Dennis Bartow

Dennis Bartow is the Founder and President of Polemarchoi, Inc., a boutique strategic advisory firm that connects industry and operators across defense, energy, and commerce. Polemarchoi helps clients navigate complex global challenges by providing actionable strategies that engage senior leaders and decision-makers in government and industry. Dennis previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for African Affairs Policy, the Pentagon’s most senior official for Africa-related defense matters. In this role, he advised the Secretary of Defense and other senior leaders on U.S. defense strategy for the African continent, coordinating policy with AFRICOM, African governments, and allied defense establishments. Before his appointment as DASD Africa, Dennis served as the Director of the Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs, leading a network of over 700 small business professionals. He advised the Secretary of Defense on all small business matters and drove initiatives that strengthened the defense industrial base in support of the National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy. From 2014 to 2017, Dennis served with INTERPOL Washington, where he advanced U.S. law enforcement objectives in identity intelligence and counter-piracy. He led a Department of State–funded initiative with five African nations to combat maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, enhancing U.S.–Africa security cooperation. A decorated, 70% service-disabled retired U.S. Army combat veteran with more than 29 years of honorable service, Dennis comes from a family of entrepreneurs and is also an expert in the global wine industry. His work continues to bridge policy, industry, and innovation to strengthen U.S. strategic advantage in an increasingly competitive world.