Ethan Thornton, CEO of Mach, shared insights on his journey in the defense technology sector during an interview at the StrictlyVC 2025 event in San Francisco. Starting from high school, Thornton's passion for weapon systems has evolved into a thriving company that recently secured a contract with the U.S. military. He highlighted Mach's strategic plans to develop cross-functional factories while emphasizing the importance of competing with China in the defense landscape. His experiences reflect a unique blend of youthful innovation and serious industry commitment.