Baird Adds Jonathan Kirkland to Government & Defense Team

Baird is pleased to announce that Jonathan Kirkland has joined its Global Investment Banking business as a Director on the Government & Defense team within Baird’s Global Technology & Services practice.

Kirkland comes from Illuminate, a RLH Equity Partners-backed provider of intelligence collection & analysis services and solutions to the US national security community, where he served as the company’s CFO for the past three years. Preceding Illuminate, Kirkland was the Senior Director of Strategic Investments and Partnerships for SAP’s National Security Services business.

Prior to his time in industry, he served as a defense industry investment banker for ten years, including six with Houlihan Lokey as a member of their Aerospace, Defense & Government team.

Kirkland earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Duke University and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  

Baird’s Government & Defense team has completed 23 transactions worth $7.7 billion since January 2020. With extensive experience spanning decades, proven insight into the market, and deep relationships across the industry, the team provides tailored, strategic financial advice and execution to founder-owner, private equity and corporate clients, across several verticals in the Government Services, Defense, and State & Local Government sectors.

For any media inquiries, contact Baird Public Relations – publicrelations@rwbaird.com