Gene R. Keselman

Gene R. Keselman is a Lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management, serving as Executive Director of MIT Mission Innovation Experimental (MIx) and Managing Director of MIT’s Proto Ventures venture studio. He previously led the MIT Innovation Initiative. As an Air Force Reserve Colonel, he holds dual roles as senior Reservist and Director of Strategic Incubation & SSG Reserve Program at the Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s Strategic Studies Group (SSG). His career includes leadership in defense acquisition, nuclear/space operations, and founding R&D programs in the Intelligence Community.

He co-founded ServDAO, Esports One, and FINND (now a board director), and advises startups while serving on the Reagan Institute’s National Security Industrial Base Advisory Board. Fluent in Russian and Government CIO-certified, Keselman’s work bridges military/defense innovation with civilian entrepreneurship. His research emphasizes dual-use strategies, as seen in his MIT executive education course on bridging startup and government ecosystems.

Publications focus on space policy and strategic technology development. He actively consults in defense/AI sectors and oversees MIT’s A.I. Accelerator initiatives.