VP of Operations, VCO

Gregory first started in the critical minerals sector 9 years ago as a part of his then national security portfolio. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Gregory served a combined total of 35 years in the U.S. Army Special Forces, Department of State, Directorate of Operations, and as a permanent staff member on the United States House of Representatives Select Committee on Intelligence. In that role Gregory was recently an integral part of the drafting of 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which places policy focus on critical minerals and Sub-Sahara Africa. Gregory also brings considerable experience in negotiations, strategy, and project management at the national and international level.

Phil Braun is the Managing Director of Virtus Minerals, he has established and operates the only American-owned copper and cobalt mining and processing company in the DRC through the subsidiary ROK Metals. Under his leadership, ROK Metals became the first and only company to receive a U.S. grant in the DRC mining sector.

Phil holds degrees in Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management, as well as International Business from the College of Charleston. He also brings two decades of military service, currently serving as a Green Beret with the 20th Special Forces Group in the National Guard.

With a strong foundation in operations and supply chain management, Phil has previously held key roles, including being an operations and supply chain consultant at Seraph Consulting. He has successfully led numerous crisis management initiatives in the automotive manufacturing sector, notably overseeing the relocation of two manufacturing operations from central Ukraine to Europe immediately following the Russian invasion.

Phil oversees copper and cobalt mining and refining operations in the DRC, overseeing financing and government relations while building a consortium of Western companies. His efforts aim to transform mining practices, beginning in DRC and expanding throughout Africa, emphasizing ethical practices and supply chain security.

CFO, VCO

Prior to VCO, Andrew managed a team pursuing acquisitions and licensing transactions for a healthcare-focused private equity firm. Prior to his PE experience, he briefly held a role as the Chief Operating Officer at an infrastructure startup. Before that, he worked for McKinsey and Company in their energy practice. Andrew began his career as a Lieutenant and Platoon Commander for the U.S. Navy in their Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, specializing in the safe disarming of all underwater and land-based ordnance, including biological, chemical, nuclear, and improvised weapons used worldwide. 

Andrew holds a B.S. in Ocean Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and an MBA from Harvard Business School.