Forterra Executive and Leadership Team

October, 2026

Leadership Overview

Forterra has 8 executives leading key functions including technology development, financial management, organizational operations, growth strategy, legal compliance, and corporate leadership.

Focused on advancing autonomous systems for ground-based movement, Forterra delivers critical driverless technology to protect front-line personnel and enhance industrial efficiency across global markets.

Leadership Roles at Forterra

  • Chief Financial Officer - Garth Mitchell
  • Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President - William Brown
  • Founder & President - Alberto Lacaze
  • President - Debra Brown
  • Chief Technology Officer - Joseph Putney
  • Chief of Staff - In Cho
  • Growth Chief of Staff - Maribeth Grimes
  • Chief Legal Officer - Kevin Turner
  • Garth Mitchell - Chief Financial Officer

    Garth Mitchell, the Chief Financial Officer at Forterra, manages the fiscal health and capital allocation strategies necessary to support autonomous technology development. Overseeing financial planning and analysis, the Chief Financial Officer ensures that resource distribution aligns with long-term growth objectives and government contract requirements. This leadership role involves monitoring cash flow, optimizing budget efficiency, and maintaining robust financial reporting structures. By evaluating market trends and investment opportunities, Garth Mitchell drives the company's ability to scale production for both defense and industrial clients. Mitchell works alongside the executive team to mitigate financial risks while pursuing aggressive expansion in the autonomous systems sector. Through disciplined oversight, the Chief Financial Officer secures the necessary capital to sustain research initiatives, ensuring that the organization remains financially resilient while delivering cutting-edge solutions to critical markets across North America and beyond.
    Garth Mitchell

    William Brown - Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President

    William Brown, the Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President at Forterra, directs the overarching financial strategy and corporate development initiatives. Overseeing long-term economic planning, the Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President ensures that the company maintains a competitive edge in the autonomous technology market through strategic partnerships and capital investments. This leadership role involves managing investor relations, overseeing complex contract negotiations, and ensuring compliance with federal financial regulations. By analyzing market dynamics, William Brown drives the company's expansion into new industrial sectors. Brown works closely with the Board to align financial performance with the company's mission of providing asymmetric warfare solutions. Through rigorous financial oversight, the Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President secures the stability required for sustained innovation, ensuring that the organization remains a primary provider of autonomous systems for critical global operations.

    Alberto Lacaze - Founder & President

    Alberto Lacaze, the Founder & President at Forterra, defines the vision and strategic direction for the company's autonomous technology portfolio. Overseeing the company's mission to provide ground-based movement solutions, the Founder & President ensures that all technological advancements align with the needs of the U.S. Department of Defense and industrial partners. This leadership role involves setting the long-term innovation agenda, fostering relationships with key stakeholders, and guiding the company through complex market transitions. By championing the development of driverless systems, Alberto Lacaze drives the organization's commitment to protecting front-line personnel. Lacaze works with the executive team to maintain a culture of excellence and technical rigor. Through visionary leadership, the Founder & President secures the company's status as a leader in the autonomous sector, ensuring that the organization continues to deliver transformative solutions for critical conditions worldwide.
    Alberto Lacaze

    Debra Brown - President

    Debra Brown, the President at Forterra, executes the operational strategy and oversees the day-to-day management of the company's business units. Overseeing the integration of autonomous systems into client workflows, the President ensures that the organization meets its delivery milestones and performance targets. This leadership role involves managing the company's operational infrastructure, optimizing supply chain logistics, and ensuring that all departments function in harmony to support the company's mission. By driving operational efficiency, Debra Brown ensures that the company remains responsive to the needs of the defense and industrial sectors. Brown works closely with the executive team to translate high-level strategy into tangible results. Through disciplined management, the President secures the company's ability to scale its autonomous solutions, ensuring that the organization remains a reliable partner for critical operations across diverse geographic regions.
    Debra Brown

    Joseph Putney - Chief Technology Officer

    Joseph Putney, the Chief Technology Officer at Forterra, directs the engineering roadmap for autonomous ground-based systems. Overseeing research and development, the Chief Technology Officer ensures that all driverless platforms meet the rigorous safety and performance standards required by the U.S. Department of Defense. This leadership role involves architecting scalable software frameworks that enable complex navigation in unstructured environments. By integrating advanced sensor fusion and machine learning, Joseph Putney drives the technical evolution of the company's product suite. Putney maintains close collaboration with engineering teams to refine hardware-software synergy, ensuring that every autonomous solution provides maximum utility for front-line soldiers. Through continuous innovation, the Chief Technology Officer secures the company's position as a pioneer in the field of robotics, ultimately delivering high-reliability systems that transform industrial and military operations across diverse geographic theaters.
    Joseph Putney

    In Cho - Chief of Staff

    In Cho, the Chief of Staff at Forterra, coordinates cross-functional initiatives to streamline internal operations and executive decision-making. Overseeing organizational alignment, the Chief of Staff ensures that strategic priorities set by the leadership team translate into actionable workflows across all departments. This leadership role involves managing high-priority projects, facilitating communication between technical and administrative units, and optimizing the efficiency of the company's daily operations. By fostering collaboration, In Cho drives the execution of complex business objectives related to autonomous system deployment. Cho maintains a focus on operational excellence, ensuring that the company's mission to protect front-line workers remains central to every internal process. Through proactive management, the Chief of Staff supports the executive team in navigating the challenges of a rapidly evolving industry, ultimately strengthening the organizational infrastructure required to support large-scale government and industrial contracts.

    Maribeth Grimes - Growth Chief of Staff

    Maribeth Grimes, the Growth Chief of Staff at Forterra, architects the strategic initiatives required to scale the company's market presence. Overseeing business development pipelines, the Growth Chief of Staff ensures that the organization effectively captures new opportunities within the defense and industrial sectors. This leadership role involves identifying emerging market needs, coordinating with sales teams, and refining the company's value proposition for autonomous ground-based systems. By analyzing competitive landscapes, Maribeth Grimes drives the implementation of growth-oriented programs that expand the company's footprint. Grimes works to bridge the gap between technical capabilities and client requirements, ensuring that the company's autonomous solutions reach the intended end-users. Through strategic planning, the Growth Chief of Staff supports the executive team in achieving revenue targets, ultimately ensuring that the company's innovative technology reaches critical markets across the globe.
    Kevin Turner, the Chief Legal Officer at Forterra, manages all legal affairs, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property protection for the company's autonomous systems. Overseeing the legal department, the Chief Legal Officer ensures that all operations adhere to strict government contracting regulations and safety standards. This leadership role involves navigating complex legal frameworks associated with driverless technology and defense-related contracts. By providing counsel on risk management and corporate governance, Kevin Turner drives the protection of the company's proprietary innovations. Turner works with the executive team to ensure that all business activities remain within the bounds of international and domestic law. Through meticulous oversight, the Chief Legal Officer secures the company's intellectual assets, ensuring that the organization can continue to innovate and deploy autonomous solutions for front-line soldiers and industrial workers without legal impediment.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Forterra Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Forterra?
    Forterra is led by Garth Mitchell (Chief Financial Officer), along with executives such as William Brown (Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President) and Alberto Lacaze (Founder & President).
    Who is part of Forterra’s executive team?
    The executive team of Forterra includes leaders such as Garth Mitchell (Chief Financial Officer), William Brown (Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President), Alberto Lacaze (Founder & President) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Forterra have?
    Forterra has 8 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Forterra’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Forterra includes roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President, Founder & President, President, Chief Technology Officer.