Speakers

Emil Michael is the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, serving as the Pentagon’s Chief Technology Officer and principal advisor on technology development, prototyping, and science and technology integration across the Department of Defense.

Prior to his confirmation, Michael built a distinguished career in the private sector as a tech executive, advisor, and investor, including roles as Chief Business Officer at Uber, COO of Klout, and part of the founding team at Tellme Networks. He has helped build and scale multiple high-growth companies and raised billions in global investment.

Michael previously served as a White House Fellow and Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, where he led initiatives in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan and worked on department-wide efficiency reforms.

He holds a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from Stanford Law School, and currently advises and invests in numerous technology startups around the world.