Our Rebellion

Ben FitzGerald is the Chief Executive Officer at Rebellion Defense. His work with Rebellion began in 2019 as an early investor and board participant. Most recently, he served as the company’s Executive Chair from May to December 2023.

A seasoned executive with a diverse background in technology, national security, and investment, Ben held the position of Executive Director – Strategy, Data, and Design in the Pentagon’s Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. During this period, he orchestrated the most significant reorganization of defense acquisition systems since the Goldwater Nichols Act of 1986. He also served on the Senate Armed Services Committee, contributing to legislation that created new defense acquisition pathways and governance models.

Ben previously directed the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), where he led the organization’s thought leadership on national security challenges associated with emerging technologies. His insights on these issues have been featured in Defense News, Foreign Policy, NPR, Reuters, Vice, and C-SPAN. Congress has sought his expert testimony on defense acquisition reform for building a more resilient and modern defense infrastructure.

An Australian native, Ben established the North American operations of the Noetic Group, an Australian-owned consulting firm. His exemplary work at the company earned recognition with the Australian Capital Territory Export Awards in 2007, 2008, and 2011. Earlier in his career, Ben worked in various technology corporations, including IBM and Unisys.

In addition to his role at Rebellion, Ben serves as a partner at Lupa Systems, leading the firm’s technology investments with security implications.

Lieutenant General (Retired) Tony Ierardi departed active duty in the U.S. Army in August 2019. Tony subsequently joined Rebellion Defense in December 2019 leading strategic partner engagement and currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer. Over the course of his military career, Tony served in a uniquely diverse set of assignments where he led challenging missions in strategically important Army and Joint units and organizations.

As a General Officer, Tony served in critical assignments at the DoD, Joint and Army enterprise-levels related to requirements, capabilities and the strategic allocation of resources. Tony’s culminating military assignment was as the Joint Staff’s J-8 Director where he oversaw JCS analytic assessments and all matters related to current and future requirements for forces, capabilities, budgets and resources for the U.S. Joint Force.

Tony led Army and Joint units at every level from platoon to division, in the U.S. and abroad, including commanding the First Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. Earlier, he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the Deputy Commander for Programs, Combined Security Transition Command in Kabul, Afghanistan, and with the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment in Operation Desert Storm.

He has a bachelors degree in business from Washington & Lee University, and Masters degrees from Georgetown University and the Naval War College.

Sara Pryor is the Chief People Officer at Rebellion Defense. Prior to joining Rebellion, Sara worked at Amazon for nearly a decade, leading the HR team for Italy and Spain, and leading the implementation of a number of large-scale, global HR initiatives, including the implementation of a new performance management system and software for all Amazon employees.

During her tenure at Amazon, Sara lived and worked in the US, Luxembourg, and Spain. Previously, she worked at Accenture, leading consulting engagements related to talent management, change management, and communications for clients in the US Intelligence Community and Department of Defense.

Sara holds a BA in International Relations and Spanish from the College of William and Mary. She and her husband have two children and one very unruly (but very sweet) labrador retriever.