About

TECHNICAL CAPABILITY • EXPERIENCE • CREATIVITY 

 

My name is Michael D. Kniseley, President of Kit Carson Ventures, and my mission is to serve you and your organization. I am a former Soldier and Gulf War veteran, as well as a seasoned defense contractor and entrepreneur with deep expertise in training management and executive leadership. In applying tested experience, technical expertise and creativity, I carry forward the pioneering spirit and "deliberate trailblazing" of my ancestor Christoper "Kit" Houston Carson, the 19th‑century frontiersman, scout, and U.S. Army general whose work helped shape the expansion and exploration of the United States.

 

(Please continue reading, core capabilities, mission and vision)

 

 

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KCV President - Michael Kniseley at Guardian Centers - Military Operations Urban Terrain (MOUT) and CQB training site in Perry Georgia.

 

Kit Carson Ventures (KCV) specializes in strategic business development and marketing for defense contractors, with a focus on Title 10 and 22 security assistance opportunities, including Defense Security Cooperation Agency programs such as Foreign Military Financing (FMF). This work advances U.S. national security objectives by training and equipping partner-nation warfighters. The team supports clients either directly, through tailored business development efforts, or indirectly by training in‑house staff to navigate and capitalize on security assistance opportunities.

 

Collectively, the team applies over a decade of experience to every opportunity, to include five years of  U.S. Army Acquisition Officer programming at CPE STRI (formerly PEO STRI) while working in the International Programming Office (IPO). The International Programs Office (PL IPO) is a project office that functions as a Security Assistance Management Directorate and FMS Program Management Office in support of the Army Security Assistance Enterprise, managing an average of 10 active cases with 15 cases in development each year across 17 countries, within a portfolio valued at approximately $3 billion USD.​ 

 

In addition to Security Assistance business development and training  Kit Carson Ventures also provides strategic marketing advisement, to include competitive market analysis, segmentation, brand evaluation, market position analysis, strategic integration, solutioning, teaming and more. These services are derived from Shipley certified acumen, international experience, formal education, and lessons learned via the management of a multitude of campaigns in the U.S. and abroad. The ultimate goal is to identify and secure a sustainable competitive advantage for our customers through deliberate trailblazing , superior marketing and third party strategic business development.

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Background 

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Early in Michael’s professional life, his talent for training and leading others was first recognized during U.S. Army One Station Unit Training (OSUT), where Michael was selected as the Distinguished Honor Graduate of his training battalion. Shortly after returning from his first deployment, he was chosen as Soldier of the Year in recognition of his impact on unit training and retention, an honor that became thematic throughout his career.​ 

 

After multiple deployments as a Military Police Soldier during the Gulf War and as a Special Reaction Team (SRT) member, Michael transitioned to civilian life, where he went on to lead teams as a business manager and then owner across several ventures, over multiple decades. Throughout these experiences, three factors consistently underpinned his achievements: a well‑developed work ethic, a constant thirst for knowledge, and a knack for developing and applying creative solutions—because meaningful improvement often requires doing things differently, not just working harder.​ Michael also holds with confidence that transformative leadership, effective communication, and impactful training form the foundational pillars of mission success in any environment, regardless of industry, goals, or objectives.

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Michael and the partners of Kit Carson Ventures enjoy training individuals and groups while also providing strategic business development and management services. Working alongside an extended network of trusted partners, KCV offers a unique blend of expertise to start‑ups, new market entrants, and established companies seeking support not only with core business competencies but also with innovative approaches to complex challenges. ​​​​​​​

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