
Role: Mentor
Tracks: Deep Tech - Digital Tech
Dan Madden
Principal, National Security, Squadra Ventures
Dan Madden is Principal at Squadra Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm, where he leads the national security practice. He also serves as an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Previously Dan served in the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), the Department of Defense’s (DoD) national security technology accelerator, where he served as Mid-Atlantic Regional Director. There he led projects identifying novel solutions to national security challenges (e.g., countering disinformation, trusted AI), and oversaw programming promoting development of the regional defense innovation ecosystem. Prior to NSIN, Dan served as a senior policy analyst at the RAND Corporation, conducting capability development and campaign assessment studies for the Department of Defense. 15 of these peer-reviewed reports have been publicly released, on topics ranging from modernization needs, acquisition reform, special operations, strategy and organizational culture. Dan’s professional life began as an artillery officer in the United States Marine Corps. Subsequently Dan worked as military legislative assistant to the Oversight and Investigations Chair on the House Armed Services Committee. Dan also served as special assistant to an Under Secretary of Defense, where he led analysis of military personnel reforms, including a proposal that led to the expansion of maternity leave for nearly 130,000 women.