Locksley Resources (ASX:LKY) has appointed Lieutenant General Mark Schwartz as a strategic advisor to strengthen its defence, aerospace, and national security engagement in the US as a part of its mine-to-market strategy.
Schwartz holds more than 33 years in the US Army, serving in senior leadership roles including the US Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Commander for the Special Operations Command in Europe, Deputy Commanding General for the Joint Special Operations Command and Special Operations Joint Task Force Afghanistan.
Schwartz’s role at Locksley is intended to help advance the DPA Title III and related Department of Defence and Department of Energy funding pathways, in addition to supporting the company’s position with the National Defence Stockpile framework for antimony and other critical minerals.
Pulling on his experience in the defence area, he will provide guidance on US-based initiatives for critical mineral supply chains as well as supporting downstream integration of antimony products needed for the defence, aerospace, and prime-contractor applications.
Schwartz says his career purpose is to “lead and protect US national security interests across the globe”.
“Today, one of the most significant strategic vulnerabilities facing the United States is our reliance on foreign often adversarial sources of critical minerals,” Schwartz says.
“Onshoring and friend-shoring materials like antimony is essential for US military readiness, industrial resilience, and protection against coercive threats, including the risk of China cutting off supply.”
CEO Kerrie Matthews says Schwartz will provide strategic insight into the US defence operations and national security frameworks.
“His experience in operating at the highest levels of US defence and government and allied commence will significantly strengthen Locksley’s engagement across defence, aerospace, and strategic materials sector,” Matthews says.
“His appointment will materially strengthen our engagement across federal departments, funding agencies, and prime defence contractors at a time when the US is prioritising secure domestic supply of critical minerals.
“This expertise will be invaluable as Locksley advances its integrated mine to market strategy.”
Last week, the company issued expressions of interest to several US engineering firms ahead of an upcoming scoping engineering design at the Desert Antimony Mine pilot plant in Nevada, as reported by Mining.com.au.
Locksley Resources is a critical minerals-focused explorer with assets in the US considered prospective for rare earths and antimony.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Locksley Resources
