Author
Thomas J Gallagher photo

Thomas J Gallagher

Thomas J Gallagher is an investor in both the defense, aerospace, and semiconductor sectors, with a long history as an economic development, real estate, and public finance professional. His master's degree is in city planning and economic development from the University of Pennsylvania in his native Philadelphia. He made his first investment in Ukraine in 2017.

Articles

Brave1 Defense Tech exhibition in an unnamed location in Ukraine, on April 11, 2025.

Let's stop pretending drones and IT will rebuild Ukraine's economy

by Thomas J Gallagher
In the battle of ideas for the economic future of Ukraine, talk of a fledgling military industry and the focus on the prowess of a handful of IT contractors is a diversion. Both storylines are presented largely in the absence of international competition and economic realities. And here is why. Investing in defense businesses, as I've done for years, is notoriously "lumpy" because it relies on national governments making payments that are not always timely. Those few, vital clients are also pa