As former Acting Secretary of Defense and the 33rd Deputy Secretary of Defense, Mr. Shanahan led the development of key government defense policies and strategies, which included the 2018 Department of Defense Strategy and the 2018 Cyber Posture Review. A passionate champion of digital and technological advancement, he drove modernization in cybersecurity, AI and cloud computing across the Department of Defense operations. In 2018, he instituted the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) and oversaw the development of the Department of Defense’s AI Strategy.

In his role as former CEO of a leading aerostructures manufacturer and having spent over three decades in the aerospace industry, Mr. Shanahan has overseen profit and loss centers for both civil aviation and defense units. He has also acquired manufacturing and supply chain expertise through his responsibilities for manufacturing operations and supplier management functions, including the implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies and global supply chain strategies.