Bio

Tess is a Managing Director and Head of Capstone’s Aerospace, Defense, Government, and Security (ADGS) Group with over 25 years of experience across the ADGS industry, government policy arena, and financial services sector. Tess holds deep domain knowledge and has closed transactions in high-growth markets of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR), and Air/Land/Sea/Space (ALSS) Systems. Prior to joining Capstone, Tess founded the Aerospace and Defense practice at a middle market boutique investment bank, focusing on private and public corporate clients with diverse products such as command and control software for aerial drones, satellite-based force tracking systems, and electronic warfare devices used in Afghanistan and Iraq. She has also served as Global Head of Equities Strategy at Lehman Brothers—responsible for strategy development leveraging competitive intelligence, market analysis, and acquisitions across Americas, Europe, and Asia—and Director of Corporate Development and Strategy at Raytheon. Prior to joining industry, she served in the Reagan White House, U.S. Department of State, and NATO Headquarters. Tess has spoken at the Satellite Show, MILSAT Symposium, Thompson Reuters’ A&D Summit, Int’l AUVSI Conferences, New York Capital Roundtable, and appeared on ABC’s Government Matters. She serves on the Board of the National Medal of Honor Leadership & Education Center, the U.S. Navy League – Connecticut Council, and holds the rank of Commander, U.S. Navy Reserve (ret.)