About Sawtooth Advisors
We are driven by outcomes, not hours.
Over 15 advisors, 200 years of experience, and a range of expertise from product development to contracting to end-user experience.
Our team is made up of former founders, executives, and owners allowing us to understand the bigger picture to help you grow.
Leadership Team
Chris Brown has been in the Defense industry for over 30 years spanning back to when he enlisted in the Navy in 1992 out of Frankfurt, Germany. He has spent 15 years in the Navy, 7 years in Special Operations as an EOD Officer, and Officer In Charge of EOD Detachments in the South Pacific, and China Lake NAWCWD. He helped found and build an EOD Training and Products company, WMDTech, that grew from the garage to over $9M in revenue, before he sold his shares. WMDTech has equipment in every major city in America, in every Tri-Service EOD unit, and even our close allies overseas. He lives in Boise, Idaho with his wife and two young sons. He has an Executive MBA degree from Boise State University.
Chris Brown | Chief Revenue Officer
With over two decades of experience and a Master’s of Business degree, John Karcher specializes in delivering cutting-edge technology solutions designed to enhance the security of bases, troops, and critical infrastructure. His military career included Battalion Command at the 82nd Airborne and is marked by strategic leadership roles and significant contributions to defense technology, providing him with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the defense and security sectors.
John Karcher | Chief Business Officer
Paul Peay is a seasoned professional with 12 years of service in the United States Air Force, during which he completed six deployments across the Middle East. In his final role as Tactics and Development Program Manager, he played a pivotal part in integrating innovative technologies and processes within Air Force Special Operations Weather. Following his distinguished military career, Paul joined a leading FINTECH company where he managed a vendor network of over 200 attorneys. In 2023, Paul became a partner at Sawtooth Ventures and Sawtooth Advisors, where he advises both start-up and established companies specializing in product market fit and go to market strategies. He focuses on building connections between companies and the Department of Defense, facilitating collaboration and driving innovation across the defense sector.
Paul Peay | Chief Operations Officer
Collin Belanger spent 10 years in the Air Force working across a multitude of organizations including USASOC, AFSOC, and JSOC. Post-military, Collin has spent time developing products and strategies for multiple companies ranging from start-ups to large organizations. Collin has experience in executive level growth, strategy development, and product management. Additionally, he serves as an advisor to multiple start-ups and is an Executive MBA Candidate at Boise State University.
Collin Belanger | Chief Executive Officer