Dawn Halfaker is an American Entrepreneur, Investor, Philanthropist and Veterans advocate from San Diego, California. In 2006, she founded Halfaker and Associates, a multi-million dollar technology firm designed to create end-to-end digital solutions for government organizations. Halfaker’s vision for the firm was rooted in the principle of continuing to serve her country. She built a team of people (primarily Veterans), who were aligned with that vision, and she quickly established herself as a leader in value-based software delivery. As President and CEO, her military experience and commitment to excellence informed her leadership. During her tenure, the company saw great success and exponential growth. In 2021, Halfaker and Associates was acquired by SAIC. Upon the sale of Halfaker and Associates, Halfaker established HAFCO Holdings LLC, a private, family office investment firm. Additionally, Halfaker set up a private foundation, The Continuing to Serve Foundation, which focuses on supporting Veteran entrepreneurs and Veteran owned businesses.

Prior to her award-winning work at Halfaker and Associates, Halfaker spent the transitional years of her career on medical research and technology that would enhance warfighter capabilities and save lives on the battlefield. She’s worked closely with the Defense Sciences Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and served as an advisor for the Chairperson of the House of Armed Services Committee with a focus on Department of Defense legislation issues.

As a military leader, Halfaker remains one of few American women to ever command a platoon of ground soldiers in combat. During her service in the United States Army, Dawn held several leadership positions and deployed to Iraq with the 293rd Military Police Company, 3rd Infantry Division. There, Halfaker earned a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for her service. As a retired Army Captain, who was wounded during a combat patrol, Halfaker has dedicated much of her life to advocacy for our nation’s Veterans and wounded warriors. She served as the President of the Board of Directors for the Wounded Warrior Project and a member of the Department of Defense Reserve Forces Policy Board. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Vail Veterans Foundation as well as the USO Board of Governors and remains very active with several Advisory Committees and Veteran Service Organizations.

Dawn grew up in San Diego, California, where she was recruited to play basketball at the United States Military Academy at West Point. There, she received her Bachelor of Science. She also holds a Master of Arts in Security Studies from Georgetown University in Washington DC. She is an avid snowboarder and scuba diver, and a mother of two.