Kellstrom Defense Aerospace

Kellstrom Defense Aerospace

Kellstrom Defense Aerospace was founded in 1990 by Tom Kellstrom, who built the initial business around sourcing and distributing spare parts for military aircraft. The firm has since expanded into a family office that manages the Kellstrom family's capital, with Mike Kellstrom serving as CEO. Wealth originates from the aerospace-parts supply chain, a business the Kellstroms grew into a global operation. The office invests directly in aerospace and defense assets, covering aftermarket parts distribution, maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, and manufacturing capabilities. Portfolio companies include Kellstrom Materials (a distributor of aerospace raw materials) and K-MAX (a joint venture focused on material handling and logistics). The firm targets supply-chain positions that benefit from military and commercial fleet sustainment, with a geographic focus on North America and select European defense markets. Kellstrom Defense Aerospace employs roughly 25 professionals across its El Segundo headquarters and additional operational sites. The firm runs a philanthropic arm, the Kellstrom Foundation, which supports veteran causes and STEM education. A recent operational milestone: in 2024, the firm expanded its MRO capacity through a partnership with a major US defense contractor (per public record, 2024). The office's structural differentiator is its integration of operating-company expertise with investment capital. Rather than acting as a passive allocator, Kellstrom Defense Aerospace actively manages its portfolio companies, leveraging decades of supply-chain relationships in military and commercial aviation. Succession is built around the second generation, with Mike Kellstrom leading day-to-day investment decisions.