Paul Benfield

VP of Strategy Forterra

Paul Benfield is the Vice President of Strategy at Forterra, where he leads strategic engagements to advance innovation and operational capability. A recognized thought leader across national security and technology communities, Paul contributes to industry associations and leading think tanks, shaping perspectives on emerging operational concepts and the integration of ground autonomy into future defense missions. Prior to Forterra, Paul was a director at Pallas Advisors, helping innovative companies navigate go-to-market strategies for commercial success in the national security sphere, and at Pallas Ventures where he leveraged his expertise in venture capital and emerging dual-use technology within the national security ecosystem. Before transitioning to the private sector, Paul served over 20 years in various roles in the U.S. Army, earning the Douglas MacArthur Leadership award in May 2013. His final role was as Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, focusing on innovation and modernization priorities including integrating emerging technology into operational concepts. Paul is an Adjunct Senior Fellow for the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), and a Board Director for the National Defense Industry Association (NDIA) Washington, D.C. Chapter. He holds a M.A. in Policy Management from Georgetown University and a B.A. from Campbell University.