Mike Shanley

Mike Shanley believes our global isolation does not provide security, but a vacuum for adversaries to fill. His career spans from service in the Peace Corps in Ukraine to thought leadership roles in defense tech, and has been shaped by engagement with decision makers at the program and policy level at international security institutions. He argues that national strength depends less on insulation than on the ability to adapt institutions, sustain partnerships, and compete effectively within evolving global systems.

As Founder and CEO of GovDiscovery AI, Mike applies this perspective to practical problems in defense and foreign policy contracting markets. Having built and led three startups in the national security sector, his current work focuses on monitoring defense market demand signals, so clients can deliver timely solutions to evolving defense and foreign policy needs. By using data and AI to simplify business development and procurement processes, he helps defense contractors identify more contracting opportunities, earlier in their pipeline, to unlock growth bottlenecks in the $1 trillion defense market.

In parallel with his entrepreneurial work, Mike is an active participant in policy and industry discussions on security innovation. He regularly advises U.S. government and private-sector leaders on technology adoption and partnership models. He also hosts the GovDiscovery AI Podcast, where his guests include senior Pentagon officials, Nobel Peace Prize recipients, and other leaders shaping defense and foreign affairs markets.

At the Highland Institute Security Forum in his hometown of Boulder, Colorado, Mike draws on these experiences and relationships to help policymakers and practitioners better understand policy direction, anticipate risks, and make informed strategic decisions in the shifting geo-political landscape.