John Hvirnak

John Hrivnak is the National Security Operations Director at Red Cell helping to build and scale innovative defense and dual-use technologies. From 2020 to 2024, John was the Private Capital Principal at National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), a Defense Innovation Unit program providing entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, and networks to develop and commercialize technologies critical to national security. At NSIN, John helped entrepreneurs and companies plan and prepare for raising private capital and then connected them to a curated network of hundreds of national security-oriented investors. From 2014 to 2020, John was a director of investments at a venture fund based in Columbus, OH investing in concept to seed stage software and deep tech startups. Prior to joining the venture fund, John was also the deputy director of human resources for a government contractor deploying and managing linguists supporting coalition forces in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2011. John earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and strategic communications from The Ohio State University and an MBA focused on venture capital and entrepreneurship from the University of Colorado-Boulder. John served six years in the Ohio Army National Guard as a Combat Engineer and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. John also loves to play hockey, snowboard, go for long runs, and spend time with his family.