JPMorgan CEO Tours California Defense Startups Amid Growing National Security Focus
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon recently led an executive bus tour through California to examine defense technology opportunities. The August 2026 tour visited various startups and tech companies across the state, including Impulse Space near Los Angeles.
Dimon expressed his enthusiasm for what he saw during the tour, saying 'The notion that this country is behind is frustrating, but I’m very uplifted by what they’re doing.'
The California route included stops in Healdsburg, San Francisco, Modesto, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and Orange County. JPMorgan executives met with companies working on missiles, drones, aircraft, energy, manufacturing, and data systems.
Dimon's interest in national security is a recent development, linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Discussions with retired military leaders helped him understand changing weapons, tactics, and global security risks.