairs and business strategy. MITA Group executives subsequently merged with other executives from a similar consultancy, and formed Nextfed, where Jim now serves as a Director.

Jim began his angel investing activities in the mid 1990’s with five investments in area companies. Since those initial investments, he has had over 15 successful exits, and now has an extensive portfolio of over sixty companies. His investments are in the area of cyber, data center management, social media, mobile applications, sensors and sensor management. Jim serves on the boards of Lucata, AllVision, Graphika, Information Security Corporation, Nextfed, and SpotterRF.

As an active member in multiple angel groups and also the Managing Partner of “Lavrock Fund” – an early stage venture capital fund., Jim spends a significant amount of his time scouting for world-class, game changing technology companies. Jim is also an Adjunct Professor at the McDonough School at Georgetown University and teaches cornerstone courses in business planning and entrepreneurship. As a board member of the not-for-profit Angel Resource Institute, he has also created and taught courses to international angels and entrepreneurs and has successfully launched four overseas ventures in the past ten years, with particular emphasis on technology incubation in developing countries.

Jim is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Rochester Institute of Technology and sits on the Notre Dame Engineering College Advisory Council. Additionally, he is a past chairman of the Computing Industry Technology Association.

Andrew is a Principal at Nextfed, focused on strategy and merger and acquisition advisory.  Since joining the firm, he has participated in the execution of numerous strategy and M&A engagements in defense and intelligence markets, especially those involving extensive financial and budgetary forecasting.

Prior to joining Nextfed, he spent six years as an analyst at Technomics, Inc., where he conducted cost, financial, and economic analysis on the behalf of DoD customers especially related to Army vehicle and US Navy radar programs.  Andrew also spent three years as a Research Fellow at LMI where he focused on economic analysis for USAF, USMC, NASA and FAA customers.

Andrew graduated from the University of Virginia with a BA in Mathematics and Economics, and he earned a MBA degree from Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business.

Matt Vallone is a Principal at Nextfed where he manages the development, marketing, and production of forecast and data analytics deliverables. He is a recognized authority on the U.S. defense budget process, having been published in a variety of channels. Prior to working at Nextfed, he was Director of Forecasting & Budgets at Janes where he lead a global team of defense and space-focused analysts in producing research products and data analysis. From 2014-2020 he managed the build-out and creation of the Global Platforms & Systems defense forecasting tool (GPS). Prior to his time in the private sector, he worked in the U.S. House and Senate, including serving as the Legislative Director for Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter in 2013.

Matt graduated from Saint Anselm College with a BA in Politics, and he holds an MBA from the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire and an MA in Security Policy Studies from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University.

Benji Miller is a Vice President with Nextfed, focused on strategy and M&A-related engagements in the commercial aerospace, defense, and intelligence markets. Prior to joining Nextfed, Benji was a Manager in Alvarez & Marsal’s Private Equity Services Group, where he led operational due diligences, performance improvements, and post-merger integrations. Previously, Benji was the COO of Kasita, an innovator in the modular housing industry, based in Austin, TX.

Benji served 7 years in the Central Intelligence Agency DS&T, where he led teams in the development and deployment of clandestine communication systems and was a recipient of the CIA’s John A. McCone award.

Benji previously held roles in engineering, supply chain, and program management at Textron – Cessna Aircraft, Bell Helicopter, Bell Helicopter Canada, and AAI Corp. Benji served in the Ohio Air National Guard as an Air Transportation Staff Sergeant.

Benji earned an MS in Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a BS in Engineering from Miami University.

Mike Chelena is a Vice President with Nextfed, focused primarily on private equity due diligence and M&A strategy in the defense, aerospace and government services market. Prior to joining Nextfed, Mike worked as a transaction advisory consultant at RSM US LLP, a national assurance, tax and consulting firm, where he provided financial advisory services to a variety of both private equity and strategic investor clients in the middle market. Mike began his career with RSM’s commercial audit practice, specializing in financial audits for private equity funds and portfolio companies in the government contracting and technology space.

Mike attended James Madison University where he received two Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting and Computer Information Systems and is an active CPA. He lives in Arlington, Virginia and enjoys golfing and other outdoor activities.

Tidal “Ty” McCoy is a Principal with Nextfed, focused on strategy and M&A-related engagements in the defense and intelligence markets. Prior to joining Nextfed, Ty served in several senior Acquisition and Contracting roles in Government, delivering critical support to vital national security missions.

Ty graduate from Virginia Tech with a BA in Finance, and he also earned an MBA from Virginia Tech.

Connor McCubrey is a Vice President with Nextfed focused on merger and acquisition due diligence and growth strategy in the defense and government services market.

Prior to joining Nextfed, Connor spent eight years in the United States Marine Corps. In the Marines, Connor served first as a Combat Engineer Officer and then as a Legislative Affairs Officer working in the United States Senate and for the Deputy Commandant of Combat Development and Integration. At CD&I, Connor focused on strategic engagements between Congress and the Marine Corps related to the development and acquisition of major warfighting capabilities and emerging technologies.

Connor is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and holds a MA in Security Studies from Georgetown University and a MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.

Will McKenna is a Vice President at Nextfed and is primarily focused on industry research and providing support on M&A due diligence and strategic/growth engagements.

Prior to joining Nextfed, Will graduated from the College of William and Mary, where he earned his BBA in Finance with a concentration in Business Analytics. During this time Will also completed internships at Guggenheim Partners in New York and at the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission in Washington DC.

Before attending college, Will served in the U.S. Army as an Intelligence Analyst for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Through this experience, Will had the opportunity to deploy multiple times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where he supported time-sensitive combat missions.

Ally Shaffer is an Analyst at NextFed supporting tactical growth, strategy advising, and proposal writing primarily in the Defense and Intelligence markets. Just prior to joining NextFed, Ally lived in London where she studied at The London School of Economics and Political Science. There she earned a Master’s Degree in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies. During this time Ally also worked with a variety of UN and European organizations on projects and strategy workshops, further expanding on her educational background and now bringing those analytical and strategy support skills to the team.

Stephanie Malm is an Associate at Nextfed supporting tactical growth, strategy advising, and proposal writing primarily in the Defense and Intelligence markets.  Prior to joining Nextfed, Stephanie was a Contracting Officer with the Federal Government with extensive federal acquisition experience in competing priority and high-impact environments.  Stephanie leverages her experience with project management, cost and price analysis, and the entire contracts lifecycle in her work at Nextfed.

Stephanie graduated from Virginia Tech with a BA in Business Management, and is training to become Shipley Certified.

Kevin Moyer is an Associate with Nextfed, focused primarily on private equity due diligence and M&A strategy in the defense, aerospace, and government services markets.

Prioring to joining NextFed, Kevin worked as a senior analyst at New Enterprise Associates, a venture capital firm investing in technology and healthcare companies. He provided due diligence on potential investments and assisted with financial projections. Kevin began his career as an investment banking Analyst for Matrix Capital Markets Group, and was responsible for conducting financial, industry, and buyer research, creating valuation and financing models, and preparing selling and private placement memorandum.

Kevin attended Towson University where he received a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance. He enjoys working out and being outdoors with his German Shepherd, Mac.

Karly Clayton is a Senior Analyst at Nextfed supporting tactical growth, strategy advising, and proposal writing primarily in the Defense and Intelligence markets. Prior to joining Nextfed, Karly served in several Acquisition and Contracting roles in the Federal Government, delivering critical support to vital national security missions. Karly leverages her educational background, her business advisory skills, and her Federal Acquisition experience to drive client’s strategic goals at Nextfed.

Karly graduated from Virginia Tech with a BS in Business Management, and completed her MBA at American University.

Sean Stenderowicz is a Senior Associate with Nextfed, focused both on private equity due diligence and M&A strategy in the defense, aerospace, and government services markets.

Prior to joining Nextfed, Sean was a senior investment banking analyst at The Chertoff Group, an investment bank that primarily serves the defense, intelligence, and national security markets. He supported buy-side and private equity due diligence, Investment Committee materials, and cradle-to-grave sell-side execution. Sean’s career started at BAE Systems, where he began in its Finance Leadership Development Program and ultimately supported 5 different finance functions throughout his tenure.

Sean attended Pennsylvania State University where he received a Bachelors of Science in Accounting and a minor in International Business.

Russell brings over thirteen years of leadership experience to his role as Vice President at Nextfed, where he leads strategy and M&A consulting solutions for clients in the aerospace, defense, and government services industries. He is responsible for overseeing multiple growth-focused initiatives and managing some of Nextfed’s key accounts.

Before his tenure at Nextfed, Russell served as a Director at Deep Water Point (formerly Wolf Den), where he played a pivotal role in business development and managed the firm’s flagship accounts. His work involved engaging directly with a diverse range of federal clients, from small businesses to multi-billion-dollar companies, to conduct thorough current state assessments and provide strategic insights aimed at optimizing future growth both organically and through M&A.

A former Fighter Pilot for the United States Navy, Russell has extensive experience in program and project management. He was the Strategy and Planning Lead, responsible for training over 200 aviators annually from the US, Saudi Arabia, and Germany in complex tactical aviation scenarios. Previously, as Director of Quality Assurance for the US Navy, he oversaw 12 maintenance programs involving six aircraft and ordnance, with a total value exceeding $600 million.

Russell earned a BS in Biology and Chemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana and an MBA with a focus on Strategy from Indiana University. He also lends his expertise as a board member for various startups. Russell resides in Gulf Breeze, Florida, with his family.