THE PREMIER MANUFACTURER’S REP FOR CLEAR-ARMOR®
VETERAN-LED · MISSION-DRIVEN
Victus Defense is the premier authorized manufacturer’s representative for Clear-Armor®, the patented ballistic glass laminate that has redefined security glazing in the United States. We are headquartered in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area and serve clients nationwide, leading every engagement with education, not a sales pitch.
FOUNDED BY DISABLED VETERANS
Founded by CEO Derek Kottke (U.S. Air Force, disabled veteran) and COO Chuck Freiberg (U.S. Army, disabled veteran), Victus Defense is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business. Our mission is direct: harden building access points, defend what matters, and ensure people go home to their loved ones. Both founders bring the discipline, accountability, and mission focus of military service to every client engagement.
SECURITY ADVISEMENT, NOT SALES
What sets Victus Defense apart is not just the product we represent, it is the depth of security advisement we bring to every engagement. Our team conducts threat-level assessments, prioritizes hardening across complex facilities, navigates federal and state grant funding processes, and manages installations through Clear-Armor’s specialty trained crews. We are the experts clients call when they need real protection, not a sales pitch.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE MISSION
We’re led by disabled veterans and security professionals bringing decades of military, consulting, and operational expertise to every client engagement.
Derek Kottke co-founded Victus Defense as a disabled U.S. Air Force veteran with a singular purpose: ensuring no building’s glass is its weakest link. He brings over 20 years of enterprise consulting and technology experience, building his career around solving complex business challenges with practical, measurable results. Derek is a proven consultative leader who earns trust at every level of an organization, navigates intricate client environments with ease, and delivers on time and within budget. At Victus Defense, he applies that expertise to the most personal mission possible: protecting lives.
in · LinkedIn Profile →Chuck Freiberg is a disabled U.S. Army veteran with over 20 years of leadership experience, including a decade of service in Artillery during combat deployment. He holds an MBA in International Business and has built his post-service career at the forefront of digital transformation and business modernization. Chuck is recognized for his ability to become a trusted advisor to corporate leaders, reverse negative trends through root-cause analysis, and implement continuous improvement that sticks. He drives operations at Victus Defense with the discipline his Army service instilled.
in · LinkedIn Profile →Diana Diaco Cervantes brings resilience, strategic acumen, and a deep commitment to building meaningful partnerships to Victus Defense. With a career spanning enterprise software, solution engineering, and client engagement leadership, Diana has consistently demonstrated the ability to understand stakeholder needs and translate them into compelling, actionable outcomes. She excels at community management, partnership development, and driving revenue through white-glove client relationships. At Victus Defense, Diana leads new market development and ensures organizations across every sector have a clear path to accessing Clear-Armor’s life-saving technology.
in · LinkedIn Profile →Tom Berhane brings over 20 years of elite military experience to Victus Defense, a decade with the 75th Ranger Battalion and another decade with Special Forces 5th Group. Since transitioning from service, Tom has channeled his operational expertise into security and humanitarian work in East Africa, his native region, developing an applied understanding of security challenges across both domestic and international environments. As VP of Security Operations, Tom provides the tactical credibility and real-world operational knowledge that underpins every Victus Defense engagement.
in · LinkedIn Profile →David Ray brings extensive business development and client relationship leadership to Victus Defense as VP of Federal Services. With a career grounded in consultative sales and territory management, David partners directly with school districts, government agencies, corporate clients, and houses of worship to translate complex security requirements into deployed Clear-Armor protection. He brings the practical, mission-aligned approach that defines the Victus Defense team, focused on educating clients, navigating procurement and grant pathways, and ensuring every engagement is anchored to measurable outcomes.
in · LinkedIn Profile →Victus Defense is growing. We work with veterans, security professionals, and community advocates who share our commitment to protecting lives.
Reach Out →READY TO WORK WITH A TEAM THAT GETS IT?
Veteran-led, mission-driven, and focused on real protection, not a sales pitch. Let’s talk about your facility.