Aaron T. Dowd is Chief Executive Officer of Rare Earth Salts, a leading rare earth element separation company. He previously served as Managing Partner of Mellontikos, an international, diversified venture development holding company. From 2003–2013, Dowd served as a Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff to The Honorable Chuck Hagel, former Secretary of Defense and U.S. Senator. He has advised the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He holds a Global Executive M.B.A. from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Marquette University.