Ethan Thornton is the CEO and founder of Mach Industries, a next-generation defense technology and manufacturing company. Thornton’s passion for manufacturing began in his youth, helping on his grandparents' farm. His early experiences solving tough challenges through hands-on work sparked a lifelong respect for the industry and led to the realization that hardware solutions could fill critical gaps in the U.S. defense ecosystem. Working as an auto technician, Thornton used his savings to fund early prototypes for defense-related technologies.