Blue Arrow Defense Appoints Neal Wendt to Board of Advisors
KYIV, UA & PITTSBURGH, US — Blue Arrow Defense announces the appointment of Neal Wendt to its Board of Advisors, strengthening the company's ability to navigate defense acquisition pathways, expand strategic relationships across the U.S. and allied defense ecosystems, and accelerate commercial growth opportunities. As a member of the Board of Advisors, Wendt will support Blue Arrow's leadership team on defense strategy, business development, acquisition planning, commercial partnerships, and international market expansion.
"Neal has built a career around connecting innovative technologies with the organizations that need them most," said Olga Pogoda, Co-Founder of Blue Arrow Defense.
"I’ve had the privilege of knowing Neal for years and I’m honored that he would choose to work with us! His experience working across acquisition pathways, operational units, and defense innovation organizations will help Blue Arrow continue expanding our relationships throughout the U.S. defense community while also opening doors with international partners and commercial organizations." She continues.
Wendt brings more than 15 years of leadership experience spanning military operations, defense acquisition, technology commercialization, and operational scaling. A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and recipient of the Bronze Star for service in Afghanistan, Wendt has spent the last eight years working inside the U.S. defense acquisition ecosystem, helping innovative technology companies transition capabilities into operational use across the Department of Defense.
Working inside the defense acquisition ecosystem, Wendt has managed programs that helped move more than $23 million through defense acquisition pathways including SBIR, OTA, and Commercial Pathways programs, supporting technology adoption across dozens of Army units. He has extensive experience helping non-traditional defense companies understand customer requirements, identify funding opportunities, and successfully navigate government procurement processes. Currently, Neal advises defense technology companies on government revenue strategy and Department of Defense acquisition pathways.
"Blue Arrow is building capabilities that address some of the most important challenges facing military operators today," said Wendt. "I'm excited to help the team expand relationships across the defense ecosystem, connect with partners both in the United States and abroad, and identify opportunities to bring these technologies to a broader set of customers."
In addition to his defense background, Wendt has significant experience building and scaling organizations in the commercial sector. As a founder and chief operating officer, he led fundraising efforts, operational growth initiatives, and large-scale process improvement programs across healthcare and industrial organizations. His experience spans both government and commercial markets, making him uniquely positioned to support Blue Arrow's continued growth strategy.
About Blue Arrow Defense
Blue Arrow Defense develops autonomous command-and-control technologies that enable operators to plan, coordinate, and execute multi-domain missions at scale. Its flagship platform, RII, provides commander-level mission planning and allows a single operator to manage multiple unmanned systems, reducing workload while increasing operational effectiveness in contested environments.
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