Shield AI Appoints Gary Steele as CEO

Shield AI has announced a significant leadership change, with Gary Steele appointed as the new CEO, effective May 13, 2025, announced in a press release. Steele, who brings over 30 years of experience in scaling global technology enterprises, will also join the company's Board of Directors.

Ryan Tseng, the Co-Founder and current CEO, will transition to the role of President. In this new capacity, Tseng will focus on engaging with US and foreign policy and defense leaders, as well as aerospace and defense companies. Under Tseng's leadership, Shield AI has grown significantly, expanding to over 900 employees and raising more than $1 billion in funding.

Gary Steele, currently serving as President, Go-to-Market at Cisco, has a strong track record, having previously led Splunk to profitability and founded Proofpoint. His appointment follows Shield AI's recent $240 million Series F-1 fundraising round, which values the company at $5.3 billion. Steele expressed enthusiasm about joining Shield AI, citing the growing demand for advanced autonomy in the defense industry and opportunities to expand into commercial enterprises.