Member, Board of Directors,
Business Executives for National Security (BENS)
Mr. Frank Finelli is a Senior Advisor to The Carlyle Group, a global private equity firm, having retired from the firm in March 2024 after over 25 years, culminating in his role as a Partner and Managing Director focusing on investments in the defense and aerospace sector. He led numerous acquisitions and developed Carlyle’s cross-portfolio purchasing and functional value creation initiatives. Previously, Mr. Finelli served as a legislative assistant for then-Senator Dan Coats (R-IN), member of the Armed Services Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence. Before retiring as an Army Lieutenant Colonel, Mr. Finelli served as a Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the first Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) in 1997. He also worked for the Vice Chairman in restructuring the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC), where he also coordinated reviews of communications and intelligence programs. A Field Artillery Master Gunner, Mr. Finelli served in the 82d Airborne, 1st Armored, and 3rd Infantry Divisions. Mr. Finelli is a distinguished graduate of the US Military Academy. He holds a Master of Sciences in Finance and Operations Research from the Sloan School of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Military Arts in Strategy from US Army Command and General Staff College. Mr. Finelli also serves as a Director for Army Emergency Relief (AER) and Business Executives for National Security (BENS), as well as the MIT Sloan School Executive Board, and is on the Advisory Board for the Reagan Foundation’s Economic Security Forum. His military awards include the Defense Superior Service Award, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf cluster, the Honor Cross of the German Armed Forces in Silver, the Ranger Tab, and Master Parachutist badge.