Thomas & Taylor Search Partners
Top 3 Boutique Executive, Management Teams, and Board Placement Firm
Global Defense/National Security, Aerospace, Aviation, and Space Technology Markets
Experts in the Highest-Performing Predictable Leadership
The First and Only Executive and Board Placement Firm with a Holdings Company Acquiring Global Defense/National Security, Aerospace, Aviation, and Space Technology markets.
We Know The Highest-Performing Predictable Leadership Is The Only
Competitive Advantage in the Marketplace.
We Know The Highest-Performing Predictable Leadership Is The Only
Competitive Advantage in the Marketplace.
ABOUT
Thomas & Taylor SEARCH PARTNERS
If your Global Defense/National Security, Aerospace, Aviation, or Space Technology company's growth has you seeking Top-Tier Executives, take a moment to explore our unparalleled expertise in ensuring you hire the right people from the start.
Who we are
Who we are
TTSP is a Top-Three-Ranked Boutique
Executive and Board Placement Firm with 70+ years of Executive Search experience in
the Global Defense, National Security, Aerospace, Aviation, and Space Technology industries.
Boutique Service From Industry Veterans
Boutique Service From Industry Veterans
Our CEO and Co-Founder, Travis Thomas has led Executive Search teams in Aerospace, Aviation, Defense, Cybersecurity, Space, and Innovative Technologies for the past 22 years. He personally conducts search operations to leverage powerful networks and ensure the search is executed optimally.
3 VIP Clients Only
3 VIP Clients Only
We dedicate our team’s power to a maximum of three clients at any one time. That means close working relationships between your team and ours and a major emphasis on service and communication from our end.
Our Guarantee/Human Capital Insurance
Our Guarantee/Human Capital Insurance
We’re so confident in our commitment to you, that we back it with Human Capital Insurance: If your candidate leaves either voluntarily or involuntarily within a year, we’ll backfill the position at no extra cost to your firm.
Our Secret
From search kick-off to offer letter acceptance in less than 60 days, we expedite your C-Suite or Board search, granting access to the highest-performing leadership talent in your niche market. Leveraging our vast Network, Machine Learning, and AI Technology, we ensure swift and successful search outcomes.
If your candidate leaves either voluntarily or involuntarily within a year, we’ll backfill the position at no extra cost.
Welcome to a paradigm shift in Executive Search. Not only do we guarantee our results, but our cost-effective approach saves up to 35% compared to conventional agencies.
Our Guarantee
We will find outstanding Executive Leaders for your business in 60 days and back them with our 12-24 month Human Capital Insurance
Leveraging our 12.0 Leadership Assessment and Integration, we deliver hires who are not only qualified but truly aligned with your company’s culture and will, in fact, up the leadership game across your whole business.
Our confidence in this process allows us to provide the industry’s most robust Human Capital Guarantee, ensuring the right fit for up to 24 months.
This is more than a hire—it’s a revolution in great leadership.
The Edge
To Finding Top-Performing Executive Talent in the Global Defense, National Security, Aerospace, Aviation, and Space Technology Sectors
Most companies approach hiring in three ways: personal referrals, job postings, and using traditional executive search agencies.
None of these are consistently successful in the Global Defense, National Security, Aerospace, Aviation, and Space Technology markets because you’re not dealing with typical talent. The industry’s boom has created professionals who are used to being treated like royalty, and when you’re being presented with headhunting offers on a weekly basis, proactively looking for jobs on LinkedIn is a distant memory.
Our approach integrates a meticulous blend of high-level market insights and in-depth EQ and IQ assessments, ensuring an optimal slate of Executives that perfectly align with your company’s culture.
Here’s how we deliver you the Executive Talent no one else can:
Our boutique services are based around the expertise and personal networks of Executive Search Veterans in the Global Defense, National Security, Aerospace, Aviation, and Space Technology industries.
Our Partners not only have multi-decade long connections with big industry players, but also have spent years in leadership positions at the biggest search firms. Now, they combine their expertise and relationships with A.I. to provide a hyper-focused and incredibly cost-effective search for a maximum of three clients at a time.
Thomas & Taylor Search Partners
Executive Leadership
Travis Thomas
CEO & Co-Founder
Travis Thomas, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TTSP has spent two decades unlocking the hidden value for his clients at the intersection of talent, leadership, culture, strategy, and innovation. Travis believes that Leadership and Talent are inexorably linked and are the only real differentiators in any highly competitive environment. Travis is an experienced strategic leader and active listener with a proven history of working in Executive Search, Professional Services, Account Management, and Knowledge Management. Travis's passion is ensuring his clients are implementing 21st century Human Capital Solutions.
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Dusty McClung
COO & Co-Founder
Dusty McClung, Co-Founder and COO of TTSP, has 20+ years of experience building exceptional teams in Aviation, Aerospace, and Defense. A leading expert in high-performance leadership, Dusty excels in Talent Asset Management, leveraging his extensive network to secure top-tier leadership for market-leading companies. His expertise in managing talent as a key asset for ROI makes him a trusted advisor to high-performing CEOs. As a successful entrepreneur and owner of Supernatural Investments LLC, Dusty has led multiple capital raises and managed numerous portfolio acquisitions and exits, solidifying
his reputation as a key industry player.
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Gonzalo Pacanins
President of Executive Talent Solutions - PE/VC Funds
Gonzalo Pacanins is a seasoned professional in the world of venture capital and entrepreneurship, currently holding the role of Managing Partner and Founder at Argonautic Ventures - Latin America. At Argonautic, a distinguished VC fund boasting $750M in assets under management, Gonzalo oversees a diverse portfolio of 130 companies, with a strategic focus on AI, ConstructionTech, and Computational Biology. Before embarking on his journey with Argonautic, Gonzalo amassed over 25 years of experience navigating the realms of direct investments, operational management, and corporate restructuring. He held esteemed C-Suite positions within prominent private equity funds such as Darby Overseas Investments and Minera S.A. Additionally, Gonzalo contributed his expertise to multinational corporations like The AES Corp and Atento, among others. Throughout his career, Gonzalo's ventures have spanned across various sectors, reflecting his industry-agnostic approach. From healthcare to distribution and multicultural marketing, Gonzalo's entrepreneurial spirit and strategic insights have left an indelible mark on both the US and Latin American business landscapes.
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Advisory Board
Michael Cassandra
Advisory Board Member
Mike Cassandra serves as the Chief Culture Officer (CCO) at RocketStar, a pioneering company in the space industry founded in 2014. With a focus on revolutionizing space exploration through groundbreaking advancements and innovative technology, RocketStar has experienced rapid expansion under Mike's leadership. As the CCO, Mike oversees the development of the company's in-house culture book and HR, as well as outreach initiatives in the community, schools, and charities. Drawing on a diverse background in blue-collar roles, including customer service, sales, logistics at UPS, and food service, particularly in coffee, Mike brings a unique perspective to HR, emphasizing transparency and employee advocacy.
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David Mann
Advisory Board Member
David Mann is a seasoned professional Human Resources Executive, renowned for mastering the art of transformation within the dynamic landscape of innovative technology companies. With a career marked by close collaboration with fast-growing organizations facing transformative challenges, David brings a wealth of experience in navigating and leading through change.
Passionate about inspiring growth and cultivating positive workplace cultures, David's leadership style is transformative, making a lasting impact on the organizations he serves. His strategic and hands-on approach has consistently played a pivotal role in driving success and innovation, making him a respected figure in the realm of HR.
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Anna Litvak-Hinenzon
Advisory Board Member
Anna Litvak-Hinenzon is a distinguished Technology Executive and AI Product Strategist known for her visionary AI-powered products and data platforms across industries. She is committed to promoting the value of data and AI while streamlining the vision-to-product process. With a blend of technological acumen, AI expertise, executive leadership, and adeptness in organizational change management, she spearheads digital transformations and leads organizations to success. Her forte lies in cultivating high-caliber teams and nurturing groundbreaking digital products from inception. Armed with a robust technical background and a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, she possesses the ability to conceptualize value, identify opportunities, and orchestrate agile development and go-to-market strategies for innovative data and AI/ML-powered SaaS products. Anna's leadership has been pivotal in initiating and steering operational and digital transformations for various companies, optimizing business value from enterprise data assets, and spearheading initiatives to enhance product margins and intellectual property portfolios. She holds 11 patents and is a sought-after speaker and panelist on AI-powered products and women in Tech. Her corporate contributions include Board Membership, mentorship, and leadership on DEI.
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Steve Swick
Advisory Board Member
Steve Swick, an independent consultant with a remarkable 26-year tenure at American Electric Power (AEP), one of the largest energy company in the US, joins us to share his insights into c-suite transformation. As the former Chief Security Officer at AEP, Steve held the reins of Enterprise Aviation, Physical, and Cyber Security, navigating the company through the complex landscape of security risks and preparedness.
With over 30 years of experience in Information Security, Steve's journey began monitoring phone calls and fax transmissions for the U.S. Air Force Intelligence in the 1980s. His pivotal role as one of the original members of the U.S. Air Force Computer Emergency Response Team in the mid-90s set the stage for his illustrious career in cybersecurity. Steve's expertise and dedication propelled him into the forefront of national security discussions, where he testified before Congress, addressed Senate Committees, and shared his insights with esteemed media outlets like the Wall Street Journal and Associated Press.
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Paul Spaven
Advisory Board Member
Paul Spaven is a mentor, advisor, and consultant for startups in the aviation and space industries, focused on helping founders identify and engage key stakeholders to enable enduring growth and consistent value creation. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, he retired from the Air Force after flying F-15Cs, crafting military strategy, and commanding an overseas squadron. Paul entered industry in 2014 and has led winning teams in cybersecurity, engineering, program management, and manufacturing, most recently as President of an 1800-person tier 1 aerospace supplier.
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Garry Schwartz
Advisory Board Member
Garry is the Chief Operating Officer at Mission Technologies, a $3B division of HII which is America’s largest military shipbuilder and a global, all-domain defense provider. Mission Technologies develops integrated hardware, software and service solutions that enable today’s connected, all-domain force. Previously, Garry was a group president at HII for five years where he led and expanded HII’s largest technology-centric business groups of up to 3200 employees and $1B in revenue. With over 40 years serving national security missions across the U.S. military and defense industry, Garry has also served in various senior leadership roles for defense contractors SAIC and Alion Science and Technology involving systems engineering, software development, integration, experimentation, testing, and modeling and simulation. Prior to joining industry, Garry retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2004 with more than 21 years of service in support of conventional and special operations forces, multiple combat tours, and a master’s degree in operations research from the Naval Postgraduate School.
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Eugene Mamajek
Advisory Board Member
Eugene Mamajek is a seasoned defense and aerospace executive with over 20 years of leadership in mission-critical operations and more than a decade of business success in the private sector. As a former Marine Corps Naval Aviator and Chief Aerospace & Defense Engineer, Eugene seamlessly transitioned from military service to driving transformative business growth—leading multi-million-dollar initiatives, spearheading strategic partnerships, and delivering operational excellence across defense and aerospace industries. His extensive background—spanning complex defense procurement, national security initiatives, and high-performance engineering teams—enables him to identify and cultivate top-tier talent that thrives in the dynamic landscape of aerospace, defense, and advanced technology sectors. His career is defined by operational precision, technical expertise, and an unwavering commitment to advancing the defense industry. Grounded in humility, Eugene believes true success is achieved through collaboration and continuous growth, guided by the principle from Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This philosophy shapes his approach to leadership and partnership—empowering teams to bring out the best in each other. Eugene’s leadership—rooted in presence, relationships, and enabling growth—guides his work at TTSP, helping organizations build high-performing teams that drive innovation and long-term success.
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Rich Epstein
Advisory Board Member
Rich is currently Head of Technology Practice at Compello Partners, which excels at technology, security and operations due diligence, interim/fractional leadership, transformation PMO, and managed services in PE-backed mid-market to large-cap companies. Rich is also a former Fortune 100 CTO and Global 150 and Interim CTO for PE portfolio companies in the mid- to large-cap markets. Background in 13 industries, but mostly in financial services, logistics and healthcare. Joined bank as 61st employee and grew from $1B to $13B AUM in under 2 years. Conceived strategy for Global 150 enabling them to realize 7-fold increase in margin. On several advisory boards of start-up's and franchises and took two to successful exit. Deep technical expertise but business savvy. Conceived several products for Citi, Maersk, USPS, and others brought to market. Nominated to White House for cybersecurity. Gartner award for IT best practices. Invited to elite consulting networks of Veritux, Consultport and Malt Strategy. LinkedIn top 1%.
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Meagan Murray
Advisory Board Member
Meagan Murray is a dynamic and resourceful people-focused Executive HR Leader with 15+ years of experience in orchestrating dynamic talent acquisition strategies, nurturing leadership development, and fostering organizational growth. With a track record of driving organizational excellence through the alignment of people, processes, and performance, she is known for creating seamless end-to-end talent lifecycle strategies that optimize recruitment, engagement, development, and retention across diverse industries.
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Kathleen Moriarty
Advisory Board Member
Kathleen Moriarty is a seasoned cyber and technology strategist, consultant, and board advisor with over two decades of experience. She currently serves as a Curriculum Adviser and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University's SCS MPS Applied Intelligence Program, where she teaches courses on cyber threat intelligence, security architecture, and design. During her tenure at Georgetown, Kathleen earned the prestigious 2020 Tropaia Award for Outstanding Faculty. She is also renowned for her contributions to international Internet standards, having served two terms as the Security Area Director and member of the Internet Engineering Steering Group at the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Her work includes co-authoring several RFCs on digital signatures and information security. Kathleen, among CyberSecurity Ventures' Top 100 Women Fighting Cybercrime, engages with RSA, mWISE, IETF, SCORED, and Sevco. Formerly the CTO at the Center for Internet Security, she now focuses on tech strategy, teaching, startup boards, but most importantly, family.
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Gonzalo Pacanins
Advisory Board Member
Gonzalo Pacanins is a seasoned professional in the world of venture capital and entrepreneurship, currently holding the role of Managing Partner and Founder at Argonautic Ventures - Latin America. At Argonautic, a distinguished VC fund boasting $750M in assets under management, Gonzalo oversees a diverse portfolio of 130 companies, with a strategic focus on AI, ConstructionTech, and Computational Biology. Before embarking on his journey with Argonautic, Gonzalo amassed over 25 years of experience navigating the realms of direct investments, operational management, and corporate restructuring. He held esteemed C-Suite positions within prominent private equity funds such as Darby Overseas Investments and Minera S.A. Additionally, Gonzalo contributed his expertise to multinational corporations like The AES Corp and Atento, among others. Throughout his career, Gonzalo's ventures have spanned across various sectors, reflecting his industry-agnostic approach. From healthcare to distribution and multicultural marketing, Gonzalo's entrepreneurial spirit and strategic insights have left an indelible mark on both the US and Latin American business landscapes.
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Michael Dash
Advisory Board Member
Michael Dash is a dynamic best-selling author of Chasing The High and the founder of the FATE program, which helps entrepreneurs reclaim their lives from addictive behaviors. After building a company with a yearly revenue of $5.5 million, Michael sold his business to pursue a more fulfilling path. His personal journey through addiction, coupled with his relentless pursuit of personal growth, led him to develop practical strategies to help others. As the Chief Brotherhood Officer and Partner at Men of Means, Michael fosters a global community of men who are emotionally liberated, sexually expressed, financially secure, and spiritually attuned. His work as a mentor, speaker, and philanthropist continues to inspire professionals seeking to transform their lives.
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David Martin
Advisory Board Member
David Martin is a strategic leader with more than 30 years of broad defense industry experience. David has served in various general management, growth, and strategy roles at both major prime and middle market companies. His experience extends across multiple domains, products, technologies, and customer sets. David is adept at setting direction, operationalizing strategy, and catalyzing growth to exceed potential, especially in complex, ambiguous, and changing environments. He currently serves as founder and principal of Summit Global, a boutique advisory helping lower middle market clients achieve strategic clarity, catalyze growth, and scale value. Summit offers board support, strategy development, executive mentorship, and other tailored advisory services. Typical clients include defense & aerospace, startups/venture capital, portfolio companies/private equity, and other mid-market clients worldwide. David is a graduate of the United States Military Academy (BS) and the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School (MBA). David’s passions include his faith, family, travel, and mountains.
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Thomas & Taylor Search Partners
AT A GLANCE
| Traditional Search Firms | TTSP |
|---|---|
 You explain your hiring situation over and over again to the many executives reporting to you |
 You get a dedicated VIPC account team who knows your business inside and out (they are only working with 3 clients at any point in time) |
| You're forever interacting with new hires who seem to be learning the ropes | You work closely with two industry veterans who provide personal service |
| Variable costs make it hard to budget | We provide a flat rate without hidden fees that consistently proves up to 35% lower than the competition |
| After finding out that a candidate is an ill-fit, you are left high and dry to deal with the fallout and start again | You'll benefit from 12 months of Human Capital Insurance – if the candidate leaves or is let go, we'll replace him/her at no extra cost |
| Your reputation is put in jeopardy by the tendency to prioritize quantity of candidates over quality | You leverage our extensive networks and precision targeting from A.I. systems to hone in on a handful of the right candidates |
Continuously Improving
Machine Learning (AI) Executive Placement
With the availability of transparent AI data, you can now efficiently and quickly identify the Top-Performing Predictive Thought Leaders for executive-level positions within days, instead of waiting for months to complete the recruitment process.
PROPRIETY GPT-4o AI TALENT MAPPING
Having knowledge of the entire competitive candidate landscape right from the start enables you to obtain valuable business intelligence and establish a talent pipeline, thereby enabling you to consistently implement the most effective executive recruitment strategy.
PREDICTIVE LEADERSHIP - MACHINE LEARNING AI OUTREACH
With our strong brand reputation and advanced AI outreach techniques on multiple levels, we guarantee that we can use predictive analytics to find top-tier executives who can deliver the high-performance business results our clients require.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP PERFORMANCE PROFILE
Having a comprehensive understanding of the competitive universe of executive candidates right from the start provides valuable business insights and enables effective talent acquisition planning. This ensures you can consistently implement the most effective executive recruitment strategies.
Our Partners
Strategic Executive Talent Partnership Successes
Meet Our CEO
Travis Thomas has devoted his professional life to unearthing concealed value for his esteemed clientele. He firmly believes that the only real differentiators in any highly competitive environment are leadership and talent, which he sees as being inexorably linked.
As an experienced strategic leader and active listener, Travis brings a wealth of expertise to the table. He has a proven track record of success in Executive Search, Professional Services, Account Management, and Knowledge Management.
Travis's passion lies in helping his clients implement 21st-century Human Capital Solutions that drive their success. With his unwavering commitment to delivering results, Travis is dedicated to partnering with his clients to identify and attract exceptional leaders who will take their organizations to the next level.
“We don't leave high-stakes executive talent decisions to chance”
As an experienced strategic leader and active listener, Travis brings a wealth of expertise to the table. He has a proven track record of success in Executive Search, Professional Services, Account Management, and Knowledge Management.
Travis's passion lies in helping his clients implement 21st-century Human Capital Solutions that drive their success. With his unwavering commitment to delivering results, Travis is dedicated to partnering with his clients to identify and attract exceptional leaders who will take their organizations to the next level.
“We don't leave high-stakes executive talent decisions to chance”
Travis Thomas
CEO & Founder
A Few Words From Our CEO
"As the Founder and CEO of Thomas & Taylor Search Partners, I am thrilled to be leading a team of dedicated professionals who share my passion for unlocking hidden value for our clients. For over two decades, I have been working at the intersection of talent, leadership, culture, strategy, and innovation to help organizations achieve their goals.
I firmly believe that Leadership and Talent are the only real differentiators in any highly competitive environment. That's why we go above and beyond to find the right leaders and top-tier Board and Executive talent for our clients. As an experienced strategic leader and active listener, I understand the importance of matching the right people with the right organizations, not the first available talent.
My proven history in Executive Search, Professional Services, Account Management, and Knowledge Management speaks to my ability to deliver results.
Beyond my professional endeavors, I embrace a life filled with adventure and exploration. When I am not working with our teams to implement 21st century human capital solutions, I enjoy traveling the world, meeting exciting new people, backpacking to the next summit with Anna (my Jack Russell), and enjoying another beautiful sunset."
I firmly believe that Leadership and Talent are the only real differentiators in any highly competitive environment. That's why we go above and beyond to find the right leaders and top-tier Board and Executive talent for our clients. As an experienced strategic leader and active listener, I understand the importance of matching the right people with the right organizations, not the first available talent.
My proven history in Executive Search, Professional Services, Account Management, and Knowledge Management speaks to my ability to deliver results.
Beyond my professional endeavors, I embrace a life filled with adventure and exploration. When I am not working with our teams to implement 21st century human capital solutions, I enjoy traveling the world, meeting exciting new people, backpacking to the next summit with Anna (my Jack Russell), and enjoying another beautiful sunset."
Travis Thomas
CEO & Founder
PRESENTING
Thomas & Taylor PARTNERS HOLDINGS
At Thomas & Taylor Partners Holdings, we specialize in acquiring and managing companies within the Defense, National Security, Aerospace, Aviation, and Space Technology sectors.
Backed by a robust network of Founders, Operating Partners, and General Partners, we offer strategic guidance, operational expertise, and financial support to drive innovation and excellence. Our future-focused investments in cutting-edge technologies and groundbreaking enterprises reflect our commitment to progress.
Founders and Managing Directors
OUR VISION
To be the leading force in shaping a safer world by investing in transformative technologies within the Defense, National Security, Aerospace, Aviation, and Space Technology sectors.
We aim for rapid growth, exceptional returns, and integrity in all we do, fostering teamwork and a shared purpose. Our forward-looking approach ensures we address urgent global challenges, creating lasting value for all.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to identify, acquire, and scale companies that align with our core values of Growth, Returns, Integrity, Team, and Spirituality.
We collaborate as a unified team, leveraging collective expertise to secure long-term contracts and drive innovation. Dedicated to supporting warfighters and enhancing global security, we invest in breakthrough technologies that meet urgent market needs and deliver tangible results for investors and stakeholders.
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