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By Michael Scott – Oct 20, 2025, 6:30 PM CDT
The escalating geopolitical competition over critical mineral supply chains has driven a major corporate maneuver, as REalloys Inc., a company focused on establishing a North American mine-to-magnet rare earth pipeline, announced it has appointed Stephen S. duMont, president of GM Defense, as its non-executive chairman of the board of directors.
The move links one of North America’s leading defense industry figures directly to the effort to secure the materials essential for advanced military and green energy technologies. REalloys, which is in the process of merging with Blackboxstocks Inc. (NASDAQ: BLBX) is seeking to build a supply chain free of dependency on Chinese processing capacity, a strategic goal increasingly prioritized by Washington and Ottawa.
Tying Industrial Capacity to National Security
Mr. duMont brings three decades of experience in defense, aerospace, and national security, including senior executive roles at Raytheon Technologies, BAE Systems, and Boeing, in addition to his distinguished service as a U.S. Army attack helicopter pilot. His appointment signals a clear intent by REalloys to align its commercial growth directly with allied defense modernization efforts.
The company is focused on the vertical integration of rare earth elements, which are vital components in high-performance magnets used across the defense industrial base—from precision-guided missiles to radar systems—as well as in commercial products like electric vehicle motors and wind turbines. The announcement follows REalloys’ recent commitment of a 10-year, 6.75 million ton offtake agreement with Critical Metals Corp. (NASDAQ: CRML) and a strategic supply commitment with St George Mining Limited (ASX: SGQ).
“REalloys stands at the heart of an effort critical to freedom, prosperity, and autonomy across the Western world,” said Stephen S. duMont, non-executive chairman of REalloys. He noted that the company is actively “driving a coordinated effort under Title 50 authorities, to ensure allied defense modernization, and broader U.S.–Canadian defense alignment to reinforce the supply chains that underpin both national and economic security.”
The North American Imperative
The global critical minerals market remains overwhelmingly dominated by China, which processes the vast majority of rare earth elements into usable metal and magnet forms. This concentration has spurred the United States and Canada to invest heavily in creating resilient, Western-aligned alternatives.
REalloys is promoting a framework defined by its “no Chinese nexus” supply chain, aiming to keep processing, separation, refining, and magnet manufacturing entirely within North America or allied nations. This continental strategy is intended to be synergistic with major U.S.-Canadian initiatives, including NORAD modernization and the deepening of defense-industrial integration through cooperative agreements.
REalloys CEO Lipi Sternheim, the company’s founder and former executive chairman, stated that Mr. duMont’s defense background provides a unique perspective.
“His depth of experience with global defense systems and government relations will strengthen our ability to advance North America’s security and industrial resilience,” Sternheim said, adding that Mr. duMont’s guidance would help position REalloys “as a bridge between national defense priorities and the manufacturing capacity that underpins them.”
The new chairman joins an already robust board that includes former Canadian Ambassador to the United States David MacNaughton and former Premier of Saskatchewan Brad Wall,