Gustave Perna, a four-decade U.S. Army veteran, has been appointed chief operating officer at modeling and simulation software developer Defcon AI.
His appointment comes less than two months after incubation firm Red Cell Partners launched the technology company to serve the national security and health care sectors.
Paul Selva, co-founder of Defcon, said in a statement released Thursday that Perna’s prior leadership of Operation Warp Speed and Army Materiel Command will be “invaluable” as the company aims to help defense customers address logistics, mobility and sustainment challenges.
Perna retired from the military service with the rank of general in July 2021. He most recently served as COO of Operation Warp Speed, a public-private effort that supported the production and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
His prior assignments include G-4 deputy chief of staff, commander of Joint Munitions Command and executive officer to the Defense Logistics Agency director.
