CHAOS Industries Names Former U.S. Congressman and C.I.A. Veteran Will Hurd as Chief Strategy Officer

Hurd brings significant cyber and national security experience to guide defense technology company through next phase of accelerated growth and development.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CHAOS Industries, a technology company building the next generation of defense and national security systems, today announced the appointment of former U.S. Representative Will Hurd as Chief Strategy Officer.

Mr. Hurd brings decades of leadership experience to his role, as well as a deep understanding of the central role technology must play in countering the increasingly sophisticated security threats the U.S. and its allies face. In both the public and private sectors, he has a significant track record of advancing innovation, shaping policy, and securing positive results through the real-world application of transformative technologies.

He is uniquely positioned to support CHAOS Industries’ mission-driven engineering strategy as it builds partnerships and enters the next phase of its commercial growth and development.

Mr. Hurd served with the Central Intelligence Agency for nine years, including tours of duty in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. His work as a clandestine officer gave him years of experience with the critical international issues facing our country and our allies.

He also represented Texas’s 23^rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2015 to 2021, serving on committees on Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and Appropriations. During his tenure, Mr. Hurd spearheaded landmark legislation that has enhanced critical U.S. national security capabilities as well as the federal government’s approach to technology, including the Strengthening and Enhancing Cyber-capabilities by Utilizing Risk Exposure Technology Act and the Modernizing Government Technology Act.

Mr. Hurd also served as a Managing Director at Allen & Company, Senior Advisor at FusionX, Partner at Crumpton Group, Trustee at In-Q-Tel, and Board Member at OpenAI.

“Most of my adult life has been spent in defense of our nation and I’m excited to continue this important work with the world-class team at CHAOS Industries,” said CHAOS Industries Chief Strategy Officer Will Hurd. “We are entering a pivotal era for defense and security and it is a national imperative that our technological capabilities rise to meet the moment. America faces growing and more sophisticated threats, particularly in the area of augmented warfare, and we must embrace new and disruptive technologies to remain ahead of our adversaries.”

CHAOS Industries is led by a multi-disciplinary team comprised of veteran engineers from Palantir, Epirus, IBM, Raytheon and other leading companies. The company was founded in 2022 by John Tenet (Epirus and 8VC), Dr. Bo Marr (Epirus and Raytheon), Gavin Hood (Palantir and UK Secret Intelligence Service), and Brett Cummings (8VC and Formation 8).

“We are thrilled to welcome Will Hurd to our team,” said CHAOS Industries Founder and CEO John Tenet. “His exceptional leadership experience and innovative mindset will be invaluable as we continue to drive our mission forward. For decades, Will has been at the vanguard of technology, national security, and public policy – ensuring that America remains the most powerful country in the world. His commitment to excellence and the national mission aligns perfectly with our vision, and together we are poised to have a significant impact on the defense tech sector.”

Today, CHAOS Industries’ team of more than 70 professionals are focused on delivering advanced detection, monitoring, and communication solutions to the defense, government, and commercial sectors.

Specifically, CHAOS Industries has invented a paradigm-shifting technology called coherent distributed networks, which enable unprecedented performance for sensors and effectors. The first product in this category, Vanquish, is a dual-use, multistatic commercial radar that provides early warning and tracking capabilities against unmanned aerial systems (UAS), missiles, and aircraft. With over 1,000 hours of TRL-9 operation, Vanquish has demonstrated world-class range against targets from Group 1 UAS, to fighter jets, as well as other cutting-edge capabilities like anti-jamming technology.

CHAOS Industries has received funding from renowned VC investors. In March 2023, the company closed a $70 million Series A funding round, which was led by 8VC with additional backing from Alpha Wave Global and Lerner Enterprises – demonstrating growing recognition of the tremendous value opportunity in defense and critical industry technologies.

About CHAOS Industries:
CHAOS Industries is a technology company that is building the next generation of defense and critical industry technologies. Applying an engineering-led strategy, CHAOS Industries provides mission-driven, world-class engineers with a platform to build solutions to critical real-world problems. CHAOS Industries’ sprint engineering system leads to rapid prototyping, while deep partnerships with defense and industry ensure real-world application.

CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 by John Tenet (Epirus and 8VC), Dr. Bo Marr (Epirus and Raytheon), Gavin Hood (Palantir and UK Secret Intelligence Service), and Brett Cummings (8VC and Formation 8).

To learn more, please visit www.chaosinc.com.