Shield AI, a defense technology startup valued at $5.3 billion, has appointed Gary Steele as its new chief executive officer.
Steele’s appointment comes less than a week after Shield AI announced a new funding deal. He brings extensive experience from his previous role as CEO of Splunk Inc., the software company that Cisco Systems Inc. agreed to acquire in 2023 for $28 billion, Cisco’s largest-ever acquisition. Following the deal, Steele served as Cisco’s president of go-to-market and will remain in that position through April. Shield AI specializes in drone technology and software for autonomous systems.
