From CIA to Fusion: A Top Spy's Move Signals a New National Security Nexus

SAN LEANDRO, CA – June 25, 2026 – In the world of deep tech, personnel announcements rarely signal seismic shifts. But when Fuse, a U.S. fusion energy startup, announced today that Maura Burns, the former Chief Operating Officer of the CIA, was joining its advisory board, it was more than just a high-profile hire. It was a declaration. The race for fusion energy—long the domain of scientists and futurists—is now inextricably linked with the highest echelons of U.S. national security strategy.

Burns is not just any former official. She retired in 2025 after a 37-year career that saw her rise from an engineer and intelligence analyst to become the CIA's COO, overseeing its global operations. Crucially, she previously led the agency’s Weapons and Counterproliferation Mission Center, placing her at the heart of America’s efforts to track and neutralize foreign weapons threats. Her appointment to a company whose mission is to commercialize fusion energy while providing advanced radiation testing for defense systems is a powerful indicator of a strategic convergence that has been building behind the scenes.

“The systems that keep this country safe are only as credible as the testing behind them,” said JC Btaiche, Founder and CEO of Fuse. “Maura has spent her career at the center of the mission to understand adversary capabilities and prevent their spread. Her insight will be invaluable as we grow.” Btaiche’s statement cuts to the core of this new reality: the technologies underpinning the future of energy are the same ones that will define the future of defense.

The New Nexus of Energy and Defense

For years, policy experts have warned of a coming “fusion power race,” framing it as a national security imperative on par with the space race. A landmark report from the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) urged the U.S. government to declare fusion a national priority to maintain its competitive edge, particularly against a heavily invested China. Burns' move to Fuse’s advisory board is perhaps the most tangible evidence yet that this call is being answered, not just in government reports, but in the boardrooms of the companies building the technology.

Her expertise in counterproliferation is not a tangential asset; it is central to Fuse's dual-purpose mission. The company is developing fusion energy, the long-term prize, but it’s funding that ambition by providing a critical, near-term service: radiation effects testing. This service allows government and commercial clients to test the resilience of critical hardware—from satellite components to missile defense systems—against the extreme radiation environments they might face in a conflict. In essence, Fuse is helping to harden America’s defenses while simultaneously building the technology for its energy-independent future. Burns’ deep understanding of foreign weapons capabilities provides an unparalleled strategic lens through which Fuse can align its testing services with the nation's most pressing defense needs.

“Throughout my career, I have seen the importance of combining technical excellence with a clear sense of mission,” Burns stated in the announcement. At Fuse, that mission is twofold, and her appointment underscores that both tracks are now considered vital to national interests.

A Dual-Track Strategy: Testing for Today, Powering Tomorrow

Fuse Energy's business model is a masterclass in strategic pragmatism. Founded in 2019 by Btaiche, then just 19 years old, the company has eschewed the long, venture-funded-only path of many of its peers. Instead, it is generating near-term revenue through its “Radiation-as-a-Service (RaaS)” platform, leveraging its pulsed-power technology to create intense, short bursts of neutrons and gamma rays.

This isn't a side project; it's a core competency that meets a critical national need. The U.S. has faced a growing bottleneck in its capacity to test hardware for radiation effects. Fuse is stepping directly into this gap. The company already holds contracts with the U.S. Air Force and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Its federal subsidiary was recently selected for the Missile Defense Agency’s massive $151 billion SHIELD program, and it's expanding with a new state-of-the-art facility in Albuquerque set to open this summer, explicitly to support the national security mission of nearby national labs.

The technology driving this is impressive. Using a pulsed-power approach known as Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF), Fuse has developed machines like TITAN, a 1 terawatt generator that creates the conditions necessary for both fusion experiments and radiation testing. This work, conducted in partnership with national powerhouses like Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories, places Fuse at the leading edge of a field essential for stockpile stewardship—ensuring the reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent without explosive testing.

This defense-first revenue stream, which has helped the company raise over $180 million, is what fuels the long-term goal: Apeiron I, a pilot fusion power plant. It’s a strategy that provides financial stability and deepens its integration with the government ecosystem that will ultimately be a key customer and regulator for commercial fusion.

The Gravitational Pull of Deep Tech

Burns is the latest, but by no means the only, high-ranking national security veteran to join Fuse. The company has quietly assembled a leadership team that reads like a who's-who of the defense and intelligence establishment. Its board already includes Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, the former Administrator of the NNSA. Its Chief Strategy Officer is Laura Thomas, a former CIA base chief, and the president of its federal arm is James Owen, the former Chief Engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

This pattern is not a coincidence; it’s a strategy. The migration of top-tier talent from the intelligence community and Department of Energy to deep tech startups signifies a profound shift. It suggests these technologies have reached a level of maturity where their strategic importance is undeniable. These leaders bring more than just a rolodex; they bring an intimate understanding of government requirements, procurement processes, and the geopolitical landscape in which these technologies will be deployed.

For investors, this infusion of Beltway expertise de-risks the venture, providing confidence that the company can navigate the complex regulatory and contractual environment of government work. For the nation, it represents an accelerated pathway for innovation, where the agility of the private sector is guided by the mission-critical experience of public service veterans. Fuse’s success in attracting both talent and capital is a testament to the power of its dual-use model, proving that the path to a clean energy future may be paved with contracts designed to ensure national security today.