PITTSBURGH — The Pentagon is involved in an investigation into the founder of a defense startup who was charged in a child sex sting.
A spokesperson for Govino told Channel 11 that the company placed Eric Gillespie on administrative leave as soon as it learned of the charges he’s facing.
Channel 11 has also learned that the Pentagon is looking into his arrest and his security clearances.
According to investigators, Gillespie was trying to meet up with an underage girl for sex in Lebanon County near Hershey.
He lives here in Pittsburgh and was listed on LinkedIn as executive chairman at Govini on Butler Street, a company with several government contracts.
He was allegedly talking to an undercover agent with the Attorney General’s Office, posing as a young girl.
During the investigation, agents say Gilespie alluded to methods where he accesses children and other evidence was found regarding his contact with them.
He is being held in jail without bond after a judge determined he was a flight risk and cited concerns over public safety.
A Govino spokesperson gave this statement on Thursday:
“On Nov. 12, 2025, the Govini Board of Directors terminated Eric Gillespie from the organization, including as a member of the Board, effective immediately. Mr. Gillespie stepped down from the role of CEO almost a decade ago and had no access to classified information. Govini is an organization that has been built by over 250 people who share a profound commitment to America’s national security, including veterans, reservists, and people who have dedicated their lives to causes greater than themselves. The actions of one depraved individual should not in any way diminish the hard work of the broader team and their commitment to the security of the United States of America.”
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