Our Team
Executive
Management
Team
A select group of individuals with a cutting-edge set of expert backgrounds, leading the industry towards a safer environment for patients.
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Lynn_Kirkpatrick_Pic-360x360.png)
D. Lynn Kirkpatrick, PhD
Chief Executive Officer- Background in medicinal chemistry and pharmacology, drug discovery and development
- Co-founded 2 start up companies
- Developed three targeted small molecule oncology drugs from discovery to clinic
- Experience in private and public company raising funds from private, public and government sources
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Dave_Humphrey-1-360x360.png)
Dave Humphrey
Chief Financial Officer- Extensive experience in entrepreneurial environments
- Multiple equity and debt financing, including IPOs
- Focused on financial infrastructure, internal controls with merger and acquisition strategies
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Geoff_Birkett_Pic-360x360.png)
Geoff Birkett
Chief Commercial Officer- Held leadership roles in major Pharma. companies in UK/ Germany/ USA and Global.
- Developed several major central nervous system drugs from phase 2 to launch.
- Launched 5 major market leaders including Prozac, Seroquel, Zomig and Nicorette.
- Extensive biotechnology leadership experience in pain space.
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Linda_Pestano_Pic-360x360.png)
Linda Pestano, PhD
Chief Development Officer- Experienced in the design of pre-clinical programs focused on building IND-enabling data packages for lead candidate compounds intended for the treatment or diagnosis of cancer and inflammatory diseases
- PhD in Immunology from Tufts, Postdoctoral Research at Dana Farber, Harvard Medical School
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/William@2x.png)
Dr. William Schmidt, PhD
Chief Medical Officer- 6 successful NDA drug approvals
- Expertise in developing opioid-related products (Nubain®, Trexanä, ReVia®, Combunox®, Entereg®)
- Chairman of annual Arrowhead Pain Summit (2010-2024)
- Past-President of Eastern Pain Association (NYC)
- PhD in Pharmacology from UC San Francisco
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Jeffrey_Millard_Pic-360x360.png)
Jeffrey Millard, PhD
Chief Operating Officer- Industrial experience in CMC (chemistry, manufacturing, and controls)
- 7 IND submissions (CDER, CBER, and IMPDs); directed CMC efforts from discovery, in-licensing to commercial launch
- PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from University of Arizona
Board of Directors
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Lynn_Kirkpatrick_Pic-360x360.png)
D. Lynn Kirkpatrick, PhD
Career focused on novel drug discovery and development- Background in medicinal chemistry and pharmacology, drug discovery and development
- Co-founded 2 start up companies
- Developed three targeted small molecule oncology drugs from discovery to clinic
- Experience in private and public company raising funds from private, public and government sources
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Bob@2x.png)
Dr. Bob Gower
Chair of the Board- Former President, CEO and Chairman of Lyondell Petrochemical Company
- Senior VP Atlantic Richfield Corporation
- VP ARCO Chemical
- Sinclair Oil (acquired by ARCO)
- Founder, President and CEO Carbon Nanotechnologies Inc.
- Founder and Chairman, Ensysce
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Andrew@2x.png)
Andrew Benton
President Emeritus of Pepperdine University- Served as the seventh president of Pepperdine University from 2000–2019
- Past Chair of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities
- Member of the American Bar Association
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/William-Chang.png)
William Chang
Entrepreneur, Realty Company & Movie executive- CEO Westlake Realty Group and Chairman of Westlake International
- Investor in major sport leagues, movies and biosciences companies.
- USA Rugby BOD
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Adam@2x.png)
Dr. Adam Levin
Academic and clinical orthopedic surgeon at Johns Hopkins Univ.- Vice Chair of Faculty Development for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
- Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Associate Professor of Oncology
- Former Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Steve@2x.png)
Steve Martin
Experienced Senior Executive and Chief Financial Officer- CFO of Armata Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSE: ARMP)
- Former Interim CEO, CFO and senior executive of numerous life sciences companies including AmpliPhi Biosciences, Stratagene, Gen-Probe
- 10 years with Deloitte
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Lee@2x.png)
Lee Rauch
Experienced CEO and Strategy Advisor- Built successful companies from pre-clinical research to advanced clinical development
- Secured financing for private and public biotech companies, along with multi-billion-dollar sale
- Founding member of McKinsey & Co.’s International Pharmaceutical Practice
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Curtis.png)
Dr. Curtis Rosebraugh
Extensive FDA drug approval experience- Former Director of the Office of Drug Evaluation II at the FDA
- Overseen the development and approval of over 50 new drugs
- Former Deputy Director Office of Nonprescription Products at the FDA
- Experience in the development of abuse deterrent opioid formulations
Clinical Advisory Board
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Lynn@2x.png)
Dr. Lynn Webster
Dr. Webster has dedicated more than three decades to becoming an expert in the field of pain management
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Jeffrey@2x.png)
Dr. Jeffrey Gudin
Dr. Gudin is Faculty Dept of Anesthesiology/Pain Management, Univ of Miami, and Co-Editor of Practical Pain Management.
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Richard@2x.png)
Dr. Richard Dart
Dr. Dart is the Director of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center and specializes in emergency medicine and toxicology.
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/William@2x.png)
Dr. William Schmidt
- 6 successful NDA drug approvals
- Expertise in developing opioid-related products (Nubain®, Trexanä, ReVia®, Combunox®, Entereg®)
- Chairman of annual Arrowhead Pain Summit (2010-2024)
- Past-President of Eastern Pain Association (NYC)
- PhD in Pharmacology from UC San Francisco
Support & Partners
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FDA-1.jpg)
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NIDA-1.jpg)
![](https://ensysce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NIH-1.jpg)