Kel Jackson founded Clay Ridge Capital out of a passion for entrepreneurship and desire to revitalize American manufacturing.  His operational experience, people skills, and analytical capabilities provide the firm with a competitive advantage in sourcing, evaluating, and operating investments.

Prior to Clay Ridge, Kel worked with Boeing as the Counter-UAS Program Manager at ~1,000-employee subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences.  In this role, he owned multiple Profit & Loss businesses and led cross-functional teams to develop, test, manufacture, demonstrate, and deliver multiple aircraft systems, software, and other capabilities for the United States Department of Defense.  Prior to this role, he served as Chief of Staff to two consecutive CEOs.

Prior to Boeing, he spent his career with Pratt & Whitney where he led a 350,000 square-foot forging and machining operation with 120+ employees.  The facility produced compressor and turbine blades and vanes for the entire Pratt & Whitney engine portfolio.  Prior, he worked as a Process Engineer and then Lead Process Engineer in a jet-engine overhaul shop, where he was responsible for hot and cold section cost reduction and process improvement.  The facility overhauled and tested V2500, PW2000, and F117 high-bypass turbofan engines.

Kel serves on the MBA Interview Board at the Harvard Business School and as a Board Director of the FACTS Initiative, an outpatient mental health center.

Kel holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

Kel and his wife Ebony reside in Boston with their 2 daughters.