About me
Military veteran. Navy reservist. Building with purpose.
I'm Dev Chandra, a military veteran and current Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Based in San Francisco, I’m interested in defense technology, energy, and space. I’m the founder of DefDex, and I write The Weekly Dev.
The Short Version
I started my career as a nuclear engineer in the Navy, designing reactor systems and learning what it means to operate where failure isn't an option. That discipline never left me.
After transitioning to the reserves, I spent three years as a digital nomad, building businesses from Lisbon to Bali. I ran a productivity consultancy, hit $15K MRR, attended Nomad Cruises, and built a global network of entrepreneurs and operators.
In January 2025, sitting on a beach in Bali, I had a moment of clarity: I was done running. I wanted roots. A home base. A community. Something meaningful and lasting. I moved to San Francisco and went all-in on the startup ecosystem.
My experience in nuclear engineering and continued reserve service shape my interests in defense technology, energy, and space. DefDex brings that curiosity to America’s defense industrial base. I also write The Weekly Dev. Startup Intros, which I co-founded, hosted 20+ SF events before winding down in May 2026, and I spent time on the investing side at Context Ventures.
What I'm Doing Now
DefDex
I founded DefDex, an atlas of America’s defense industrial base. It connects companies, capabilities, and supply chains to help make the industrial foundation behind defense easier to understand.
Explore DefDex →The Weekly Dev
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Navy Reserve
Lieutenant Commander (O-4), Engineering Duty Officer. Still drilling monthly, still deploying. The military taught me leadership, systems thinking, and how to operate under pressure. I carry that into everything I build.
San Francisco
I hosted 20+ events here through Startup Intros, then closed that chapter in May 2026. I still live in the city, still write for this ecosystem, still show up for founders.
What I Believe
Build Over Talk
I'd rather ship something imperfect than plan something perfect. The winners go from idea to action, immediately.
Depth Over Breadth
I care about going deep: deep relationships, deep understanding, deep conviction. Surface-level doesn't interest me.
Community Over Competition
The best ecosystems are built by people who genuinely want others to win. That's the energy I bring to everything.
Clarity Creates Freedom
Frameworks over fuzziness. Self-awareness is a competitive advantage. Life can be designed, not just endured.
The Journey
2026
NowDefDex
Founder of DefDex, an atlas of America’s defense industrial base. Writing The Weekly Dev and continuing to serve in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
2025
SFStartup Intros
Hosted 20+ events, from intimate founder dinners to 200-person demo nights. Wound down in May 2026.
2024
SFThe AI Pivot
Transitioned from operations consulting to AI automation. Hit $15K MRR. Moved to San Francisco to go all-in on the startup ecosystem.
2021–2023
NomadThe Process Hacker
Built a productivity coaching practice, evolved it into an operations consultancy, and earned an MBA from Carnegie Mellon Tepper, all while traveling the world as a digital nomad.
2016–2020
NavyNuclear Engineer → Navy Reserve
Trained at Bettis Reactor Engineering School. Served on active duty as a Nuclear Engineering Duty Officer. Transitioned to the Navy Reserve while exploring entrepreneurship.
2014
JHUCommissioned as a Naval Officer
Graduated Johns Hopkins with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an Economics minor. Commissioned into the U.S. Navy. The beginning of a decade-long journey.
Education
MBA — Tepper School of Business
M.S. Nuclear Engineering
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Economics minor
Credential of Readiness (CORe)
Graduate Certificate — Naval Nuclear Propulsion
Project on Nuclear Issues (2018–2020)
Let's Connect
I'm always down to meet interesting people. Whether you're a founder looking for feedback, an investor exploring the ecosystem, or just someone who likes good conversation — reach out.