Defense Cooperation

Dr. David A. Bray is a GMF Technology visiting distinguished fellow. He is also Loomis Council chair of the accelerator, a Stimson Center distinguished fellow, and principal and CEO at LeadDoAdapt Ventures. He is a transformation leader for “under the radar” ventures pioneering breakthroughs in AI, space, bio, quantum science, drones, and robots. He also is a distinguished fellow with the Future of Government Institute. 

Bray previously directed the bipartisan Congressional Commission for the Review of the Research and Development Programs of the US Intelligence Community, served as senior executive and CIO of the Federal Communications Commission, and was a senior expert with the US Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Special Operations on countering disruptive gray-zone conflicts. He was also faculty chair for disruption, impact, and governance with Singularity University. He has been honored with the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award and the National Intelligence Exceptional Achievement Medal. Business Insider named him one of 24 Americans Who Are Changing the World.

Bray has testified before Congress as an expert witness on AI and has led the bipartisan Commission on the Geopolitical Impacts of New Technologies and Data. He also directed the People-Centered Internet coalition and was a senior fellow with the Institute for Human-Machine Cognition. Early in his career, he worked with space efforts tied to ballistic missile defense and served as informatics strategist and chief for the Center for Disease Control's Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program's technology response to outbreaks and emergencies.

Bray was a 2018 Marshall Memorial fellow and a 2015 Eisenhower fellow. He has been given the Distinguished Alumni Award by Emory University’s Graduate School. The nonpartisan National Academy of Public Administration subsequently named him one of 250 Public Service Champions for the US Semiquincentennial. The Marconi Society recently announced that he will be the inaugural recipient of their Excellence in AI award for global leadership.

Ioan Istrate is a nonresident senior fellow with GMF. He is part of the research team supporting the GMF Defense Tech Task Force.

Istrate is a strategic advisor specializing in transatlantic cooperation on emerging technology, defense innovation, dual-use ecosystems, and allied capability development. Recently, he served as senior advisor to the executive team of NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), where he supported the scale-up of the alliance’s dual-use accelerator program. His work involved shaping elements of DIANA’s operating model and linking emerging companies to commercialization, capital, and allied capability-development pathways. He convened the transatlantic investor network, connecting it with deep tech opportunities in 32 allied markets; and advised high-potential companies within the program on capital readiness and go-to-market strategy. He also served on the founding advisory body of the NATO Innovation Fund. 

Previously, Istrate advised the Romanian government on emerging technology policy and initiated key national-level capabilities. His background spans government, management consulting (PricewaterhouseCoopers, Kearney), entrepreneurship, and strategic advisory. Earlier in his career, Istrate contributed to global emerging technology ecosystems including at the XPRIZE Foundation, where he won the 2016 XPRIZE Visioneers competition.

Istrate holds an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and a master’s degree from the Bucharest University of Economics.

Zach Beecher is a nonresident senior fellow with GMF's Global Power Shifts team. He is part of the research staff supporting GMF's Defense Tech Task Force.

Beecher is also director of investment strategy on the Ventures and Tech Accelerator team at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he focuses on scaling defense and national security technologies from inception to impact. He brings a rare combination of operational military experience, deep defense-sector networks, and a track record of building venture portfolios at the intersection of technology and national security. Previously, he served as a partner at Scout Ventures, partner and head of growth at America's Frontier Fund, and principal at C5 Accelerate, where he built an early-stage portfolio spanning cyber, AI, and the space economy. A Ranger-qualified paratrooper and veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division, Beecher led combat logistics advisory for Iraqi forces during Operation Inherent Resolve and continues to serve as a reservist with Special Operations Command—firsthand experience that directly informs his commitment to technologies that matter. He holds a bachelor’s degree in national security policy from Princeton University, an MPhil from Cambridge, and a master’s degree from King's College London, where he was a Rotary Scholar. He serves on the boards of Operation Gratitude and the Mental Health Association of New Jersey.