Paul Benfield

PAUL BENFIELD THREE-STAGE PIPELINE: Pentagon -> Pallas Advisors -> Forterra. As Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense (likely serving under both Bob Work and Patrick Shanahan, covering innovation and modernization portfolio), Benfield was at the nexus of DoD acquisition decisions including autonomous vehicle programs. Stage 2: Joined PALLAS ADVISORS (~2018) as Director of Emerging Technologies — Pallas is a defense consulting firm co-founded by Sally Donnelly (senior advisor to SecDef Mattis) and Tony DeMartino (deputy COS to Mattis). Pallas team includes fmr Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy, fmr Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer, fmr DNI Admiral Dennis Blair, fmr USSOCOM Commander Gen. Tony Thomas, fmr Air Force acquisition chief Will Roper, fmr NEC Director Gary Cohn. POGO flagged Pallas in 2021 Pentagon Revolving Door review. Stage 3: Joined Forterra as VP Strategy (~2023-2024). Also CNAS Adjunct Senior Fellow (Defense) alongside LTG Tony Ierardi (who came from Rebellion Defense, a Pallas Ventures portfolio company).