Western Defense Supply Chain Gets Major Leadership Boost as NASDAQ: BLBX Merger Target Names GM Defense President to Board

Strategic Appointment Signals Accelerated Push for North American Rare Earth Independence

Stephen S. duMont, President of GM Defense—the defense division of General Motors (NYSE: GM)—has been named non-executive Chairman of REalloys Inc., marking a significant shift in the company’s leadership structure ahead of its pending merger with Blackboxstocks Inc. (NASDAQ: BLBX). The move comes as REalloys seeks to expand its footprint in the critical minerals sector and solidify its position as a North American rare earth supply provider.

Three Decades of Defense and Aerospace Expertise

duMont brings an extensive background spanning defense contracting, aerospace development, and national security policy. His professional journey includes senior positions at Raytheon Technologies, leadership roles at BAE Systems and Boeing, and distinguished service as a U.S. Army officer and AH-64 Apache pilot. Currently leading General Motors’ defense operations, he has overseen landmark vehicle programs including the U.S. Army’s Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV), the Canadian Army’s Light Tactical Vehicle (LTV), and the Suburban Shield armored SUV for the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service.

Long-Term Supply Agreements Anchor Strategy

REalloys recently secured a 10-year offtake agreement for 6.75 million tons with Critical Metals Corp. (NASDAQ: CRML), complemented by a strategic supply commitment from St. George Mining Limited (ASX: SGQ). These agreements underscore the company’s commitment to establishing a fully North American mine-to-magnet supply chain with zero Chinese involvement—from resource extraction through processing, separation, refining, and final magnet manufacturing.

Defense-Aligned Board Governance

duMont joins a board of distinguished professionals including Ambassador David MacNaughton, former Canadian Ambassador to the United States during the Trump administration and founding President of Palantir Canada, and Brad Wall, former Premier of Saskatchewan and current Special Advisor on policy and industrial competitiveness at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. This composition reflects alignment with Title 50 of the U.S. Code, the regulatory framework governing U.S.-Canadian defense and strategic industry cooperation.

Strategic Implications for Allied Defense

The appointment carries broader implications for North American defense modernization. REalloys is positioning itself to support NORAD enhancements, deepen U.S.-Canada military interoperability, and expand defense-industrial integration through mechanisms like the ICE Pact. By developing domestic rare earth capacity under Title 50 and 10 U.S.C. § 4872 requirements, the company addresses a critical gap in Western supply chain resilience.

“REalloys is central to strengthening North America’s industrial independence,” duMont stated. “My mission remains focused on General Motors’ defense operations, but I’m committed to helping REalloys bridge national defense priorities with the manufacturing capacity required to support them.”

Leadership Transition and Growth Timeline

REalloys founder and former Executive Chairman Leonard (Lipi) Sternheim has assumed the Chief Executive Officer role following David Argyle’s resignation as CEO and director. Sternheim is tasked with accelerating the company’s vertically integrated operations and scaling its mine-to-magnet platform across upstream assets at Hoidas Lake, midstream processing through partnerships with the Saskatchewan Research Council, and downstream advanced alloys and magnet manufacturing in Euclid, Ohio.

Asset Base and Mineral Resources

The Hoidas Lake project contains a Mineral Resource Estimate of 2,153,000 tons of Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO) in measured and indicated categories. The deposit uniquely combines heavy rare earth elements—including Dysprosium, Terbium, Gadolinium, and Erbium—alongside light rare earth elements such as Neodymium, Praseodymium, Cerium, and Lanthanum. REalloys is simultaneously de-risking and advancing this project while expanding Euclid facility production capacity to meet U.S. protected market demand for high-performance magnet materials.

Merger Progress and Market Positioning

The Blackboxstocks Inc. (NASDAQ: BLBX) merger remains on track, positioning the combined entity for accelerated growth in the North American rare earth market. Blackboxstocks operates as a financial technology and social media hybrid platform offering real-time analytics and news for traders across 40+ countries, leveraging AI-enhanced predictive technology to analyze 10,000+ stocks and up to 1.5 million options contracts continuously.

This consolidation aims to blend REalloys’ strategic defense-aligned rare earth capabilities with Blackboxstocks’ technology and user base, creating a diversified platform within the critical minerals and financial technology sectors.