Featured Panelists
Lieutenant General (Ret.)
Patrick “Pat” O’Reilly
Former Director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency
& Former PEO for Combat Support for the U.S. Army
Currently: Operating Partner at Shield Capital
LTG (ret) Patrick “Pat” O’Reilly is a trusted advisor to SHIELD early-stage portfolio companies to help establish operations, penetrate markets, and grow. Prior to joining SHIELD, Pat was the Vice President, Venture Technology; General Manager of the Systems Company, Corporate Vice President for Engineering, and the investment liaison to SHIELD at L3, and later, L3Harris Technologies; Senior Vice President at Alphabet Energy (an energy startup); and a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council (an international think tank).
LTG (ret) O’Reilly retired after a 35-year US Army career, culminating as the Director of the Missile Defense Agency. He managed unprecedented research, development and manufacturing programs for command & control, communications, missile, satellite, radar, power and directed energy systems. As the Army’s PEO for Combat Support & Combat Service Support, Pat led the acquisition of Army and Marine tactical vehicles,watercraft, mobile power, and logistics systems. LTG (Ret.) O’Reilly worked closely with industry, the US Executive Branch, Congress, and the leaders of 42 countries.
Pat’s academic credentials include Bachelor of Science (US Military Academy); Master’s degrees in: Physics (Naval Postgraduate School); National Security and International Studies (Naval War College); Management (Salve Regina University). He was an associate Professor of Physics at West Point. Pat repeatedly deployed as an American Red Cross disaster relief specialist.
Jacqueline Neugue
Head of Capital Formation
Shield Capital
Madison Broyles
Senior Executive Vice President
Astra Wealth Management
This gathering's principal sponsor
Shield Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in startups operating at the convergence of commercial innovation and U.S. national security. Founded by venture and defense veterans Philip Bilden and Raj Shah, the firm's investment thesis centers on backing dual-use frontier technologies—specifically across artificial intelligence, autonomy, cybersecurity, and space—under a flexible, "commercial-first" framework. By prioritizing companies that can achieve rapid scale in civilian enterprise markets while simultaneously solving critical government and defense problems, Shield Capital leverages its deeply connected network of former military and intelligence leaders to help founders bridge the gap between Silicon Valley innovation and federal procurement ecosystems.
Invocation Leader
Lance Cashion
CEO, Forge Room Foundation
Lance Cashion | Founder & CEO, Forge Room Foundation | Elder & Lay-Pastor, King's Cross Fellowship
Fort Worth, Texas native with 25+ years of integrated leadership across ministry, business, and community service.
Lance is the Founder & CEO of the Forge Room Foundation and an elder and lay-pastor at King's Cross Fellowship in Fort Worth. From 2014–2023, he served as a Local Outreach Pastor, overseeing domestic outreach, grant funding, and strategic partnerships at a Fort Worth church.
Before ministry, Lance built a diverse business career — owning a wealth management firm and insurance agency, serving as CTO and VP of Marketing at one of the nation's largest privately owned insurance agencies, and building a successful career in the electronic music industry as an artist, label owner, and promoter.
A commissioned Colson Fellow, Lance received the Charles W. Colson Medal in 2022 for pioneering Colson Fellows programs in the local church. He serves on several nonprofit boards, the Tarrant County 5 Stones Taskforce, and Texas Governor Abbott's GRACE initiative. His anti-trafficking work has taken him to Northern Iraq and opened direct communications with the White House.
Lance holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Rollins College. He hosts the Revolution of Man Podcast and Blog, and speaks on worldview, culture, and leadership.
He and his wife, Kathryn, have two children and a rescue dog — and enjoy time at their ranch.
U.S. and Texas Pledge Leader
Dr. Sasha Ortiz
Private Banker at First Horizon Bank
Dr. Andrea Sasha Ortiz is an international award-winning clinical psychologist, author, TED speaker, and the reigning Miss World International 2024. She specializes in trauma recovery, PTSD, depression, and anxiety, serving veterans, women, and children through evidence-based clinical practice.
She holds degrees from Spelman College, Columbia University, and the University of North Texas, along with an honorary doctorate in Judaic Theology. Dr. Ortiz is also the Chief Beauty Officer of Golden Goddess Beauty Corporation, a global beauty brand she leads as a recognized industry mogul.
Her advocacy centers on economic empowerment for women through her E3 Program and reducing stigma around intimate partner violence. Previously named Internationalist Texas 2022, she has earned multiple state and international pageant titles and serves on several nonprofit boards. She has been honored as one of the New York Journal’s 30 Women Under 30 for her contributions to psychology, women’s leadership, and global community impact.
Dr. Chicotsky on the mission of GBR gatherings.
The purpose of GBR gatherings is to strengthen deal flow in Fort Worth and North Texas while reinforcing the civic priorities that have built our great city. Economic vitality and civic stewardship rise or fall together.
Among America’s top-ten populated cities, Fort Worth is the last grand stand for a model that still works—faith-oriented values, limited interference in personal freedom, sensible regulation, a responsible tax structure, and the enforcement of vagrancy and misdemeanor laws that protect families and proprietors.
These are the civic conditions that lower risk, attract capital, reward enterprise, and preserve the moral confidence of a city.
It is our duty to safeguard Cowtown's economic future for decades to come.
Connect with Dr. Chicotsky
GBR's North Texas Associate Broker, Blake Oliver
Blake leads GBR's M&A brokering and helps facilitate capital fundraising for clients, both for private equity and individual companies with traction and defensibility. GBR attendees are encouraged to contact Blake to explore service offering alignment.
blake@godblessretirement.com | 405-626-2396 (m)
GBR's private equity liaison and veteran community leader, Alexia Tuttle.
Alexia Tuttle
Managing Partner, Tuttle Equity
Acknowledging a private capital community leader with a heart for supporting veterans and connecting them to capital communities, which God Bless Retirement is honored to facilitate.
We are proud to support the following veteran foundations as official partners with God Bless Retirement events.
The Special Forces Foundation is a non-profit organization supporting U.S. Army Special Forces Green Berets and their families by providing programs and resources for their mental and physical well-being, aligned with the Preservation of The Force and Family (POTFF) program.
The organization offers immediate and ongoing assistance for psychological and relationship challenges, including crisis support, transition assistance, and support for Gold Star Families.
December 8th, 2026 | 2 PM - 3:30 PM CST
The Fort Worth Club, 12th Floor - Sunset-Trinity Room
306 W 7th St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
$40 entry fee.
Comped parking in the Fort Worth Club building.
Bring your parking ticket to the check-in ticket to get validated.
Overflow comped parking at Cowtown Place Garage - 733 Throckmorton Street
To comp overflow parking, use promo code: FWCEVENT
Investing in Emerging Technology: Underwriting American National Security & Prosperity
An accredited gathering and panel offering insights on capital flow relevant to private markets and professionals in service of capital.
The Chicotsky family and God Bless Retirement (GBR) host frequent gatherings on different areas of private capital markets with the aim of offering an informational and positional advantage for attendees, whether de-risking investments or servicing deals. Our events are only $40 thanks to our strategic partners.
About the host, God Bless Retirement
Syndication & Deal Flow Support
We are a pipeline engine for private equity, activating accredited families and professionals in service of capital to help funds procure syndicated capital.
M&A Brokering
Offering both buy-side and sell-side services, which include certified valuations and effective targeting of private and public marketplaces.
Private Capital Symposia
Enjoy panel gatherings and deal rooms where private equity funds and area enterprises offer an informational and positional advantage for attendees.
Private Membership
Build your book from our strategic introductions, middle-market business relationships and year-round curated event opportunities.