Shift5 Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer Michael Weigand has been named an AFCEA 40 Under Forty Emerging Leader
The AFCEA 40 Under Forty Award is given to emerging individuals for their significant contributions to the technical science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields by providing innovation, thought leadership, and support to their clients or organizations using information technology.
Mike’s contributions to the space are numerous and noteworthy. Beginning his career in the U.S. Army as an Airborne, Ranger-qualified Infantry Officer, Mike quickly earned the title of Cyber Officer and became one of 40 inaugural members of U.S. Army Cyber Command.
During this time, Weigand established multiple cyber organizations across the DoD including the U.S. Army’s first cyber tool development organization. He was also a founding member of the Defense Digital Service (DDS) Jyn Erso Program, a rapid response team including top engineers, data scientists, product managers and designers from industry, government and the military, working within the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
His contributions soon bled into the private world as co-founder of Shift5, the technology company that unlocks fleet and weapon system onboard data to optimize operational readiness, lethality, and survivability.
Shift5 was founded with the same commitment to service that first brought Weigand to military service: an unwavering desire to solve critical national cybersecurity challenges. At Shift5, Michael is responsible for defining and overseeing execution of Shift5’s long-term growth objectives. Including, most recently:
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A $50 million Series B funding round, joined subsequently by AEI HorizonX and JetBlue Ventures
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Securing a multiple-award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) contract to compete for orders to bring onboard OT cybersecurity capabilities across Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2)
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Supporting the U.S. Army’s Scarlet Dragon, a live-fire, cross-domain, AI-driven targeting exercise led by the Army’s XVIII Airborne Corps.
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Partnering with the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command to provide Shift5’s technology for defensive cyberspace operations actions during the annual Emerald Warrior 22.1
Shift5 is a member of AFCEA, and is committed to its mission to connect military, government, industry and academia. The AFCEA 40 Under Forty Award presentation will take place during AFCEA TechNet Cyber from May 2–4, 2023, at the Baltimore Convention Center.