Team
Dakota Defense Strategies brings together nationally connected leaders with deep South Dakota roots and distinguished careers spanning military service, national security, defense technology, corporate leadership, venture investing, and public policy.
United by longstanding relationships and a shared commitment to service, our leadership team brings complementary perspectives to a common mission: strengthening America’s Defense Industrial Base, advancing defense innovation across the Dakotas and the Upper Midwest, and supporting the warfighter.
Glen Herrick
Founder & Managing Principal
Glen Herrick is a defense tech investor and the Founder & Managing Principal of Dakota Defense Strategies, an independent strategy and thought leadership platform focused on strengthening the defense and national security ecosystem across the Dakotas and Upper Midwest. He serves on the Board of NDIA’s Northern Tier Chapter and as an Ambassador with Autonomy Global.
A West Point graduate, U.S. Army veteran, retired public company CFO, experienced defense tech investor, and board member, Glen brings more than three decades of leadership experience spanning strategy, finance, governance, capital markets, technology, and industrial sectors.
Through Dakota Defense Strategies, Glen is focused on advancing defense innovation, strengthening regional collaboration, and helping expand the Heartland’s contribution to America’s defense industrial base and the warfighter.
HON Andrea Thompson
Senior Advisor
The Honorable Andrea Thompson has unrivaled experience as a Senior Executive through successive appointments as National Security Advisor to the Vice President of the United States, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Vice President of International Programs at Northrop Grumman, CEO of Dakota State’s Applied Research Corporation (DARC), and Founder and CEO of her private advisory company, Andrea Thompson Group.
Andrea’s career is steeped in national security, foreign policy, intelligence operations, cyber and emerging technology, leader development and strategy. A proud military veteran, she served for over 25 years in the U.S. Army, including combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Andrea also served as the National Security Advisor to the Chairman, House Homeland Security Committee, and Chairman, House Foreign Affairs Committee. She is a board director and advisor for international, national and state based boards.
Doug Rombough
Senior Advisor
Doug Rombough is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, and experienced defense industry executive with more than three decades of leadership across Army aviation, Special Operations, defense acquisition, and emerging technology.
Doug is a graduate of West Point and the Naval Postgraduate School. He also graduated from the Naval Test Pilot School and was designated an Experimental Test Pilot for the Army and a member of the Army Acquisition Corps. He served 28 years on active duty, including 13 years with Special Operations Forces.
His final military assignment was Program Executive Officer for Rotary Wing Aircraft at U.S. Special Operations Command. Following his Army career, he spent more than a decade in the defense technology industry, including serving as VP of Business Development for Logos Technologies.
Doug brings Dakota Defense Strategies deep expertise in defense acquisition, Special Operations, aviation, emerging technologies, and connecting innovative capabilities with warfighter needs.
Good to Know
The Dakotas & Upper Midwest
The Dakotas and Upper Midwest offer several strategic advantages that can contribute to America's defense capabilities, including advanced manufacturing, research and academic institutions, entrepreneurial leadership, available talent, and a strong commitment to national service. Dakota Defense Strategies believes these characteristics position the region to become an increasingly important contributor to America's defense innovation ecosystem.
South Dakota and North Dakota can contribute to national defense through their manufacturing capabilities, research institutions, entrepreneurial businesses, skilled workforce, military presence, and broader connections to the Upper Midwest. Dakota Defense Strategies works to identify and strengthen these regional capabilities so they can contribute more effectively to America's Defense Industrial Base.
Connect
Let's Continue the Conversation
Whether you represent industry, government, academia, the investment community, or the military, we welcome opportunities to explore ideas and build partnerships.