Gary Steele

Gary Steele
Nationality	American
Occupation	Technology executive
Known for	CEO of Splunk, CEO of Shield AI, President of Cisco Systems Security Business Group
Education	Washington State University
Awards	Washington State University Alumni Achievement Award (2025)

Gary Steele is an American technology executive who served as the chief executive officer of Splunk, a data analytics and cybersecurity company, from 2022 until its acquisition by Cisco Systems in 2024. Following the acquisition, Steele served as president of Cisco's Security Business Group. In March 2025, he was named chief executive officer of Shield AI, a defense technology startup valued at $5.6 billion that develops autonomous drone and aircraft systems. Throughout his career, Steele has held leadership positions at several enterprise technology and cybersecurity companies. In August 2025, he was appointed to the board of directors of Samsara Inc., a connected operations platform company. Steele is an alumnus of Washington State University, which honored him with its Alumni Achievement Award — the university's alumni association's highest honor — in September 2025.

Career

Early Career and Proofpoint

Gary Steele built a career in enterprise technology and cybersecurity over several decades, holding executive roles at multiple companies. He served as chief executive officer of Proofpoint, a cybersecurity firm specializing in email security and compliance, prior to its acquisition by private equity firm Thoma Bravo in 2021.

Splunk

In 2022, Steele was appointed chief executive officer of Splunk, a San Francisco-based company known for its data analytics platform used in cybersecurity, IT operations, and observability. Under his leadership, Splunk navigated a period of strategic transformation as it shifted its business model and expanded its cloud-based offerings.

Splunk became the subject of a major acquisition when Cisco Systems announced its intent to purchase the company. The deal was completed in 2024, representing one of Cisco's largest acquisitions. Following the close of the transaction, Steele transitioned into a senior leadership role at Cisco.

Cisco Systems

After the Splunk acquisition was finalized, Steele assumed the role of president of Cisco's Security Business Group, where he oversaw the integration of Splunk's capabilities into Cisco's broader security and networking portfolio. He served in this capacity until departing Cisco in 2025.

Shield AI

In March 2025, it was announced that Steele would become the chief executive officer of Shield AI, a San Diego-based defense technology startup that develops autonomous systems for aircraft, including unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). The company had reached a valuation of approximately $5.6 billion at the time of his appointment.

In an interview with Breaking Defense in June 2025, Steele described his ambitions for the company, stating that he wanted to bring "a different level of maturity and focus as we grow at scale." He disclosed that Shield AI was planning to launch a "next-gen aircraft" in September 2025, describing the moment as a "tremendous opportunity" for the company.

By late 2025, Steele characterized Shield AI as being at an "inflection point," citing growing demand from defense clients and the demonstrated effectiveness of autonomous systems in modern conflicts, including in Ukraine. Fortune reported on the company's trajectory under his leadership, noting that conventional indicators of product traction — such as growing user engagement and expanding customer interest — were evident within the organization.

The transition from leading enterprise software and cybersecurity companies to heading a defense technology startup marked a notable shift in Steele's career. However, the move reflected a broader trend of experienced technology executives entering the defense sector, particularly as autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and software-defined platforms became increasingly central to modern military capabilities.

Board Appointments

In August 2025, Samsara Inc. (NYSE: IOT), a company described as "the pioneer of the Connected Operations® Platform," announced the appointment of Steele to its board of directors. Samsara's platform serves industries that rely on physical operations, including transportation, logistics, and field services.

Education

Steele attended Washington State University. In September 2025, the Washington State University Alumni Association selected him as a recipient of the Alumni Achievement Award, which is described as the association's highest honor. The university's news service, WSU Insider, identified Steele as a "technology executive" in its coverage of the award.

Recognition

In September 2025, Washington State University honored Steele with the Alumni Achievement Award, the highest award bestowed by the university's alumni association. The award recognized his career accomplishments in the technology industry.

Steele's appointment as CEO of Shield AI attracted significant coverage in technology and defense media, including CRN, Fortune, and Breaking Defense, reflecting both his established reputation in enterprise technology and the growing prominence of defense technology startups in the broader technology landscape.

His appointment to the board of directors of Samsara, a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange, further underscored his standing among corporate governance circles in the technology industry.