Who we are
Veteran-founded. Built for the work that matters.
Founded by Army and Navy veterans, we bring the clarity, discipline, and purpose of service to the world of critical infrastructure security. We develop high-security virtualization technology that protects from the hardware layer up, eliminating entire classes of vulnerability while helping organizations run faster, leaner, and with greater confidence.
Our mission is not just to secure systems. It is to safeguard the people, communities, and industries who rely on them every day.
Mainsail is more than a software company. We are stewards of the infrastructure that sustains society. We believe the future can be safer, more resilient, and more sustainable, and that technology, when built with integrity, curiosity, simplicity, and humanity, can help make that future real.
Our values
Four principles. No exceptions.
Integrity is our foundation.
Critical systems cannot depend on half-measures or half-truths, so we engineer transparency into every layer. Our technology performs exactly as promised, our pricing is straightforward, and our commitments are firm. We say what we mean and deliver what we say. Trust is earned, not claimed.
Curiosity fuels our innovation.
We challenge assumptions about what legacy systems can do, how edge computing should behave, and what security can look like when it is reimagined from first principles. We explore, question, test, and learn relentlessly. Our curiosity is not abstract; it is focused on solving real problems for real operators in the real world.
Simplicity is our design language and our conviction.
Complexity is the enemy of security, so we strip it away from deployment, from operations, from cost structures. Our platform makes powerful capability feel intuitive. Our business practices are clear and predictable. In everything we touch, we work to reduce friction so that critical systems can move forward with confidence and clarity.
Humanity is why we build in the first place.
The work we do ensures that hospitals keep running, water stays clean, crops are harvested, lights stay on, and essential services remain accessible. We see the people behind the systems, and we design for their safety, their efficiency, and their peace of mind. As a veteran-owned company, we bring a deep respect for community, collaboration, and the impact technology can have on everyday life.
Leadership
The team building Starlight.
Co-founders
Eric Van Arsdall
Co-founder, CEO
Eric is the CEO and Co-Founder of Mainsail Industries. Eric has over 20 years of experience in systems engineering, integration, and architecture for major weapon systems and naval networks, including over 10 years of developing cybersecurity strategies, architectures, requirements, solutions, and policy for the DoD. Eric oversaw $3.2B in major programs with P&L responsibility at Raytheon. His first-hand experience and astuteness in navigating the competitive, fast-moving IT ecosystem have driven and inspired our success at Mainsail. A veteran of the U.S. Navy and pioneer of cybersecurity policies, Eric brings invaluable insight and ingenious leadership to our company.
Brad Sollar
Co-founder, CTO
Brad is the CTO and Co-Founder of Mainsail and brings 25+ years of experience innovating and accelerating the deployment of cutting-edge technologies. Brad has a diverse background in offensive and defensive cyber operations for the Army during his time at Lockheed Martin and has driven innovation in emerging technologies at MITRE. At Red Hat, he guided federal clients in adopting Kubernetes and automation solutions. As Field CTO at Presidio, Brad helped organizations implement hybrid cloud strategies using VMware, Cisco, and AWS. Throughout his career, Brad has continually demonstrated his technical prowess in architecting modern solutions to address our most complex cybersecurity challenges.
Leadership team
Steve Britt
Chief Legal Officer
Steve is a recognized expert in data protection, specializing in cybersecurity, data privacy, and artificial intelligence across complex legal and regulatory landscapes, which makes his legal counsel invaluable to Mainsail. His expertise in supporting national security and intelligence contractors under FARs, DFARs, and HSARs ensures Mainsail remains compliant. Steve holds three IAPP certifications: AIGP (Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional), CIPP/E (Europe for GDPR), and CIPM (Certified Information Privacy Manager). He advises Mainsail on building robust data management programs compliant with GDPR, U.S. federal and state laws, the EU AI Act, and emerging AI regulations.
Tim Kreber
Chief Financial Officer
Tim brings over 20 years of finance and accounting experience to Mainsail as our CFO. He excels in process improvement, developing robust accounting and financial policies, and crafting scenario-based financial models to support strategic decision-making. Tim is driving data-driven strategies to support Mainsail business objectives and enhance financial performance. With expertise in cost reduction, margin improvement, and cash flow forecasting, Tim is highly valued for his contributions to Mainsail's efficiency and profitability. He also holds active DoD and DHS security clearances, underscoring his trusted role in sensitive and high-impact environments.
Board of Directors
Paul Smith
Board of Directors
Paul has more than 30 years of leadership experience at some of the IT industry's leading tech companies. At Red Hat, Paul was the Sr. VP and General Manager of Public Sector, and he served as VP of Government Operations at Veritas. At Netscape Communication, he led sales for its state and local organization. He has also held leadership positions within Oracle and Unisys Corp, and is now on the Board of Directors for Mainsail. His reputation and recognition as a top executive in government contracting and public sector sales favorably positions Mainsail as an emerging leader and innovator in the IT industry. Paul's expertise and continued successes are invaluable to the growth of Mainsail and how we strategically market our technology to the government marketplace.
Kevin Andres
Board of Directors
Kevin is a skilled entrepreneur who has seen tremendous success and remarkable growth in the IT industry. Kevin is the CEO and founder of Black Bear Technology Solutions, LLC (B2TS), founded in 2016, focused on higher-level IT and Mission Support services, specialized IT research, consulting, and professional services for commercial and federal customers. His acumen and leadership experience have proven invaluable to Mainsail in his role as a Board of Director. Throughout his impressive 25+ year career, Kevin has demonstrated his ability to understand customer needs and market demands and align them with innovative technology solutions. Kevin is a forward thinker in the IT field and an impactful member driving meaningful relationships between industry and both the private sector and federal government clients.
Trusted partners
