Jon Davidson

Lux backs founders working on some of the hardest problems in science and technology. Building those companies requires more than capital; it requires navigating the complex web of institutions, agencies, and power structures that determine whether a breakthrough technology actually reaches the world. Today, we’re excited to welcome someone who has spent his entire career doing just that: @zachiscol, our newest Venture Partner. Together with Venture Partners @brett_mcgurk and @TonyT2Thomas, Zach will help us expand our initiatives to marry the expansion and promise of technology with public policy and security, whether at the level of international diplomacy (Brett), defense and the US government (Tony), or, in Zach’s case, local governments, healthcare and critical infrastructure. Zach is particularly well suited to the task, having recently served as Commissioner of the @nycemergencymgt, overseeing the city’s preparedness and response to its most complex crises, including close to 70 Emergency Operations Center activations for extreme weather, infrastructure failures, and mass casualty, public health, and cyber events. Before that, he led over 40 federal, state and city agencies as deputy director of the Joint New York Medical Station, one of the largest and most successful COVID field hospitals in the country. He came into both roles as an outsider, built trust from scratch, and delivered. A wildly respected veteran, Zach served as a combat-decorated Marine infantry officer in the Second Battle of Fallujah and on other assignments throughout Iraq, Africa and the Middle East, earning a Bronze Star for valor and playing a pivotal role in the development of US Marine Corps Special Operations. Following his service, he founded the @HeadstrongProj, which now provides cost and bureaucracy-free mental healthcare to over 1,000 veterans and service members per week across the United States. The through-line across all of it: Zach walks into hard institutions and tough situations and makes them work. At Lux, he’ll bring that directly to our founders. For companies whose technology touches public life, having a partner who has actually run one of these institutions – not just advised from the outside – is rare. We’re thrilled to have him join the team.

NEW: On the trail with Bubba @BillClinton on how the VP can win, his third way (tm) on her breaking w Biden and what he heard at Bojangles He knows this won’t be easy - inflation was never far from his mind - but has a gameplan From the BBQ belt > politico.com/news/magazine/…

The boss was stumping for @KamalaHarris in Georgia and had to stop by the old stomping grounds, @McDonalds.

We come here to remember. Here is a link to the main portion of my remarks delivered at today's April 19th remembrance ceremony: facebook.com/MayorDavidHolt… #WeRemember

Why has peace endured in Northern Ireland? Hope and history rhymed, @BillClinton writes in an op-ed. wapo.st/3KkZqZP