faculty

EXPERTISE:

Leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, business strategy, legal counsel, artificial intelligence, machine learning, technology.

EXPERIENCE:

Francis Q. Hoang is a veteran entrepreneur who has been on the founding teams of companies that have generated over $600 million of combined sales and employed over 1,200 professionals across the fields of law, aerospace, defense, government services, and technology. He currently serves as Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of a venture backed AI startup, a partner at a Virginia based law firm, and serves on and advises several nonprofit and for-profit boards.

France also has over 20 years of national security experience, with service in every branch of the U.S. Government. He clerked for Judge Thomas Griffith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and was appointed by President George W. Bush as an Associate White House Counsel and Special Assistant to the President. Shortly after leaving the White House, France mobilized in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM where he served as the Executive Officer of a U.S. Army Special Forces Company on a combat deployment in Southeast Afghanistan. France previously deployed to the Former Yugoslavia during Operations JOINT ENDEAVOR and JOINT GUARD and later served as the Deputy Chief of Police and SWAT Commander for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He also previously worked as a lawyer at the law firm of Williams & Connolly and briefly served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia.

France graduated in the academic top 1% of his West Point class, received a Master’s in Criminal Justice from Washburn University, and graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center. He somehow also managed to pass both Ranger School and the CPA Exam.

SCHOLARLY WORK/PUBLICATIONS/AWARDS:

France's commentary has been published by the Wall Street Journal and he speaks regularly on innovation, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence. In 2019, France was named a Washington Business Journal Honoree for his contributions to the veteran business community. He has received various military awards including the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

EDUCATION:

JD, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC

MA, Washburn University, Topeka, KS

BS, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY

ORGANIZATIONS:

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Treasurer & Board of Directors; United States Military Academy at West Point, Distinguished Visiting Lecturer; MAG Aerospace, Board of Advisors; Loomis Innovation Council, CoFounding Chair & Board of Directors; Bunker Labs, Board of Directors; American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Law & National Security, Advisor; Common Mission Project, Co-Founding Chair, Board of Advisors Academy Investor Network, Advisor

PERSONAL:

France proudly grew up in Tumwater, Washington. He lives now in Colorado Springs, CO with his wife and three children.