Jeffrey Donenfeld

About Jeffrey Donenfeld

I build the future of Aerospace, Defense, and DeepTech innovation through leadership in value chain optimization, emerging technology vision, venture investment diligence, and business development direction. My multidisciplinary insight, entrepreneurial experience, and passionate outlook guides organizations through targeted development to market capitalization- Rapidly scaled technology venture portfolio: Built $500M+ valuation,$150M funds raised, 95% revenue generation across 120+ successful venture capital investments from seed to growth stage- Expanded relationships with Fortune 100 companies: Led venture investment thesis vision and development, sourcing, and decision making with partners including Comcast NBCUniversal, Sky Sports UK, Xfinity, Cable Labs, Colorado Permanente Medical Group- DeepTech & Science field manager: Managed complex Antarctic expedition logistics and scientific instrument construction at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and WAIS Divide, collaborating with U.S. Gov. contractors, U.S. Antarctic Program, and the National Science Foundation- Thought Leader: Published author, industry voice, panel reviewer, and public speaker on future technologies, entrepreneurship strategies, and scientific exploration- Public/Private/Commercial experience: Led development of government contract proposals valued in excess of $25MM+Key Skills: Corporate Innovation Development, Venture Capital Dealflow Management, Merger and Acquisition Insight, Strategic Planning and Team Leadership, Entrepreneurship Mentoring and Network Building, International Business Development. Ability to acquire and maintain security clearance.

Experience

1. Combatant Command Commercial Lead - Usspacecom, Norad-usnorthcom (Contractor)

   Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)

   Jun 2025 — Present

   As Combatant Command Commercial Lead, I lead DIU’s forward commercial operations for United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), United States Space Command (USSPACECOM), and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). My role bridges the gap between the nation\'s top innovators and the Department of Defense (DoD), ensuring our military maintains a decisive technological advantage. I build strategic coalitions, lead cross-functional teams, and manage a diverse technology portfolio to solve critical operational challenges for the warfighter- Executive Leadership & Mission Delivery: Direct cross-functional engagements with senior leaders across Space, AI/ML, and Autonomy portfolios to drive project synchronization and accelerate technology transition. I drive progress on mission-critical projects aligned with Combatant Command priorities and provide executive leadership for talent initiatives to build the next generation of defense innovation leaders- Strategic Innovation & Partnerships: Cultivate a robust ecosystem of commercial technology partners to create new pathways for innovation that support national security objectives. I forge novel collaborative frameworks between DoD entities and tech organizations to accelerate development pipelines. I also build and lead critical relationships with senior leaders at strategic partners, including Combatant Commands, the Intelligence Community, and the National Reconnaissance Office- Technology & Resource Management: Manage a dynamic pipeline of commercial and startup technologies, assessing technical and business viability to guide their integration with DoD needs. I coordinate with Portfolio Directors and Program Managers to strategically source national security challenges and develop programs. My work includes directly supporting warfighter units by integrating DIU program support for their in-house data analytics and risk assessment tools.**This is a SETA contractor position in support of DIU**

Education

• University of Denver - Daniels College of Business

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, International Business

• The United States Army War College

  National Security Seminar, International Relations and National Security Studies

  2026

• University of Colorado Boulder

  Bachelor's degree, Clinical Psychology