SHIELD Tribute to Secretary of Defense
Ash Carter
Shield Capital National Security Advisor and former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, tragically and suddenly passed away.
On October 24th, 2022 Shield Capital National Security Advisor and former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, tragically and suddenly passed away. On behalf of the SHIELD team, our investors, advisors, company founders and military families, we pay our deepest respects and condolences to the Carter family.
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter
We are honored to have the endorsement and counsel of distinguished leaders in national security that support SHIELD as Senior Advisors including Sean Stackley (former Secretary of the Navy), Tish Long (former Director National Geospatial Intelligence Agency), and LTG H.R. McMaster, USA (ret.) (former National Security Advisor to the President) and ADM James Stavridis, USN (ret.) (former Supreme Allied Commander Europe). The absence of Secretary Carter is deeply felt.
Several individuals on our team feel this loss acutely having worked directly for the Secretary at the Defense Innovation Unit and at the Harvard Kennedy School. Secretary Carter’s passing is tragic to so many to whom he offered advice, a job, a sense of purpose, friendship, leadership, and most importantly mentorship. We respectfully share the sentiments of our fellow advisory board members as a tribute to friend, colleague and mentor Ash Carter.
“I am stunned and deeply saddened at the sudden and unexpected passing of Ash Carter. The world has lost a true patriot, and many of us have lost a friend and mentor. My thoughts and prayers are with the family at this sad time and know that the Nation mourns with you.”
- Tish Long
“I am deeply saddened when I consider our world absent Ash Carter. A dear friend who inspired, supported, mentored, uplifted...by the dedication he demonstrated, the leadership he provided, the wit and wisdom he made trademark, the virtues he personified, and the difference he made in the course of our Nation. Godspeed, Ash. Godspeed.”
- Sean Stackley
“Dr. Ash Carter was a long term mentor and friend to me. I learned a great deal from him, and his combination of intellectual brilliance and deep emotional intelligence is exceedingly rare. A great heart sails on, and his loss to our national security community.”
-ADM James Stavridis, USN (ret.)
“I am very sorry to hear of Ash’s passing. Ash was a fine man and leader. My condolences to the Carter family, the SHIELD team, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
-LTG H.R. McMaster, USA (ret.)
Ash Carter personally inspired the SHIELD team to pursue the mission of investing in the innovators who will secure our future as a country. We honor Secretary Carter’s many decades of service to the Nation and to future generations of leaders called to serve. He reminded us that the mission matters. We will not let him down in fulfilling his inspiring vision and legacy.
With our deepest sympathies and respects,
The SHIELD Team
About Shield Capital
Shield Capital is a venture capital firm investing in early-stage companies building frontier technologies in artificial intelligence, autonomy, cybersecurity, and space. SHIELD’s veteran team of company founders, investors, and national security leaders is mission-focused to support the entrepreneurs addressing challenges and opportunities at the nexus of commercial industry and national security. Mission Matters at SHIELD. Learn more at www.Shieldcap.com.
Contact: media@shieldcap.com