JAMES OLEEN
FOUNDER/CEO
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James is a distinguished leader and innovator with a wealth of experience in defense, intelligence, and cutting-edge technology. He served in uniform with the United States Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom and spent eight consecutive years at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, with his final two years dedicated to supporting the Intelligence Community.
As a National Science Foundation Fellow, James contributed to projects at the Department of the Treasury, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the White House. He later became a recognized subject matter expert (SME) in UAS and counter-UAS technologies, playing a pivotal role in developing AI-driven weapon systems at Anduril Industries. In 2023, James led a groundbreaking effort to cross the United States with a Group 2 UAS under FAA Part 107 regulations.
James has also been active in humanitarian operations, including Afghan evacuation efforts and delivering telemedicine solutions to Ukraine’s battlefield. Today, he is the Founder and CEO of American Tenet, where he continues to drive innovation in unmanned systems and advanced technologies.
James graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation, exemplifying his dedication to excellence in both academics and leadership.
MELISSA CHALFANT
COO
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Melissa is a results-oriented operations specialist with a strong foundation in finance and marketing. During her tenure supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, she spent over eight years serving on the executive teams of two prominent defense contractors, where she played a key role in driving operational excellence and organizational success.
With expertise in defining key performance indicators (KPIs), analyzing performance metrics, and managing both the top and bottom lines of profit and loss (P&L) statements, Melissa excels in creating value and ensuring strategic alignment across business objectives. She holds degrees in Economics from both Colorado University and the University of California, Irvine, solidifying her analytical and strategic capabilities.
MATT SHUTE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Matt Shute serves as an F-15E Strike Eagle Weapon Systems Officer in the United States Air Force, where he combines his technical expertise and strategic acumen to support advanced aerial operations. Before his military service, Matt applied his STEM and legal education as a founding partner of General Consulting Shop. In this role, he collaborated with James Oleen and Ryan Cinnante to establish impactful relationships in the startup, political, and government contracting sectors.
Matt graduated with honors from Indiana University Bloomington, earning dual Bachelor’s degrees in Astrophysics and Economics. He further advanced his education by earning a Master of Science in Law with honors from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. His diverse background in science, economics, and law positions him as a dynamic leader across both military and civilian domains.
JON TOLDEN
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
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Jon is a United States Army veteran who served during Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Afghanistan as an MQ-1C UAS Aircraft Commander. Over the course of his military career, he amassed more than 1,000 combat flight hours conducting intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) missions and kinetic engagements in direct support of ground forces.
While serving under an INSCOM aerial intelligence unit, Jon played a pivotal role in establishing the Army’s first UAS Remote Split Operations satellite communication program, enhancing operational efficiency and mission success. In addition to his command responsibilities, he performed maintenance test flight operations, working closely with field engineers and aircraft technicians to holistically evaluate and optimize system performance.
Inspired by these experiences, Jon is now pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at California State University, Long Beach. He applies his expertise and passion for UAS technology to his role at American Tenet, where he contributes to advancing innovative UAS operations and solutions.
KYLE JOHNSON
CTO
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Kyle is a United States Army veteran who served as an Electronic Warfare Systems Integrator. During his military career, he performed and supervised maintenance, integration, and operational support for Electronic Warfare subsystems, including receiver and processing/storage subsystems, at both fixed stations and remote sites. His expertise earned him an assignment to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, where he served as the Alternate Technical Lead for the Space and Missile Defense Battle Laboratory.
After transitioning out of uniform, Kyle brought his technical acumen to Iraq, serving for four years as the in-theater Technical Lead for the Biometric Automated Toolset, a critical system for identity management and security operations. Upon returning to the United States, Kyle joined GameStop, where he contributed to the organization’s successful migration from on-premise to cloud-based services. Currently, he leads initiatives to advance GameStop’s DevOps capabilities, driving innovation and operational efficiency.
MORGAN COOK
AEROSPACE ENGINEER
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Morgan is an Aerospace Engineer with a strong foundation in systems engineering, testing, and aerodynamic design. During his internship with Boeing’s Systems Engineering, Integration, and Testing (SEIT) Apache Helicopter program in St. Louis, MO, Morgan contributed to the successful roll-out of Version 6.x of the Apache Longbow Crew Trainers, playing a key role in advancing simulation and training capabilities.
Currently, Morgan leads design, testing, and aerodynamic efficiency efforts at American Tenet, where he applies his expertise to develop innovative solutions across various applications. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Central Florida.