Profile

Founded in 1998, AE Industrial Partners (“AE Industrial” or the “Firm”) is a private investment firm with approximately $9.2 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2025, focused on investing in technologies and services considered critical to national & economic security. Since 2015, AE Industrial has completed more than 155 investments in market-leading companies that benefit from its deep industry knowledge, operating experience and network of relationships across the sectors where the firm invests (national security, aerospace and industrial services).

AE Industrial is dedicated to accelerating the growth of middle-market companies, often serving as the first institutional investor for privately held businesses. As a growth-oriented partner, the firm works closely with strong management teams to create long-term value through a combination of organic and acquisition-based growth initiatives. By partnering with AE Industrial, portfolio companies gain access to deep financial resources as well as strategic and operational expertise drawn from decades of hands-on industry experience. The team’s extensive relationships and broad operating knowledge, combined with a proven track record of helping companies rapidly scale and expand into new markets, provide a strong foundation for long-term success and value creation.

In addition to its private equity investments, AE Industrial has a venture capital arm as well as an aerospace leasing platform.

Awards

2025 Top Private Equity Firms, Top 40 Under 40 Growth Investors

2024 Top Private Equity Firms

Features

Critical Technologies Investor: AE Industrial Partners’ Kirk Konert

GrowthCap’s RJ Lumba spoke with Kirk Konert on October 29, 2025. Kirk joined AEI in 2014 and is primarily responsible for sourcing, executing, and managing the firm’s portfolio investments. Prior to AEI, he held roles at Sun Capital Partners and was a member of Wells Fargo Securities’ Industrials Group.

Key People

Mike Greene, Co-CEO and Managing Partner

Mr. Greene is Co-CEO and Managing Partner at AE Industrial and is a member of the Firm’s Investment and Management Committees. He joined the Firm in 2008 and has played a key role in investments across the Firm’s target markets since AE Industrial Partners Fund I. Mr. Greene received a BA from The College of the Holy Cross and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

David Rowe, Co-CEO and Managing Partner

Mr. Rowe is Co-CEO and Managing Partner at AE Industrial and is a member of the Firm’s Investment and Management Committees. He co-founded AE Industrial’s predecessor firm, AeroEquity Partners, Inc., in 1998 and has been involved in all of the Firm’s investments since inception. Mr. Rowe graduated from GE’s Financial Management Program and received a BA from Tulane University.

Charlie Compton, Managing Partner

Mr. Compton is a Managing Partner at AE Industrial and is a member of the Firm’s Investment and Management Committees. He joined the Firm in 2014 and has played a key role in investments across the Firm’s target markets since AE Industrial Partners Fund I. Mr. Compton graduated with high honors from the University of Georgia, receiving a BBA degree in Accounting.

Kirk Konert, Managing Partner

Mr. Konert is a Managing Partner at AE Industrial and is a member of the Firm’s Investment and Management Committees. He joined the Firm in 2014 and has played a key role in investments across the Firm’s target markets since AE Industrial Partners Fund I. Mr. Konert received a BA in Economics from Davidson College. Committee.

Jon Nemo, Managing Partner

Mr. Nemo is a Managing Partner at AE Industrial and is a member of the Firm’s Investment and Management Committees. He joined the Firm in 2016 and has played a key role in investments across the Firm’s target markets since AE Industrial Partners Fund I. Mr. Nemo received a BA from the University of Michigan.

Funds Raised

Key Investments

Belcan: Acquired July 2015, realized August 2024
Sector: Aerospace & Industrial

Services Belcan is a market-leading, global supplier of engineering and IT consultancy services, supply chain services, data analytics and technical staffing solutions. The company engineers better outcomes for customers in the aerospace, automotive, industrial, pharmaceutical, electronics and government sectors through adaptive and integrated services.

On August 26, 2024, AE Industrial completed the sale of Belcan to Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH).

Blue Raven Solutions (“Blue Raven”): Acquired August 2019
Sector: Aerospace & Industrial

Services Blue Raven is strategically focused on the military aftermarket and offers a broad set of supply chain management solutions including distribution, program management, kitting & logistics, obsolescence management, counterfeit avoidance, engineering services and repair management across a range of highly engineered, mission-critical mechanical, electrical and structural components. The company partners with OEM suppliers and their military customers to form the critical link between the product and the end-user in the supply chain.

American Pacific Corporation (“AMPAC”): Acquired February 2020, realized January 2024
Sector: National Security

AMPAC is a leading specialty materials manufacturer of critical chemicals for some of the U.S. Government’s most vital military and space programs, and clean fire extinguishing agents for the fire Page | 2 protection industry. The company produces highly technical materials through proprietary processes for use in missile defense, space launch, pharmaceutical and fire suppression applications.

On January 16, 2024, AE Industrial completed the sale of AMPAC to NewMarket Corporation (NYSE: NEU).

Redwire Corporation (“Redwire”): Acquired March 2020
Sector: National Security

Redwire is a leader in space infrastructure for the next generation space economy, with valuable IP for solar power generation and in-space 3D printing and manufacturing. With decades of flight heritage combined with the agile and innovative culture of a commercial space platform, Redwire is uniquely positioned to assist its customers in solving the complex challenges of future space missions. Redwire became a publicly traded company on 9/3/2021 following the completion of its merger with Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “RDW.”

On June 13, 2025, AE Industrial completed the sale of another portfolio company, Edge Autonomy (“Edge”), to Redwire. Edge is a leader in unmanned and autonomous technology and was established with the goal of developing the most advanced platforms and sensors in the unmanned market. AE Industrial received common stock shares of Redwire as a result.

Firefly Aerospace (“Firefly”): Acquired March 2022
Sector: National Security

Firefly is developing a family of launch and in-space vehicles and services that provide industryleading affordability, convenience and reliability. Firefly’s launch vehicles utilize common technologies, manufacturing infrastructure and launch capabilities, providing LEO launch solutions for up to ten metric tons of payload at the lowest cost per kg in the small-launch class. Firefly became a publicly traded company on 8/7/2025 and began trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol “FLY.”

York Space Systems (“York”): Acquired November 2022
Sector: National Security

York is a leading independent provider of small satellites, satellite components and turnkey mission operations to both government and commercial customers. With a suite of spacecraft solutions designed for all mission types, York manufactures satellite buses purposefully designed to balance scalability, manufacturability and efficiency in order to address the evolving, high-volume demand for small satellite constellations in LEO. York became a publicly traded company on 1/29/2026 and began trading on the NYSE under the symbol “YSS

Capital Responsibility

Climate Strategy:  

In the past year, AEI has adapted and advanced its Climate Strategy to ensure the firm achieves a competitive advantage in climate mitigation while adhering to its business objectives and meeting the growing demand for environmentally sustainable practices. This year, AEI also updated its climate strategy to include a Net Zero commitment by 2050.

In January 2024, AEI implemented an internal recycling system in partnership with Waste Management (WM). Firm employees engage in daily recycling of paper, plastic, cardboard, and other items, with WM collecting these materials weekly for proper disposal at a local recycling center.

Governance:

AEI’s Management Committee along with the firm’s senior leadership champion and closely monitor the implementation of their Responsible Investment Policy, Processes, and Practices. AEI’s Responsible Investment Committee oversees, modifies, and ensures effective implementation of the Policy across both the firm and its portfolio companies.

The Responsible Investment Committee convenes quarterly and consists of senior professionals who provide quarterly updates to AEI’s senior governing body, the Valuation, Risk & Operations Committee, on any significant policy modifications or new initiatives related to responsible investment and sustainability at both the firm and portfolio levels.

CEO Reviews

Dr. Reggie Brothers, Former CEO of BigBear.ai and Operating Partner of AEI

“Working with AE Industrial has been a truly outstanding experience. Not only have we benefited from their financial resources, but the access we’ve had to strategic and operational resources within AE Industrial and across their portfolio of companies has been transformational. AE Industrial’s experienced Advisory Board has provided us with broad and deep technical insights and customer intelligence. Through it all, AE Industrial has strongly supported maintaining our company culture, which has been our top priority.”

Pam Braden, Former CEO of Gryphon Technologies and Operating Partner of AEI

“With AE Industrial’s support, Gryphon executed an acquisition plan to better align our capabilities with the DOD’s digital strategy. We successfully integrated five companies in less than 18 months, building our engineering capabilities with digital, cloud, and predictive analytics faster than we could have grown it organically. AE Industrial’s knowledge of the aerospace and defense sector, coupled with their resources and vision, accelerated Gryphon’s position as a market leader.”