#USA #San Diego #Shield AI #Gary Steele #Ryan Tseng

Shield AI's Leadership Transition

In a strategic shift aimed at enhancing growth, Shield AI, a leading deep-tech firm specializing in autonomy software and defense aircraft, has announced the appointment of Gary Steele as CEO, effective May 13, 2025. This change comes as the company aims to navigate its next phase of development following a period of remarkable expansion. With over 30 years in the tech industry, Steele joins from Cisco, where he served as President of Go-to-Market, managing substantial sales and marketing initiatives. His expertise in scaling high-growth companies positions him as an ideal leader to guide Shield AI into a new era.

Gary Steele's rich background includes a successful tenure as CEO of Splunk, where he spearheaded the firm’s profitability and a remarkable 58% growth in revenue. Under his leadership, Splunk was sold to Cisco in a significant acquisition valued at $28 billion. Steele also founded Proofpoint, growing it from its inception to a successful IPO, highlighting his ability to lead organizations through substantial growth trajectories.

Local tech luminary Ryan Tseng, the Co-Founder and previous CEO of Shield AI, has transitioned to the role of Co-Founder and President. Tseng's shift allows him to concentrate on securing high-level engagements with policy makers in the defense sector and fostering relationships with aerospace firms. Tseng’s decade-long leadership saw Shield AI expand its workforce to over 900, raise more than $1 billion in funding, and celebrate becoming the fourth multi-billion-dollar company in defense technology.

Reflecting on this transition, Tseng expressed his confidence in Steele's leadership. He emphasized the importance of having a leader with profound software knowledge and a track record of scaling companies, underscoring the growing demand for autonomy solutions in the defense sector. Tseng stated, "I am committed to the company and mission, and I am excited to support Gary in building an innovative technology company of this generation — ensuring mission success and the safety of service members."

Steele, addressing the new challenges at Shield AI, remarked, "There is growing demand for advanced autonomy from defense industry leaders, and we also see an opportunity to expand beyond traditional defense applications. I look forward to partnering with Ryann and Brandon in fulfilling our mission."

This leadership announcement follows Shield AI's recent achievement of securing $240 million in a Series F-1 funding round, raising its valuation to $5.3 billion. The enthusiastic backing from various strategic investors reflects the company's momentum, particularly following key V-BAT technology milestones and heightened demand for scalable autonomy.

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is dedicated to enhancing the safety of service members and civilians through intelligent, autonomous systems. Its portfolio includes innovative products like Hivemind Enterprise, V-BAT, and various motion imaging software. Boasting a global presence with offices in cities like San Diego, Dallas, and even overseas in Abu Dhabi, Kyiv, and Melbourne, Shield AI is strategically poised to support allied forces around the globe.

As the defense landscape evolves and the need for advanced autonomous technologies grows, Shield AI is setting the stage for its future with a strong leadership foundation. Steele's appointment, combined with Tseng's expertise in defense relations, indicates a robust strategy aimed at maximizing impact while fostering innovation in defense technology. A bright path lies ahead as the firm prepares to tackle the challenges and opportunities within the defense sector.

About Shield AI

Founded in 2015, Shield AI aims to safeguard service members and civilians through the development of autonomous systems. For further information, visit their website at www.shield.ai and follow them on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram.