Madison Dearborn Partners Launches MissionX with Kevin Kelly & Former LGS Execs

Private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners has formed an executive partnership, branded MissionX, with former LGS Innovations CEO Kevin Kelly and two other former LGS executives, Robert Gallegos and Chris McCall.

Gallegos and McCall previously served as LGS’ chief operating officer and chief of staff, respectively.

MissionX and MDP’s Business & Government Software and Services team will pursue investments in differentiated technology companies focused on high-growth mission areas within the U.S. national security marketplace.

Matt Norton, managing director and head of MDP’s Business & Government Software and Services team said he looks forward to working with the trio “to identify companies upon which we can build a market-leading business to support important government customers.”

More specifically, MissionX will target prospective platform companies active in high-growth mission areas such as C5ISR; defense electronics; electronic warfare; multi-INT data fusion and analytics; position, navigation and timing; software-based modeling and simulation; space photonics and high-end communications; and space superiority.

“We are pleased to begin the search process for a technology-differentiated, intellectual property-driven government platform that could benefit from our partnership’s resources, network of relationships, and expertise,” Kelly said. “MDP has a proven track record of growing government technology companies while increasing their mission efficiency and enhancing our national security. I’ve enjoyed a long and successful relationship with Matt, Brandon, and the entire MDP team, and I look forward to moving forward with them on our new joint mission.”

Brandon Levitan, a director on MDP’s Business & Government Software and Services team, added Kelly “has demonstrated time and again his aptitude for growing successful companies, and we are excited to begin this new chapter with him and his team at MissionX.”

“We are enthusiastic about the many growth opportunities in the government technology sector and the unique combination of expertise and resources MissionX will bring to help companies capitalize on those opportunities,” Levitan added.

After CACI acquired LGS in 2019, Kelly led LGS’ integration into CACI with the launch of the National Security and Innovation Solutions Sector, where he was president. He oversaw the operations of a $2 billion business consisting of innovative technology and products. 

Earlier in his career, Kelly held senior roles within General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems and Lockheed Martin.