016: Sam Gray, Executive Director of Silicon Valley Defense Group

Sam Gray is the Executive Director of the Silicon Valley Defense Group, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering connections among people, technology, and capital to secure the US and its allies' technological edge. Sam is a retired Naval Officer, and as a fighter pilot, he deployed 7 times in the Pacific and Middle East. Sam co-founded NavalX, the Navy and Marine Corps innovation office, where he spearheaded its growth from a single office to 15 across the US and UK. His prior roles include managing aerospace procurement for the Under Secretary of Defense, strategic planning focused on China at Pacific Command, and serving as the commanding officer of an F/A-18 squadron based in Japan. Sam has a degree in history from The Ohio State University and a Master's in National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College.