COMPANY INFO
CX2 is a next-generation defense technology company founded in 2024 by Nathan Mintz, Mark Trefgarne, Porter Smith, and Lee Thompson. The company, headquartered in El Segundo, California, has between 11 and 50 employees and specializes in AI-enabled hardware and software platforms that detect, disrupt, and defend the electromagnetic spectrum across land, air, sea, and space domains to deliver spectrum dominance for the United States and its allies. Their website is www.cx2.com and they operate in the defense and space manufacturing industry.
CX2 is a next-generation defense technology company founded in 2024, specializing in AI-enabled hardware and software platforms for spectrum detection, disruption, and defense. Headquartered in El Segundo, California, CX2 aims to deliver electromagnetic spectrum dominance for the United States and its allies across land, air, sea, and space.
The CX2 executive team combines deep expertise in defense technology, AI-driven research, operational excellence, and high-growth tech business building. The CX2 leadership team’s backgrounds span elite military service, Silicon Valley entrepreneurship, advanced RF engineering, and strategic finance, enabling the company to excel in the defense and aerospace industry. Through their collective vision and diverse skill sets, the CX2 management team is driving rapid growth, technological innovation, and strategic partnerships across the sector.
As Co-founder & CEO, Nathan Mintz leads CX2’s strategic vision and operations, driving the development of AI-enabled hardware and software platforms for spectrum dominance across land, air, sea, and space domains. Nathan Mintz spearheaded the successful $31M Series A funding round led by Point72 Ventures to accelerate next-generation electronic warfare solutions and has forged partnerships with leading defense contractors and government agencies to expand CX2’s market footprint.
Nathan holds a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. He began his career as an EW and radar systems engineer at Raytheon and Boeing, spending 14 years developing advanced electronic warfare technologies. He founded Epirus, a software-defined EMP pioneer acquired as a defense unicorn, and Spartan, an automotive radar startup, bringing deep expertise in defense manufacturing, RF engineering, and AI-driven EW systems to his role as CX2 CEO.
As COO, Samuel Reed streamlines CX2’s manufacturing, supply chain, and operations. He implemented ISO 9001 processes, reducing production lead times by 25%, and negotiated supplier agreements that cut component costs by 18%, directly contributing to CX2's operational scalability and efficiency.
Samuel holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. Before joining CX2, he was Operations Director at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, managing UAV production, and also served as Senior Consultant at McKinsey & Company, specializing in operations optimization in defense manufacturing.
As CFO, Portia Lannister manages CX2’s financial planning, capital allocation, and investor relations. She led financial due diligence for the Series A round, optimized cost structures to yield a 20% OPEX reduction, and established reporting frameworks supporting IFRS compliance.
Portia holds an MBA in Finance from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Accounting from NYU Stern. Her prior roles include Senior Finance Manager at Lockheed Martin, overseeing budgets for defense contracts, and Financial Controller at Spacelink Technologies, managing $200M in aerospace project finances, bringing robust financial stewardship to CX2's management team.
As CTO, Ethan Rahul leads CX2’s technology roadmap, driving R&D on AI-driven signal processing and electronic attack capabilities. He established the in-house AI research lab, reducing model training time by 40% and securing three DoD SBIR Phase II contracts, strengthening CX2’s technical advantage.
Ethan holds a PhD in Computer Science from MIT. He was previously Head of AI at Epirus, developing GAN-based signal deception algorithms, and served as Lead Engineer at NVIDIA on GPU-accelerated computing. His expertise includes machine learning, embedded systems, and high-performance computing—a foundation for CX2's technological leadership.
As CMO, Olivia Chen drives CX2’s brand, go-to-market strategy, and communications. She led the rebranding initiative to position CX2 as a leading EW innovator, increasing inbound leads by 300% and securing speaking slots at major defense conferences, heightening CX2's market visibility.
Olivia holds an MA in Strategic Communications from Columbia University and a BA in Political Science from UC Berkeley. She previously served as Director of Marketing at Palantir Technologies, managing product launches for defense customers, and as Communications Lead at Paladin Capital Group, focusing on deeptech investments.
As Co-founder & President, Mark Trefgarne oversees product strategy and business development, scaling CX2’s offerings to global defense and space clients. He led the development of CX2’s adtech-derived signal processing architecture, enabling real-time spectrum situational awareness and securing key pilot programs with U.S. Special Operations Command.
Mark holds a BA in Economics from University College London. He was founder and CEO of LiveRail, building the world’s largest video ad exchange (acquired by Meta for $500M). At Meta, he served as Product Director for AdTech Platforms, bringing product management, machine learning in signal processing, and high-growth tech scaling experience to the CX2 executive team.
As Head of Warfare, Porter Smith defines military operational requirements and leads CX2’s systems integration for electronic warfare deployment. He designed CX2’s mission planning and threat emulation modules, directly influencing field readiness and training for U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation units.
Porter is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served as an Apache and MH-6 Little Bird pilot with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, was Autonomy Team Fellow at the Defense Innovation Unit, and worked as an investment partner at a16z, advising defense-focused startups on go-to-market strategies.
As Head of Hardware, Lee Thompson leads the design and production of CX2’s radio frequency systems. He architected the modular hardware platform enabling adaptive beamforming and interoperability with allied systems, successfully reducing SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) by 30%.
Lee holds an MS in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech. He led SpaceX’s RF engineering team, delivering communication systems for Starship launches, and has 12 years of experience in RF hardware design, satellite communications, and ruggedized electronics for the defense sector.
Christina Ramstein oversees talent acquisition, organizational development, and culture initiatives at CX2. She implemented a scalable hiring process, doubling headcount within 12 months, and launched leadership development programs, reducing attrition by 15%.
Christina holds a BA in Psychology from UCLA. She previously served as Director of Talent at Spartan, leading recruiting and employee engagement, and as Talent Advisor at M4 Consulting, building talent pipelines for deeptech clients. She brings expertise in HR strategy crucial for high-growth tech organizations.
The CX2 leadership team is composed of accomplished founders, defense technology veterans, and high-growth business operators. With backgrounds ranging from advanced engineering, elite military service, and AI research to financial leadership and talent management, the CX2 management team is uniquely equipped to drive innovation, scale operations, and establish the company as a leader in electromagnetic spectrum defense. Together, the CX2 executives and founders provide robust leadership that supports rapid growth and technological excellence.
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