Chris O’Donnell

Founder & Executive Board Member

Chris O'Donnell is Vice President of the Franklin Equity Group and Head of Operations for Franklin Venture Partners, the firm’s specialized investment team that invests in private opportunities, focusing on mid- and late-stage companies it believes are poised for transformative impacts across multiple industries.

A former executive and entrepreneur, Chris has extensive strategic, operational, and international experience. After multiple deployments in the U.S. Navy, he spent time as a Requirements Officer in the Pentagon supporting Navy and SOCOM programs.  Following the Navy, he led military and law enforcement product development, sales and marketing efforts for Leupold & Stevens (America’s largest precision optics manufacturer). Later, with The O'Gara Group, Chris led strategic development efforts and then headed the Mobile Systems Division before launching a start-up M&A Advisory firm, Northstar Defense. Chris also served as President and CEO of Wamar Technologies, growing their core domestic defense & security business while expanding operations into Saudi Arabia and the broader GCC.

In his spare time, Chris is a competitive masters swimmer and die-hard Buffalo Bills fan.  He is currently pursuing his Masters in the Outdoor Recreation Economy from the University of Colorado at Boulder in preparation for his post-retirement career.