Our Roots
The word Sachem, or chief, is borrowed from the language of the Algonquian people, who were the original inhabitants of New England. In Algonquian communities, the Sachem was a leader who, through his actions, earned the trust and respect of those he served. Sachem was chosen as our firm’s name to evoke its New England roots while also affirming its guiding values of trust, respect, and a commitment to excellence.
FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL
Nathaniel Y. Walton founded Sachem Strategies and serves as principal of the firm. He brings a wealth of connections and expertise based on a career in public policy spanning nearly two decades.
Sachem Leadership
Since founding Sachem, Nate has played a leading role as an advocate for businesses at the forefront of innovation. This has included organizing coalitions within Congress to advance research and procurement funding, address intellectual property threats, and reduce regulatory obstacles.
A New England native, Nate has been a champion for the region’s dynamic innovation ecosystem. In 2020, Governor Charlie Baker appointed Nate to serve on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, which promotes business growth in the technology sector. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Blue Venture Forum, a nonprofit that connects and supports businesses in the blue technology sector.
Nate is a longtime thought leader on defense innovation. He has regularly partnered with congressional leaders, industry executives, and think tanks to design reform proposals that would better integrate innovative businesses into the military procurement system. In 2019, he was one of 15 senior advisors to the Reagan Institute Task Force, which conducted a detailed examination of the U.S. defense industrial base.
Professional Background
Nate started his career working as a project manager and researcher at Harvard. In this position, he supported a DoD grant with the university that designed innovative technology systems for measuring U.S. humanitarian and military interventions. Nate subsequently served as a defense advisor to Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, providing research and analysis on military affairs, and in several think tank roles focused on national security.
Nate has been active in politics since he was in high school. As an undergraduate, he served three years as state chairman of the Maine College Republicans, which was named the “Best State Federation in America” by the College Republican National Committee.
In 2012, Nate served as one of the youngest members of Mitt Romney’s National Finance Committee. He was one of the few people under 30 to reach the highest fundraiser level.
Still active in political fundraising today, Nate serves as a member of the finance committees of numerous members of Congress from across the country.
Nate holds a B.A. in political science from Bates College and a M.P.P. from Brown University. He lives in the Boston area with his wife and two children.