ACG 101 June 25th 2025 Aerospace & Defense Panel

Zachary Turke is a corporate partner in Sheppard Mullin’s Los Angeles office.  He is head of the Mergers & Acquisition team and its Government Business Group, which encompasses Sheppard’s aerospace & defense practice.

Zac’s practice focuses on mergers & acquisition transactions across a wide variety of industries.  He works with private equity firms, public companies, family-owned business, strategics and entrepreneurs in industries such as aerospace & defense, consumer products, business services, software & technology, video games & esports, cannabis, healthcare, apparel & beauty, manufacturing, retail and food & beverage.  Over his career with Sheppard Mullin, Zac has successfully closed over 200 M&A transactions.

He also helps clients with debt and equity financings, venture capital investments, corporate governance and joint ventures and strategic alliances.

Zac specializes in getting deals done.  He is adept at making complex issues comprehensible and finding practical solutions to legal problems.  He is an avid writer and speaker with respect to areas of corporate law.  He holds a law degree from Harvard Law School and B.A. from Duke University.  He has been recognized as a leader by Super Lawyers, the Legal 500 and the M&A Advisors.

Mr. Williamson is a Managing Director at Calabasas Capital where he advises emerging growth companies and investors in aerospace and defense, software and technology. He has more than 17 years’ experience in investment banking and corporate development in addition to CFO and operating management roles in private equity and venture capital backed companies. He was CFO of the Merex Group and Kellstrom Defense, a private equity backed aerospace and defense company. Previously he was Managing Director of Angeles Capital Group, Director of Alexander Dunham, Associate of Gerard Klauer Mattison (now BMO Capital Markets) and Associate of Chanin Capital Partners (now Duff & Phelps). Mr. Williamson was a Senior Manager at Oracle Corporation and Treasury Services Corporation, a private equity backed enterprise software company acquired by Oracle. Prior to that, he spent four years at Price Waterhouse where he was qualified as a Chartered Accountant (CAANZ). Mr. Williamson received his MBA from the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Business at UCLA where he was selected as a Venture Fellow and received his Bachelor's of Commerce degree at the University of Western Australia.

Nicholas J. Pittas is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial finance and banking industry, with a particular expertise in serving small and middle market government contractors. As the National Sales Manager at United Capital Funding, a subsidiary of Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company, Pittas spearheads the firm's government contracting finance initiatives, leveraging his extensive background to drive strategic marketing efforts and business development across major U.S. hubs including Washington D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville, Tampa, and Columbus.

Prior to joining United Capital Funding, Pittas held the position of Senior Vice President and Industry Leader for Defense Contracting and Government Services at TBK Bank, SSB, where he distinguished himself as a pivotal figure in the government contracting sector. Additionally, Pittas’ comprehensive expertise is underscored by his nearly 10 years with Wells Fargo Capital Finance and Wells Fargo Bank, where he honed his skills in commercial lending, credit risk management, and portfolio management. His involvement is further enunciated through organizations including the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), Professional Services Council (PSC), and Charleston Defense Contractors Association (CDCA).

A graduate of Washington Adventist University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and an alumnus of the American Institute of Banking’s Commercial Lending School, Pittas combines academic rigor with practical experience. Known for his unwavering dedication to his craft and his passion for coffee, Pittas continues to be a driving force in the aerospace and defense finance sector, bringing a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record to United Capital Funding. Nicholas and his wife live in Mt Pleasant, South Carolina.

Dr. Brian Cameron is the Deputy Chief Technology Officer and General Manager of the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) at The Aerospace Corporation. In this role, Dr. Cameron oversees the development, implementation, and management of corporate technical and strategic investments. He is also responsible for maturing innovative technologies, prototyping advanced concepts, and driving engagement with commercial partners to harness solutions for government missions. 

Before his current position, Dr. Cameron served as Principal Director for Advanced Research and Engineering, where he focused on advanced technology development, R&D in space systems, innovative ground systems, and strategic planning for national security space customers. He began his career at The Aerospace Corporation within the Engineering and Technology Group, where he held various roles related to performance modeling and simulation for advanced sensors, algorithm development, prototyping, and payload development for both national security and civil space customers. 

Dr. Cameron earned his B.A. in Physics from Cornell University and his Ph.D. in Astrophysics from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Jonah is an accomplished business leader with a robust track record of managing growth initiatives in technology companies. He currently serves as the head of Corporate Development and Strategy at AeroVironment (“AV”) where he oversees the company’s M&A, strategy and integration functions. Most recently, Jonah oversaw the $4 billion acquisition of Blue Halo which, when combined with AV, created the premier middle market defense technology company. Since joining AV in 2013, Jonah has also held roles in Investor Relations, Marketing, Sales and Product Management.

Prior to AV, Jonah held a variety of technical and business focused leadership roles at small growth focused cleantech, greentech, and biotech companies. He earned his B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering from UC Davis and his M.B.A. from the UC Davis Graduate School of Management. In his free time, Jonah likes to spend time with his wife and two kids (age 11 and 8) and play golf.

Joe Giesemann is a seasoned executive with over 35 years of experience in the aerospace and defense RF & microwave components and subsystems business.  Founded in 1999, and acquired by HEICO in 2013, Lucix has grown steadily to become a world leader in RF active and passive space qualified units, supporting the Commercial, Civil and DoD marketplace, and is a supplier to all major primes in US, Europe, Isreal, and Japan.  Under his leadership, Lucix was recently selected for a supplier excellence award by a major US aerospace prime, one of 50 out of a 13,000-company supplier base.  Lucix acquired Flight Microwave Corporation in 2022, a technology leader in passive space products.     

Prior to joining Lucix Corporation in 2019, Giesemann held the position as Vice President and General Manager at Narda West, a division of L3 Communications and earlier, General Manager, Receiver and Filter Products business unit, Teledyne Microwave Group company.  He has also held positions of Vice President of Engineering and Programs and Vice President of Business Development, with a track record of technology and product development and market growth in the competitive space RF equipment segment.  One of his many products developed over his career, Joe led the development of the industry’s first space-borne software defined radio for telemetry and command mission, a market that has grown ten-fold over the last 15 years.

Giesemann has a BS in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University, completed graduate studies in Electrical Engineering at University of Colorado, and completed the Executive Leadership Program at University of Pennsylvania Wharton School.  He also is a retired and accommodated US Navy Officer, serving both in active and reserve units, with roles as Commanding Officer at units in Hawaii and Colorado and Operational Commander of Signal Intelligence and Electronic Warfare at International Security Assistant Forces (ISAF), Afghanistan.  Joe and his wife live in Ventura, California and have two children, both accomplished engineering leaders.