For decades, national security personnel have moved from jobs at the Pentagon to positions at major military contractors. More recently, a growing number of senior Pentagon officials are leaving to take positions at venture capital or private equity firms that invest in a new generation of Silicon Valley-style defense tech startups.

The New York Times has identified at least two dozen venture capital, government contractor financing or private equity firms that are run by or have hired former Pentagon officials or retired military officers, with most of the hires having taken place in the last five years. They have also hired people with national security experience at the White House or other agencies.

The roster of people who have cycled out of government positions and into venture capital firms that are backing defense-oriented startups numbers at least 50, The Times found.

In many cases, these former national security officials continue to regularly interact with top Defense Department officials they used to work with, and with members of Congress.