Former Pentagon exec to lead Project Vault – Metal Tech News
Former Pentagon exec to lead Project Vault
Metal Tech News – July 10, 2026
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The Densmore Group
VaultCo Executive Chairman Brett Lambert
VaultCo Executive Chairman Brett Lambert to lead $12 billion U.S. critical minerals reserve
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has tapped former Pentagon industrial base official Brett Lambert to lead Project Vault, a $12 billion critical minerals stockpiling initiative launched earlier this year
On July 9, EXIM named Lambert as the executive chairman of VaultCo LLC, a public-private partnership established to execute Project Vault
“It is an honor to lead this important national security effort,” said Lambert. “America’s manufacturers can’t build our future on uncertain and unreliable supply chains. Vault exists to change that by giving U.S. industry a demand-driven, market-based tool to secure the critical minerals our economy and national security depend on to correct this market failure.”
The Export-Import Bank of the United States in February approved a direct loan of up to $10 billion for Project Vault, more than twice the largest financing previously approved in the bank’s history. The initiative is expected to combine the EXIM financing with roughly $2 billion in private capital
“Just as we have had a Strategic Petroleum Reserve and a stockpile of minerals for national defense, we are now creating this reserve for our American industry,” President Donald Trump said during the Feb. 2 unveiling of Project Vault
The initiative comes amid growing concern over U.S. reliance on foreigndvanced technologies, and national security. Policymakers and industry leaders have increasingly warned that concentrated global supply chains – particularly those dominated by China and other geopolitical rivals – leave American manufacturers vulnerable to disruptions and price volatility
Referred to as a “Costco for critical minerals,” Project Vault is designed to buffer against those risks by creating a centralized stockpile that member companies can access
In addition to buffering supply shocks, the reserve is designed to support U.S. mineral production and processing by providing a more predictable
Lambert brings four decades of experience spanning national security, intelligence, defense, and industrial policy. During President Obama’s first term, he served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for manufacturing and industrial base policy, overseeing issues involving critical supply chains, industrial capacity and the Defense Production Act
He later served as vice president of corporate strategy at Northrop Grumman and recently co-chaired the Defense Science Board’s 2025 study on the 21st Century Industrial Base for National Security. Lambert is also managing director of The Densmore Group, a national security and intelligence consultancy
EXIM Chairman and President John Jovanovic called Lambert’s appointment a defining moment for Project Vault
“Under his leadership, Vault is positioned to help strengthen America’s industrial base, support domestic production of critical materials, and give manufacturers greater confidence that the re
EXIM characterizes Project Vault as a uniquely American structure designed to support domestic critical mineral supply chains, while delivering a net-positive return for U.S. taxpayers
“This is exactly the kind of long-term, market-driven solution required to enhance American economic security and competitiveness,” said Jovanovic
Lambert’s appointment puts an industrial base and supply chain specialist at the head of VaultCo’s endeavors to convert the supply, finance, and industry commitments behind Project Vault into an operating minerals reserve
Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News
With more than 18 years of covering mining, Shane is renowned for his insights and in-depth analysis of mining, mineral exploration, and technology metals
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 907-726-1095
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-lasley-ab073b12/
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