UNCLASSIFIED
MARFORPAC-NS-2026-0309 2026-03-09
MEET
HIGH CONFIDENCE
Northslope Technologies — Palantir Mission App Builder
3 Reasons For
● Pre-existing relationship — Matt Leonard and TJ share professional history at GDC4S, where both deployed Command Post of the Future (CPOF).
● Dynamis already runs Palantir Target Workbench — Northslope builds mission apps on that platform as Palantir's exclusive "Vanguard: Elite" partner. No new platform acquisition needed.
● Follows TJ's stated CRADA playbook — Northslope already demoed at WEST 2026 "Art of the Edge," aligning with TJ's RDT&E on-ramp pathway.
3 Risk Flags
● Zero federal contracts — CAGE registered but no FPDS/USAspending awards found.
● No IL5/IL6 accreditation evidence — likely inherits via Palantir FedStart, unverified.
● Defense leadership <6 months in seat — Amanda (NatSec Lead) joined Nov 2025, Ben Holloway (Defence Head) joined Feb 2025.
One Question to Ask First
"What specifically did Northslope build at WEST's Art of the Edge demo?"
90-second orient complete. Scroll for evidence.
Verified (SEC, FPDS, public record)
Entity Store (1.93M LinkedIn entities)
Reported (company claims, press)
Inferred (analyst assessment)
Evidence For
Relationship Evidence

Matt Leonard served as Combat Software Engineer at GDC4S for 4.5 years, deploying CPOF. TJ was Senior Field Systems Engineer for GDC4S during the same era, fielding CPOF to Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. entity store Gemini Deep Research

This is not a cold approach. Both share a professional history rooted in tactical C2 fielding for the Marine Corps. Matt later spent 3.75 years at Palantir as an FDE (2011–2015), combining platform expertise with combat software experience.

Matt Leonard (Northslope FDE):
  ├── 8 engagements → TJ (MCTSSA Senior Principal Engineer)
  ├── 4 engagements → Bob Sholtis (MARFORPAC CIO)
  ├── 3 engagements → Bernice Kissinger
  ├── 2 engagements → Arlon Smith (Project Dynamis Director)
  └── 1 engagement  → Tim Miller (ODME Solutions)

Bill Ward (Northslope CEO):
  ├── 5 engagements → TJ
  └── 1 engagement  → Bob Sholtis

Source: Cruzam Entity Store — 1.08M engagement records across 74K posts. entity store

Technology Fit — Dynamis Stack + Palantir Already Deployed

Northslope is a Palantir application builder. They employ Forward Deployed Engineers who embed with customer teams to build mission-specific software on Palantir's platforms (AIP, Foundry, Gotham). They hold the status of Palantir's "first and only Vanguard: Elite partner," meaning platform endorsement and co-marketing. Palantir partner page

Operating model mirrors Palantir's own FDE model: engineers deploy to customer site, rapidly prototype, iterate with end users. Not a product company — bespoke applications per engagement. entity store — 87 of 97 titled FDE or variant

Verified external signals: Active UK Defence FDE job postings on Ashby and Built In. Member of ADS Group. Website (northslope.com) lists supply chain and logistics as verticals but names no specific products. external verification

"We closed the gap at machine speed with Anduril's Lattice Data Mesh and Palantir's Target Workbench, forging a resilient, interoperable data fabric that transforms isolated tools into a unified, lethal kill chain."
— Arlon Smith, Director of Project Dynamis, HQMC (181 reactions) entity store
"This cutting-edge device integrates multiple existing USMC fire support, C2, and other systems across air and ground domains into a single, unified multi-domain MAGTF C2 prototype solution… the exceptional leadership of… Fritz Doran, and Thomas J. and the dedicated team at MCTSSA."
— Arlon Smith (445 reactions) entity store
"Excited to introduce our next-generation high-compute edge node — the MAGTF C2 Prototype… A small, lethal Stand-in Force…"
— Arlon Smith (242 reactions) entity store

Confirmed Dynamis Stack public reporting

  • Palantir Target Workbench — kill chain integration
  • Anduril Lattice Data Mesh — resilient joint mesh
  • MAGTF C2 Prototype / MCP — high-compute edge node
  • Maven Smart System / MSS — AI situational awareness, deployed to NATO SHAPE

Partners Named: USN Project Overmatch, DIU, Joint Fires Network, U.S. Army 4th Infantry Div (NGC2), Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, USMC PEO Land Systems, NAVWAR/NIWCPacific.

Key insight: Palantir is the already-deployed platform. Northslope's pitch is "let us build mission applications on the Palantir deployment you already have." inferred

Acquisition Pathway — TJ's CRADA Playbook + Art of the Edge
"A common misconception in defense innovation is thinking the fastest way in is to pitch a new product directly to a Program Office… The better path: Start with RDT&E sponsors, CRADAs, and experimentation venues… RDT&E is the on-ramp. Procurement is the highway. O&M is the sustainment lane."
— TJ, tagged #CRADA #MCTSSA (28 reactions) entity store
"Marine Forces Pacific seeks innovative and scalable technology solutions… MCTSSA is publicizing this SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE as a means of conducting strategic market research…"
— TJ sharing RFI M68909-I-25-7615 (32 reactions) entity store
"On Thursday, I'll cover how the MARFORPAC–MCTSSA partnership is reimagining the market research within the framework of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act. How we applied AI for multi-dimensional analysis and built symbiotic public–private models through CRADAs to demonstrate the 'Art of the Edge'."
— TJ, PACT 2026 (31 reactions) entity store

Assessment: TJ has publicly documented the pathway: CRADA → experimentation venue (like "Art of the Edge") → transition to Program of Record. Northslope was already named as a participant in "Art of the Edge" demo at WEST 2026. inferred

MARFORPAC Strategic Alignment
Priority Alignment Evidence
Battle Management C2 HIGH Palantir Target Workbench operational in Dynamis kill chain. Northslope builds on Palantir. Arlon's posts name "AI-powered battle management C2" as core. entity store
Informational Advantage HIGH Amanda's C4ADS/PAI/OSINT background. Data fusion is Dynamis's stated mission. entity store
Allies & Partners HIGH Ben Holloway (Royal Navy data chief) enables FVEY angle. Amanda's title includes "Asia Pacific." Bernice's posts focus on US-Japan allied data sharing. TJ's PACT 2026 panel: "AI-Driven C6ISR: The Future of Allied Integration." entity store
Sustainment / Logistics MODERATE Ben's submarine logistics. Company markets "Supply Chain" vertical. No EABO-specific evidence. entity store company website
Evidence Against / Complications
Risk Flags Expanded
RISK 1
No Federal Contracting History
CAGE registered (9W7Z3), UEI ST1QDAAL4F21, NAICS 541512/541690 — but zero FPDS/USAspending awards found. FPDS/USAspending search self-reported CAGE/UEI
Mitigation path: Subcontract via Palantir IDIQs/BPAs, or CRADA under TJ's Title 15 PI authority. Funding: $7M SEC Form D (Jun 2025), $22M Series A announced (Jan 2026). Investors include Colin Anderson (Palantir's former CFO) and Adam Ross (Goldcrest Capital). SEC Form D Business Wire inferred
RISK 2
No IL5/IL6 Accreditation Evidence
No evidence of independent ATO or IL5/IL6 accreditation. Likely inherits accreditation via Palantir FedStart, but this is unverified. inferred
Mitigation path: If applications deploy on existing Palantir FedStart environment, accreditation may inherit. If standalone deployment required, this is a blocker — must verify in meeting.
RISK 3
IP Ownership Undefined
Custom applications built on MARFORPAC's Palantir instance using DoD data — who owns resulting algorithms? Palantir, Northslope, or USMC? Must resolve before CRADA. Gemini Deep Research
Mitigation path: Standard CRADA IP terms under Stevenson-Wydler. Clarify ownership model at first meeting. This is a negotiation item, not a disqualifier.
RISK 4
Defense Vertical Is New
97 employees but defense leadership is recently hired. Amanda Shaver Gurman (NatSec Lead) joined Nov 2025. Ben Holloway (Head of Global Defence & National Security) joined Feb 2025. Growth trajectory: 11 employees through 2024, then 73 hires in 2025, 15 in Jan–Feb 2026. entity store, position start dates
Mitigation path: Both bring deep domain experience (C4ADS, Royal Navy). Palantir alumni base (26 of 97) provides institutional platform knowledge. Rapid growth funded by Series A.
"AC" Connection — Unresolved

TJ's email states: "I'm operating from a different role than how you all have engaged me in AC." Amanda replies: "broader offerings and capabilities beyond AC." Two candidates: Army Contracting context, or AC2 TTF (Aviation Command and Control Transition Task Force). Neither confirmed. Gemini Deep Research for AC2 TTF candidate

Recommendation: ask Matt or Amanda directly at the meeting.

Why Others Might Be Better
Primer AI
Standalone NLP/ML platform. Palantir FedStart integration exists but builds own models. Competes with Palantir's AI layer rather than extending it. Better if you want to reduce Palantir dependency. Gemini Deep Research
Second Front Systems
DevSecOps platform (Game Warden) with IL4/IL5 accreditation pathways. Accelerates other software into DoD — does not build mission apps. Better if accreditation pathway is the primary need. Gemini Deep Research
Traditional Primes (SAIC, Booz Allen, Leidos)
Offer Palantir implementation among broader portfolios. Lack the FDE-only operating model and Palantir's explicit platform endorsement. Better for large-scale program-of-record execution. inferred

Northslope's differentiation: only company with Palantir's explicit endorsement for last-mile mission apps. This matters where Palantir is already deployed (Dynamis). Irrelevant where it isn't. inferred

Meeting Questions
  1. What specifically did Northslope build/demonstrate in "Art of the Edge" at WEST 2026? What was the technical contribution vs. the other 12 partners? Gap: Tim Miller's post names 13 partners but doesn't specify Northslope's deliverable.
  2. Dynamis stack already runs Palantir Target Workbench + Anduril Lattice. Which Palantir instance/environment? AIP, Foundry, or Gotham? Gap: Marketing names all three platforms.
  3. Matt — what was the context of your prior engagement with TJ before his current MCTSSA role? What does "AC" refer to? Gap: Resolves the "AC" mystery.
  4. Prime or sub? Contracting vehicle? Zero federal awards — what's a realistic 90-day contracting path? Gap: CAGE registered but zero awards.
  5. Ben — how does Royal Navy enterprise data integration map to MARFORPAC's US-Japan allied data sharing problem? FVEY/coalition delivery model? Gap: Background suggests relevance but no direct evidence.
  6. Name one operational workflow you could deliver in 6–8 weeks on existing Dynamis Palantir. Inputs, outputs, latency targets, who sustains it. Gap: No specific products named anywhere.
  7. Current IL5/IL6 accreditation status? Palantir FedStart or independent ATO? Gap: No evidence in any source.
  8. CRADA IP rights and data ownership for resulting algorithms — who owns the IP: USMC, Palantir, or Northslope? Gap: Undefined.
Reference Data
Company Profile
Company Northslope Technologies
Founded 2024, Denver CO company website
Staff 97 LinkedIn profiles entity store
Composition 87 of 97 FDE or FDE-adjacent. 10 non-FDE: CCO, Strategic Accounts, Defence & NatSec, Finance, People Ops, Business Ops, Global Client Strategy, Recruiting. entity store, 97 position records
Palantir Alumni 26 of 97 confirmed prior Palantir positions (detailed enrichment for 88 of 97). Roles: FDE, Deployment Strategist, Technical Lead, Recruiting Lead, Group Engineering Lead, Commercial Lead. entity store, linkedin_position company website
Funding $7M offering ($6.8M sold) SEC Form D, Jun 2025; $22M Series A announced Business Wire press release, Jan 2026
Investors Friends & Family Capital (Colin Anderson, Palantir's former CFO), Goldcrest Capital (Adam Ross) press release
CAGE / UEI 9W7Z3 | ST1QDAAL4F21 self-reported, not verified from SAM.gov
NAICS 541512, 541690 self-reported
Federal Awards None found FPDS/USAspending search
Growth 11 employees through 2024, then 73 hires in 2025, 15 in Jan–Feb 2026 entity store, position start dates
Palantir Status First and only "Vanguard: Elite" partner Palantir partner page
Key Personnel
Matt Leonard
Forward Deployed Engineer (Jan 2025) entity store
  • GDC4S: Combat Software Engineer (4.5 yr) — deployed CPOF entity store
  • Palantir Technologies: FDE (3.75 yr, 2011–2015) entity store
  • Pinterest: Technical Lead Legal Engineering entity store
  • Facebook: Senior SWE entity store
Matt and TJ share a GDC4S/CPOF professional history — TJ was a Senior Field Systems Engineer fielding CPOF to Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan during the same era. Pre-existing professional relationship. Engineering background spans tactical C2 + Palantir platform expertise. entity store Gemini Deep Research
Amanda Shaver Gurman
FDE & Defense/NatSec Lead, US & Asia Pacific (Nov 2025) entity store
  • C4ADS: Head of Commercial Partnerships — integrated investigative data into Palantir Foundry entity store
  • Georgetown University adjunct: taught OSINT/PAI methods entity store
  • Stimson Center, State Dept, VP's speechwriting, Senate entity store
C4ADS background directly relevant to counter-malign-influence mission. OSINT analytical tradecraft. Experience integrating data into Palantir Foundry. "Asia Pacific" title scope suggests targeting this AOR. inferred from role + background
Ben Holloway
Head of Global Defence & National Security (Feb 2025) entity store
  • Royal Navy, 18 years: Head of Data & Navy Applications, Head of Data & Platforms entity store
  • OC Combat Service Support Squadron, Commando Helicopter Force entity store
  • Logistics Manager, HMS Victorious (submarine) entity store
  • Afghanistan contractor-support coordination entity store
Royal Navy data integration leadership relevant to FVEY coalition interoperability. TJ's PACT 2026 panel: "AI-Driven C6ISR: The Future of Allied Integration." Submarine logistics maps to contested logistics in EABO. UK military officer leading defense sales signals serious commitment to coalition markets. inferred from background + TJ's posted PACT agenda
Bill Ward
Founder & CEO entity store
  • Palantir Technologies: Business Operations & Strategy (Nov 2014 – Jun 2018) entity store
  • Biofire: COO (Feb 2020 – Sep 2023) entity store
  • Enigma Technologies: Head of Field Product (Jul 2018 – Sep 2019) entity store
  • Obama for America (data/analytics), Morgan Stanley (equity syndicate) entity store
Palantir role was ops/strategy — understands FDE deployments at scale. Biofire COO experience running a growth-stage company. Investors are Palantir's former CFO and first independent board director. inferred
Methodology & Sources

Primary source: Cruzam Entity Store — 1.93M LinkedIn entities, 1.08M engagement records, 74K posts, 169K persons, 73K companies.

Secondary sources: SEC Form D (Jun 2025), Business Wire press release (Jan 2026), Gemini Deep Research, ChatGPT Deep Research, Palantir partner page, Vannevar Labs blog, Ashby/Built In, ADS Group, FPDS/USAspending.

Data freshness: 2026-03-09.

Source tier definitions:

  • Verified — Government registries (FPDS, USAspending, SAM.gov), SEC filings, or independently confirmed public records.
  • Entity Store — LinkedIn data ingested into Cruzam's provenance-tracked entity store. Observations extracted from API snapshots with full PROV-O chain.
  • Reported — Company self-reported claims, press releases, partner pages. Not independently verified.
  • Inferred — Analyst assessment based on available evidence. Confidence noted where applicable.