EXPERTS IN THE
HIGHEST-PERFORMING
PREDICTABLE LEADERSHIP
Top 3 Boutique Executive Management Teams and Board Placement Firm across Global Defense, Aerospace, Aviation, Space Technology, Energy, and National Security / Cybersecurity — placing CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, CHROs, COOs, CISOs, Presidents, VPs, GMs, and Board Members with 70+ years of combined high-level search experience behind every mandate.
Boutique service from industry veterans.
If your Global Defense, Aerospace, Aviation, Space Tech, Energy, or National Security / Cybersecurity company's growth has you seeking top-tier executives — take a moment to explore an unparalleled expertise that ensures you hire the right people from the start.
Thomas & Taylor Search Partners (TTSP) is a Top-Three-Ranked Boutique Executive and Board Placement Firm with 70+ years of high-level search experience across Global Defense, Aerospace, Aviation, Space Tech, Energy, and National Security / Cybersecurity sectors. We specialize in customized talent strategies for PE/VC-backed organizations, strategic growth support, and board placement — operating globally from Dallas, Denver, London, New York, San Francisco, Tulum, and Washington, DC.
Most companies approach hiring three ways: personal referrals, job postings, or traditional executive search agencies. None are consistently successful in mission-critical markets — because this is not typical talent. The industry's boom created professionals accustomed to being treated like royalty, presented with headhunting offers on a weekly basis. They are not proactively looking for jobs; for many, LinkedIn is a distant memory.
Our approach integrates a meticulous blend of high-level market insights and in-depth EQ and IQ assessments, ensuring an optimal slate of executives who align perfectly with your company's culture. Leveraging a vast network plus machine learning and AI technology, we identify Top-Performing Predictive Thought Leaders for executive and board-level positions within days — not months.
22 Years Leading Search Teams
Our CEO and Co-Founder Travis Thomas has led executive search teams in Aerospace, Aviation, Defense, Cybersecurity, Space, and Innovative Technologies for the past 22 years. He personally conducts search operations and leverages powerful networks to ensure every search is executed optimally.
3 VIP Clients Only
We dedicate the team's full power to a maximum of three clients at any one time. That means close working relationships between your team and ours, with major emphasis on service and communication from our end.
HCI Our Guarantee / Human Capital Insurance
We're so confident in our commitment that we back it with Human Capital Insurance: if your candidate leaves — either voluntarily or involuntarily — within a year, we'll backfill the position at no extra cost to your firm. Coverage extends 12–24 months.
Engagement, De-Risked
- Flat rate without hidden fees — consistently proves up to 35% lower than conventional competition.
- 12–24 month Human Capital Insurance — the industry's most robust guarantee, ensuring the right fit up to 24 months.
- 12.0 Leadership Assessment and Integration — hires who are not only qualified but truly aligned with your culture, lifting leadership across the whole business.
- Thomas & Taylor Partners Holdings for strategic acquisitions and Access Ventures for funding support — enhancing value well beyond the placement.
Six mission-critical theaters of operation.
Industry-specific search, board of directors placement, and tailored talent strategies for private equity and venture capital-backed firms — each sector served by partners with multi-decade connections to the biggest players in the field.
Global Defense & Aerospace
Prime contractors, tier-1 suppliers, and mission-critical platforms — C-suite and board talent who understand procurement, programs, and national-security stakes.
Global Aviation
OEMs, MRO, avionics, and advanced air mobility — leadership that has delivered under FAA scrutiny and relentless production cadence.
Global Space Technology
Launch, satellite, and exploration ventures — executives who can scale from prototype to orbit while keeping investors and agencies aligned.
Global Energy
Generation, grid, and transition technologies — leaders versed in regulated markets, heavy assets, and long-horizon capital.
Global National Security & Cybersecurity
CISOs and security executives cleared for the fight — from SOC leadership to enterprise, aviation, physical, and cyber risk at national scale.
Private Equity, Venture Capital & Family Offices
Customized talent strategies for PE/VC-backed organizations — pre-vetted executive and board talent, from acquisition through exit.
Executive talent no one else can unlock.
From search kick-off to offer letter acceptance in less than 60 days — a boutique service built around expertise, personal networks, and continuously improving machine-learning AI.
Partners, Not Recruiters
Our partners hold multi-decade connections with big industry players and spent years in leadership positions at the biggest search firms. Now they combine that expertise and those relationships with AI to provide a hyper-focused, incredibly cost-effective search — for a maximum of three clients at a time.
Day-One Landscape Command
Combining partner-led expertise with GPT-5 Talent Intelligence, we map the executive landscape on day one — deep business insight, active and hidden talent revealed, and a strategic pipeline aligned to your mission. Data flows through Virtual Data Search Rooms (VDSR) giving real-time visibility into compensation, talent hubs, and competitor movement.
Engage Proven Executives at the Right Moment
Our AI-powered outreach engine blends predictive modeling with partner insight. Machine-learning workflows and market intelligence surface leaders by capability alignment and readiness-to-scale with precision — expanding access to hidden talent and ensuring the search reaches the strongest executives with confidence.
The Candidate Success Profile (CSP)
Our proprietary Candidate Success Profile gives hiring teams a clear, truly decision-ready view of each candidate — removing early internal vetting and accelerating confident selection. Built from custom questionnaires, leadership assessments, and a rigorous 17-point evaluation, the CSP distills the core signals that matter most: capability, alignment, and long-term fit.
Aligned, Not Just Qualified
We will find outstanding executive leaders for your business in 60 days — leveraging 12.0 Leadership Assessment and Integration to deliver hires who are not only qualified but truly aligned with your company's culture, and will in fact raise the leadership game across the whole business. This is more than a hire — it's a revolution in great leadership.
The Guarantee That Backs the Bet
If your candidate leaves — either voluntarily or involuntarily — within the coverage window, we backfill the position at no extra cost. Our confidence in the process allows us to provide the industry's most robust Human Capital Guarantee, ensuring the right fit up to 24 months.
▸ The Edge to Finding Top-Performing Executive & Board Talent
Welcome to a paradigm shift in executive search. Not only do we guarantee results — our cost-effective approach saves up to 35% compared to conventional agencies. With the availability of transparent AI data, we efficiently and quickly identify Top-Performing Predictive Thought Leaders for executive and board-level positions within days, instead of waiting months to complete the placement process. High-level market insight, EQ and IQ assessment, and partner judgment combine into one optimal slate.
Traditional firms vs. TTSP.
Run the numbers before you hire.
Across mission-critical portfolios, execution risk outweighs technical risk. These tools turn leadership valuation data into a framework for predictable post-investment performance.
TTSP High-Performance Playbooks turn leadership valuation data into a framework for predictable post-investment performance. Our approach integrates high-level market insights with in-depth EQ and IQ assessments — ensuring an optimal slate aligned to your culture.
No-client-risk fee structure under the Unlimited Partnership model — flat rate without hidden fees, consistently up to 35% lower than conventional agencies. Every placement backed by 12–24 month Human Capital Insurance and the 12.0 Leadership Assessment and Integration.
The proprietary CSP gives hiring teams a clear, truly decision-ready view of each candidate — removing early internal vetting and accelerating confident selection. Shortlist threshold: overall ≥ 80.
| REF | ROLE | SECTOR | LEVEL | YEAR | DAYS | OUTCOME |
|---|
Meet Thomas & Taylor Search Partners leadership.
Travis Thomas
FOUNDER & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER — 22 YEARS EXECUTIVE SEARCHTravis Thomas, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TTSP, has spent two decades unlocking hidden value for clients at the intersection of talent, leadership, culture, strategy, and innovation. Travis believes Leadership and Talent are inexorably linked — the only real differentiators in any highly competitive environment.
An experienced strategic leader and active listener, Travis has a proven history working in Executive Search, Professional Services, Account Management, and Knowledge Management. He personally conducts search operations and leverages powerful networks to ensure every search is executed optimally. His passion: ensuring clients implement 21st-century Human Capital Solutions.
Off duty: traveling the world, meeting exciting new people, backpacking to the next summit — and enjoying another beautiful sunset with Anna and Jack Russell.
VISIT LINKEDIN PROFILE ▸Dusty McClung
CO-FOUNDER & COO — 20+ YEARS AVIATION / AEROSPACE / DEFENSEDusty McClung brings 20+ years of experience building exceptional teams in Aviation, Aerospace, and Defense — a leading expert in high-performance leadership. Dusty excels at Talent Asset Management, leveraging an extensive network to secure top-tier leadership for market-leading companies. A trusted advisor to high-performing CEOs and a successful entrepreneur — owner of Supernatural Investments LLC — he has led multiple capital raises and managed numerous portfolio acquisitions and exits.
VISIT LINKEDIN PROFILE ▸Gonzalo Pacanins
PRESIDENT, EXECUTIVE TALENT SOLUTIONS — PE/VC FUNDSA seasoned M&A executive with 25+ years in private equity, corporate restructuring, and operational leadership across healthcare, telecom, energy, and distribution. Held C-suite and board roles in multinationals — leading $400M distressed asset restructurings, scaling Minera SA to $800M, and executing the $110M sale of a US medical supply distributor to a $4B multinational. At TTPH he directs deal structuring, diligence, and integration. Formerly Managing Partner, Latin America at Argonautic Ventures — a $750M AUM VC fund with 130+ portfolio companies. MBA, Harvard; certifications in M&A, CVC, and Corporate Governance from Wharton and Dartmouth.
VISIT LINKEDIN PROFILE ▸A few words from our CEO — "As Founder and CEO of Thomas & Taylor Search Partners, I'm thrilled to be leading a team of dedicated professionals who share a passion for unlocking hidden value for our clients. Over two decades working at the intersection of talent, leadership, culture, strategy, and innovation, I firmly believe Leadership and Talent are the only real differentiators in any highly competitive environment."
"That's why we go above and beyond to find the right leaders — top-tier Board and Executive talent — for our clients. As an experienced strategic leader and active listener, I understand the importance of matching the right people to the right organizations — not the first available talent. My proven history in Executive Search, Professional Services, Account Management, and Knowledge Management speaks to my ability to deliver results."
— TRAVIS THOMAS // CEO & FOUNDER, THOMAS & TAYLOR SEARCH PARTNERSA bench that has sat in the seat.
While not all are from defense and aerospace, our partners, Flag Officers, and operators identify and scale mission-critical platforms — each advisor bringing operator-grade judgment to every search.
Predictable outcomes, acquisition through exit.
We have spent more than two decades advising boards and investors across Private Equity, Venture Capital, and Family Office-backed firms. In mission-critical sectors, investor success depends on leadership precision.
Across mission-critical portfolios, execution risk outweighs technical risk. The TTSP High-Performance Playbook turns leadership valuation data into a framework for predictable post-investment performance — connecting investors to proven operators to protect enterprise value and accelerate integration.
Our data-driven methodology connects investors with operating leaders, delivering measurable outcomes from acquisition through exit. If a portfolio company's growth has you seeking top-tier executives, take a moment to explore an unparalleled expertise — ensuring you hire the right people from the start.
Access the Playbook
REQUEST REVIEWED PERSONALLY BY PARTNERS — 3 VIP CLIENT SLOTS PER CYCLEWe don't predict the future. We create it.
The first and only executive and board placement firm with a holdings company. TTPH specializes in acquiring and managing companies in the Global Defense, Aerospace, Aviation, Space Tech, and National Security / Cybersecurity sectors — supported by a network of Founders, Operating Partners, and General Partners providing strategic guidance, operational expertise, and financial support.
A Safer World, Built by Design
To be the leading force shaping a safer world by investing in transformative technologies within the Defense, Aerospace, Aviation, Space Technology, and National Security / Cybersecurity sectors. We don't follow trends — we set them. A precision-driven approach accelerates innovation, bringing game-changing technologies to life with rapid growth, exceptional returns, and integrity in all we do.
Equip. Empower. Elevate.
Identify, acquire, and scale companies that align with our core values — equipping and empowering the next generation of mission-critical leaders who protect warfighters and non-combatants. We collaborate as a unified team, leveraging collective expertise to secure long-term contracts, drive innovation, and deliver tangible results for investors and stakeholders.
Investment Philosophy
TTPH focuses on strategic acquisitions, operational excellence, and financial strength — deep expertise in technology and regulation lets us target high-value opportunities and scale innovative companies. Our approach is masterful craftsmanship: combining elite talent, strategic capital, and operational excellence to accelerate success where it matters most. We follow battlefield trends — not things in the rear-view mirror.
Access + Execution
A business-growth-focused holding company acquiring and managing businesses across our verticals — with a strong founder network to source, qualify, and create proprietary deals. What sets us apart is access, execution, and a relentless focus on results. We don't just invest — we build, scale, and lead with precision. TTPH deal sourcing is driven by proprietary access across the TTSP ecosystem.
▸ Key Screening Criteria
Thomas & Taylor's specialized division for funding support — enhancing the value proposition in-market alongside Thomas & Taylor Partners Holdings for strategic acquisitions. One ecosystem: search, capital, and operating leadership under a single standard.
Engage TTPH ▸The ecosystem our network intersects.
Partners with multi-decade connections to the biggest industry players — a vast network amplified by machine learning and AI technology for swift, successful search outcomes across seven worldwide locations.
MARKET ECOSYSTEM REFERENCE — REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEFENSE / AEROSPACE / AVIATION / SPACE / ENERGY / CYBER LANDSCAPE OUR SEARCHES MAP.
Highest-performing executive search starts here.
Executive / Board Placement Intake
FIELDS MARKED * REQUIRED — REVIEWED BY A PARTNER, NOT A PIPELINEEXECUTIVE TALENT PLACEMENT SUCCESSES — FROM SEARCH KICK-OFF TO OFFER LETTER ACCEPTANCE IN LESS THAN 60 DAYS. CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, CHROs, COOs, CISOs, PRESIDENTS, VPs, GMs, AND BOARD MEMBERS PLACED ACROSS GLOBAL DEFENSE, AEROSPACE, AVIATION, SPACE TECH, ENERGY, AND NATIONAL SECURITY / CYBERSECURITY MARKETS.