Make It Matter

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

A Defense Acquisition expert with over 20 years in the defense sector, Noam has built a broad, deep, and robust network across the Department of War, industry, and academic institutions. His industry pedigree includes Divergent, eBay, Lockheed Martin, and Noblis. In addition to his corporate experience, Noam served as the Director for Innovation Operations at NavalX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Throughout his civil service, Noam served in the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition & Sustainment, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development & Acquisition), and Naval Sea Systems Command. He specializes in dual-use go-to-market strategies, acquisition pathways, expediting novel and disruptive tech to operational communities, building coalitions of aligned stakeholders, and defining value propositions and business narratives for clients eager to break into or grow their defense portfolios.

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Founder and CEO of Optica Labs, an AI assurance company focused on testing, evaluating, verifying, and validating high-risk AI systems across government and enterprise environments. With over seven years working at the forefront of AI development and deployment, she has supported major technology companies including OpenAI, Meta, Google, Amazon, Apple, and Nvidia. Her work centers on advancing AI safety, governance, and risk assurance, helping organizations deploy powerful AI systems responsibly. Hawkins is also a speaker, founder, and thought leader focused on shaping the future of trustworthy AI.