COMPANY INFO
Fortem Technologies, Inc. was founded in 2016 by Adam Robertson and Timothy Bean. It is a privately held company based in Pleasant Grove, Utah, with about 110-119 employees. The company operates in the Aerospace and Defense industry, specializing in airspace awareness, security, and defense by developing advanced radar systems and autonomous drones to detect and defeat dangerous drones. Their AI-enabled drone object-detection system enhances airspace security and safety for military and civilian operations. The official website is fortemtech.com.
Fortem Technologies, Inc. is an innovative leader in the aerospace and defense sector, specializing in advanced radar systems and AI-enabled autonomous drones for airspace security and safety. Founded in 2016, Fortem Technologies delivers turnkey solutions to detect, monitor, and neutralize unauthorized drones in military and civilian environments.
The Fortem Technologies executive team brings together deep expertise in aerospace, defense, engineering, and technology management. Their backgrounds span successful leadership in commercial, defense, and technical environments, driving the company’s growth, innovation, and global expansion. By blending visionary leadership with technical excellence, the management team at Fortem Technologies positions the company as a frontrunner in the airspace security industry.
As President & CEO, Jacques Blais directs Fortem Technologies’ strategic vision, overseeing financial performance and global expansion since January 2016. He has driven significant growth by leading sales, technical, and manufacturing teams across North America and spearheaded mergers and acquisitions that strengthened the company’s market position and shareholder value.
Jacques holds an MBA with distinction from the Richard Ivey School of Business (University of Western Ontario) and a BBA from Université Laval. With over 35 years in complex technical industries—radar, building automation, aeronautics, telecommunications, and energy—he has sold, restructured, financed, merged, and acquired multiple companies and chairs various boards, including Special Olympics Quebec since 1997.
Appointed CEO in September 2022, Jon Gruen has expanded Fortem Technologies’ defense market presence by securing multimillion-dollar contracts and strengthening relationships with military and law enforcement partners. His leadership has supported the company’s strategic growth in Washington, D.C., and accelerated market penetration.
Gruen brings over 25 years of leadership in the military and defense industry, including roles as Business Development Principal at Lockheed Martin, where he secured over $10B in program value. A U.S. Navy Reserve SEAL Captain, he has led Special Operations teams in Afghanistan and Iraq and co-founded a defense innovation firm that scaled to $1.5B revenue.
As President and COO, Timothy Bean optimizes Fortem Technologies’ operations and supports execution of strategic initiatives. Since moving into this role in September 2022, he has driven operational excellence, streamlined processes, and expanded the company’s service capabilities in defense and government markets.
Timothy Bean has led teams in aerospace and defense operations, focusing on scalable solutions for counter-UAS applications. He holds a degree in Physics from the U.S. Naval Academy and an MBA from the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley.
Named CFO in August 2023, Tom Thebes steers Fortem Technologies’ financial planning and fundraising to support expansion initiatives. He plays a crucial role in scaling operations and securing capital for growth, aligning financial strategy with corporate objectives.
Tom has nearly 40 years of financial and operational management experience in manufacturing and defense sectors. His prior roles include CFO and VP of Finance at Armor Express, Blue Force Gear, Domo Tactical Communications, and EVP of Operations/CFO at Chemring.
Christian Laforte leads Fortem Technologies’ technology strategy, focusing on AI-edge integration and autonomous drone capture systems. Since co-founding the company in 2005, he has designed and delivered advanced security integration projects, including nationwide defense systems with biometric, video analytics, and license plate recognition components.
A Software Engineering graduate of the École Polytechnique de Montréal, Christian co-invented three patents in 3D technology applications for physical security. He previously led R&D in 3D software at Autodesk and AMD and consulted on high-profile security projects for airports, military bases, and mass transit.
Transitioning from CFO to SVP of Corporate Development & Strategy in August 2023, Greer Carper leads strategic partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions. He shapes corporate growth strategies and explores new market opportunities to drive long-term value.
Greer has extensive experience in corporate finance and strategy, previously serving as CFO at Fortem Technologies and other defense-focused enterprises. He holds an advanced degree in finance and has a track record of strategic deal-making in the aerospace sector.
As VP of Solutions Engineering, Gary Watson leads system integration and customer deployment teams, overseeing AI-edge sensor fusion projects and drone capture solutions. He is instrumental in customizing Fortem Technologies’ Counter-UAS offerings for key defense and commercial clients.
Gary holds a degree in Systems Engineering and has over 20 years of experience in defense technology integration. Prior to Fortem Technologies, he led engineering teams at major defense contractors and contributed to national security projects involving radar and unmanned systems.
As CMO, Kathleen Sullivan drives Fortem Technologies’ brand positioning and marketing campaigns, enhancing market awareness and supporting lead generation in defense and critical infrastructure sectors. She develops go-to-market strategies that fuel sales growth and customer engagement.
Kathleen holds an MBA in Marketing and has 15 years of experience in B2B marketing for aerospace and security technology companies. Previously, she led global marketing at a major defense contractor and launched successful campaigns for new product lines.
As CLO, David Gessner oversees legal affairs, corporate governance, and compliance for Fortem Technologies. He ensures regulatory alignment, mitigates legal risks, and supports contract negotiations for global defense and government contracts.
David holds a JD from Georgetown University Law Center and has 20 years of experience in legal roles within aerospace and defense industries, including positions at top law firms and in-house counsel for defense contractors.
As a Board Member and strategic advisor, Matt Ocko provides guidance on venture investments and growth strategies for Fortem Technologies. His insights have helped the company align with leading investors and accelerate product development in emerging airspace security markets.
Matt is co-founder of DCVC, a venture firm backing Fortem Technologies. He has a strong background in enterprise software and deep tech investments and holds a degree in Computer Science from Yale University.
The Fortem Technologies leadership team consists of seasoned professionals with proven track records in aerospace, defense, finance, marketing, and corporate strategy. Together, they foster a culture of innovation and operational excellence, ensuring robust organizational structure and the agile management needed for success in rapidly evolving security markets. Their balanced expertise enables Fortem Technologies to consistently deliver high-impact solutions and maintain a strong competitive edge.
Websets is a powerful natural language search and data enrichment tool that helps you research executive teams for any company. Whether you're analyzing the Fortem Technologies, Inc. leadership team or exploring management structures at other organizations, Websets provides comprehensive insights into executive backgrounds, roles, and team dynamics.
With Websets, you can access detailed executive team profiles, management structures, and leadership insights through intuitive natural language queries. Sign up now to enhance your executive team research capabilities.