The Helix defense Team

Mission Team

Our operations and strategy team includes veterans of special operations, the intelligence community, and industry — leaders who have faced the full spectrum of threats over many decades.

This group brings hard-earned perspective, creative adaptability, and a shared commitment to closing the gap between the battlefield and the engineering lab. With deep experience in both combat and capability development, they understand the pace of change, the complexity of mission needs, and the importance of listening to the warfighter. Their mission is to ensure Helix’s innovations are applied effectively — and immediately — where they’re needed most.

Dennis Castenfelt

Chief Executive Officer

Jon Mrkonich

Chief Financial Officer

Chris Smitte

VP, Product Strategy and Emerging Technologies, Retired Army SOF, Tech Integrator, Fulcrum Concepts

Robert Sorensen

Director of Training/Industry Liaison

Andrew Blackhurst

AV Specialist

Becky Keating

Administrative Manager

Adam Laubach

Chief Operating Officer

Darko Marquez

Chief Compliance and Data Officer

Joshua Pedicini

Director of Engineering

Operational Alliances

Our operational roots run deep. Members of our team have spent years embedded with partner nations in active conflict, bringing firsthand insight into urgency, resilience, and the reality of modern threats.

Today, we continue to shape our systems through close collaboration with elite U.S. military units, evolving our product in near-real time based on their feedback from the field. Combined with integration at advanced testing centers like the Bush Combat Development Complex, Helix is building not just to spec — but to survive, respond, and win under pressure.

Helix Defense™ is proud to partner with the Bush Combat Development Complex to advance the research, development, and testing of critical national security technologies. Our missions are tightly aligned — both dedicated to equipping the warfighter with next-generation capabilities through cutting-edge innovation and rigorous evaluation. Together, we are leveraging world-class facilities and deep technical expertise to accelerate solutions that meet the evolving demands of today’s complex operational environments.

Helix Defense™ is honored to partner with Shields & Stripes in their mission to support the physical and mental recovery of America’s first responders and military veterans. Just as Helix is focused on developing frontline technologies to protect those who serve, Shields & Stripes ensures those same individuals receive the care they need to heal — both visible and invisible wounds. Our collaboration reflects a shared commitment to resilience, service, and the long-term well-being of those who stand on the front lines for our communities and nation.

International Partnerships

Helix Defense™ works across borders, missions, and doctrines — because threats don’t wait for alignment.

From Europe to the Indo-Pacific, we’re forging partnerships with those who share our urgency and belief in frontline capability. Whether it’s with allied integrators, test sites, or defense ministries, our focus is clear: field what works, faster.