Meet the team
Jeff Tyler
Chief Executive Officer
Jeff’s success comes from being a practiced CEO and entrepreneur seasoned in developing and promoting a company’s vision, mission, and strategic direction enabling future growth and revenue generation. Jeff’s ability to provide and execute strategic direction has provided him with an impressive, diverse track record making him uniquely qualified to set up a business for success. He has worked for two Private Equity firms in the past, one Managed by Sam Ayoub, the former CFO of Coca Cola. He also founded and/or co-founded 10 other small businesses that were successfully exited. Jeff lived in London, England and directed worldwide marketing and European distribution for a Fortune 500 firm. He also served in various senior executive sales and operations positions as that company grew from $2.0 Million/year to over $1.0 Billion/year. Jeff also served on the Board of Directors for over 9 years of Safe America which is known for raising over $30 Million to supply over 150,000 baby seats to low-income families.
While living in the U.K. he completed database management studies at Oxford University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from Georgia Tech. Mr. Tyler is a Navy Veteran having graduated from The U.S. Naval Nuclear Power School as well as The U.S. Naval Submarine School and served on a fast-attack nuclear submarine.
Andrew Kuntz
Chief Innovation Officer
Andrew Kuntz is a U.S. Army disabled combat veteran, supply chain strategist, and founder of Salubrium Aegis LLC — a company dedicated to advancing ballistic protection through rigorous testing and mission-driven design. With over 11 years of service as an artillery and armor officer, Andrew led troops in complex environments across Afghanistan, Jordan, Germany, Tajikistan, and Eastern Europe. He is a graduate of Ranger School and has conducted long-range reconnaissance operations in support of joint and multinational missions.
Now focused on domestic safety and tactical innovation, Andrew applies battlefield-tested insight to the development of protective gear for both humans and working dogs. His company’s patent-pending body armor systems prioritize modularity, thermal regulation, and real-world performance — built to meet the demands of law enforcement, K9s, and community responders. Andrew holds a B.A. in History and is currently pursuing an M.S. in Supply Chain Management at the University of Tennessee, where he continues to sharpen his expertise in logistics, manufacturing, and operational strategy.
Salubrium Aegis was the 2025 Boyd Venture Challenge winner from the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACEI) within the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee.
Through Salubrium Aegis, Andrew leads the development of advanced protective systems grounded in empirical testing, tactical experience, and scalable production logic. His approach blends battlefield insight with business discipline — ensuring every product is built for performance, reliability, and mission success. His development philosophy is shaped by firsthand operational experience and a rigorous testing mindset, ensuring each vest is engineered for durability, function, and trust.
Dr. Rich Vargus
Chief Marketing Officer
Dr. (Col) Vargus initially retired in 1995 after 20 years of service in the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army. Following retirement, he began an extensive career in law enforcement. In 2005 he was recalled to active duty, deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan, serving at U.S. Central Command as the Chief of Law Enforcement. In 2012 Colonel Vargus was released from active duty. He entered federal civilian service as the Department of the Army Canine Program Manager, and in 2018 assumed the position of Department of Defense Canine Program Manager, a position he held until his retirement in April 2020. Dr. Vargus is a recognized global leader in law enforcement.
He is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff, Air War College, George Washington University National Senior Leadership Course and National Security Management Course. He holds a master’s degree in National Defense Studies and Doctorate in Public Administration.
Tim Fitzpatrick
Chief Operating Officer
Tim “Fitz” Fitzpatrick is a retired Naval Aviator with 24 years of service as an F-14 Tomcat strike-fighter RIO. He accumulated more than 2,500 flight hours, completed 80+ combat missions with over 500 arrested carrier landings. A Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) graduate and Strike-Fighter Tactics Instructor (SFTI), Fitz led qualification and certification programs for naval aviators in both air-to-air and air-to-ground employment of the F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet.
Throughout his fleet career he served as Carrier Air Wing Strike Lead, Air Interdiction Mission Commander, and Forward Air Controller - Airborne (FAC-A) instructor, positions in which he was responsible for mission planning, risk management, and the operational execution of complex strike and interdiction operations.
Following active service, Fitz transitioned to industry where he has spent 10+ years in business development focused on aviation readiness. His work centers on synthetic training solutions and digital transformation initiatives that inform and support Navy acquisition strategies.
Fitz holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Villanova University and applies his combined operational and training experience to advancing training systems and readiness for naval aviation.