Chertoff Group CEO and Co-Founder Chad Sweet

Chad Sweet

Co-Founder and CEO

Chad Sweet is Co-Founder and CEO of The Chertoff Group, a global advisory firm and investment bank exclusively focused on the security sector.

Mr. Sweet formerly served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Prior to becoming Chief of Staff of DHS, Mr. Sweet worked as an investment banker at the firms of Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs as well as served in the CIA’s National Clandestine Service.

Previously as the Chief of Staff of DHS, Mr. Sweet helped Secretary Michael Chertoff manage one of the largest federal agencies with approximately 220,000 dedicated homeland security professionals and an annual budget of over $50 billion.

After leaving DHS, Secretary Chertoff and Mr. Sweet co-founded The Chertoff Group to consult with companies and governments on their own security as well as to advise on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the security industry. With over a decade of investment banking experience, Mr. Sweet has been involved in more than 40 successful sell- and buy-side M&A and capital formation engagements. His recent deals include advising Potomac Fusion on its sale to Sotera, Arlington Capital on its acquisition of FGM and White Oak Technologies to form Novetta Solutions, Veritas Capital on its acquisition of EIG to form “The SI”, Waud Capital on its acquisition of Summit Solutions and subsequent merger with Point One to form National Security Partners, Berkshire Partners on its acquisition of ESP, and Safran’s acquisition of L-1 Identity Solutions, among others.

Mr. Sweet is a FINRA Registered Representative (Series 7, 24, 63, 79) and registered representative of Chertoff Capital, LLC, a wholly-owned broker-dealer subsidiary of The Chertoff Group. He is a member of The Association for Corporate Growth National Capital Chapter, GEN NEXT, and the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) – U.S. Capital Chapter. He is also a Senior Fellow at the George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute, a Member of the FBI’s InfraGard Advisory Board, a Senior Fellow at the Center for Naval Analysis, and a frequent commentator on national security issues for CNN, FOX, and CNBC. Mr. Sweet graduated with honors from Columbia University.

Expertise 

  • Intelligence and counterterrorism
  • Mergers and acquisitions within the security industry
  • Investment counsel for private equity targeting the security industry
  • Cyber security and corporate compliance

Previous Government and Private Sector Service

  • Chief of Staff, Department of Homeland Security (2007 – 2009)
  • Vice President, Goldman Sachs (1996 – 2006)
    Investment Banker, Morgan Stanley (1994 – 1996)
  • Directorate of Operations, Central Intelligence Agency (1990, 1991 – 1993)

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