Chad Cazel comes from a fifth-generation Southern Illinois farm family with decades in industrial manufacturing, and before joining Blackwing he founded Remask America, a reusable face-mask company, giving him a hands-on background in building physical products. At Blackwing he's known as an early champion of defense-tech founders like Askari Defense, co-founded the San Diego chapter of Post-Exit Founders, helps lead his family office Cazel LP, and hosts in-person gatherings such as the Heritage Afternoon Social to connect founders and investors.