# Ryan Millard

Majors GTM for Cognition (Devin) | Agentic Autonomous AI for the SDLC | Ultra Endurance Athlete | USMC Combat Veteran  
Cognition  
Cincinnati Metropolitan Area

## At Cognition

- Role: Director, Major Accounts (Sales/GTM)
- Joined: Jan 2025
- How they joined: With Windsurf (https://www.autumn.ai/resources/cognition/acquisitions/windsurf)
- Before Windsurf: Strategic Major Accounts, Chronosphere
- Overlapped before Cognition with other Cognition people at: Codeium (Windsurf); AppDynamics; Lacework (https://www.autumn.ai/resources/cognition/worked-together)

## Identity
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125
- Domain: cognition.com

## Notes
- Became Director, Major Accounts at Cognition in May 2026 after a stop at Axion; his headline calls the job "Majors GTM for Cognition (Devin) | Agentic Autonomous AI for the SDLC". (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- Was on the Strategic Major Accounts GTM team at Windsurf (the agentic IDE, formerly Codeium) in 2025, the same year Cognition signed a deal to buy Windsurf. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- Current role is Director, Major Accounts at Cognition. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- Reposted Cognition's Oct 2026 announcement that it is acquiring Corridor 'to build the future of Devin Security'. This is the second acquisition after Windsurf that touches his work, and it adds a security product to the enterprise deals he sells. (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cognition-ai-labs_cognition-is-acquiring-corridor-to-build-ugcPost-7521638660396744705-8dMO?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAAHCgwk8B2dfBl99xMLkVLk_nKvrCoRrOV40)
- Ian Silsby's Oct 2026 post about joining Cognition from MongoDB thanks Ryan Millard along with Cognition leaders Scott Wu, Russell Kaplan and Chris Degnan. (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/iansilsby_im-very-excited-to-join-cognition-im-grateful-activity-7520833083995090944-Pg0T)
- Between Windsurf and his May 2026 Cognition start, LinkedIn shows him in Strategic Major Accounts at Axion (axion.com, an AI platform for product-quality issues) from Oct 2025 to May 2026. So he did not move straight from Windsurf to a Cognition title; he returned after about seven months at Axion. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- Cognition announced on 2025-07-14 that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Windsurf, including its IP, product, trademark and brand, business and people. Ryan's 2025 Windsurf GTM role puts him in the team Cognition took over. (https://cognition.com/blog/windsurf)
- Has worked enterprise sales in observability and security: AppDynamics, SignalFx/Splunk, Lacework (2021-2022), Anjuna Security and Chronosphere (2023-2025). His move into AI coding agents brings a pitch built on developer infrastructure and security. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- At Anjuna Security (2022-2023) he 'Closed largest deal in company history' and 'Built Central US pipeline at 8x coverage in 3 months'. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- Joined Splunk through its acquisition of SignalFx and worked on the strategic account push for Splunk's new Observability business unit (2019-2021). He made President's Club twice and finished above 200% of quota both years. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- Sold for SignalFx (2018-2021, later bought by Splunk) and AppDynamics (2017-2018, later bought by Cisco). (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- Served as an Infantry Non-Commissioned Officer in the US Marine Corps (2009-2013). He led 13 Marines as a Squad Leader and fought as a rifleman in the Upper Gereshk Valley, Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2011. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- Public headline says "Majors GTM for Cognition (Devin) | Agentic Autonomous AI for the SDLC | Ultra Endurance Athlete | USMC Combat Veteran". (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- Reposted the Nov 2026 launch of hierarchical budgets in Devin Enterprise, which let large companies manage ACU spend by org structure. That feature matters directly in major-account deals. (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cognition-ai-labs_your-company-doesnt-run-on-one-budget-activity-7523045747999645696-O1A2?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAAHCgwk8B2dfBl99xMLkVLk_nKvrCoRrOV40)
- Reposted Cognition's post on Wells Fargo Technology engineers spending four days at Devin Co:Lab in San Francisco. This is the kind of large enterprise deployment his Majors role covers. (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cognition-ai-labs_wells-fargo-technology-engineers-spent-four-ugcPost-7521607844866002944-erpv?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAAHCgwk8B2dfBl99xMLkVLk_nKvrCoRrOV40)
- Reposted Cognition's Oct 2026 launch of the redesigned Devin Desktop app, the product that came out of the Windsurf acquisition. (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cognition-ai-labs_today-were-introducing-a-new-devin-desktop-ugcPost-7519436734171062273-735y?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAAHCgwk8B2dfBl99xMLkVLk_nKvrCoRrOV40)
- Lists himself as a Limited Partner at SVB Capital since 2021. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- Combat-decorated Marine Infantry NCO turned enterprise sales hunter & investor. I take hills and destroy obstacles.

Startup-obsessed closer of transformational enterprise deals against entrenched giants. I build multi-million dollar pipeline fast across the Fortune 500, create openings where none exist, and win in the hardest markets with transformational deals.

Over a decade of experience running MEDDPICC and Command of the Message; proven ability to execute the playbook with precision or rew; this comes from the profile summary and preserves the person's own positioning. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- Spartan's official results for the 2024 Cincinnati Spartan Trifecta Weekend list Ryan Millard 6th of 74 men, 1st of 14 in his age group, in 8:33:44. The Cincinnati event matches his home base. (https://hr.spartan.com/hr/race/past-results/8105)
- Earlier career: Account Executive at Kognitio (2012-2014), recruited by the SVP Global Sales to lead North American market entry; Sales Director at Medallia (2014-2016); Enterprise AE at BlueCat (2016-2017). (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- Holds a B.A. in International Relations and Affairs from Wright State University (2005-2009). He describes it as the 'Beginning of my quest to permanently stop genocide, autocracy, and all crimes against humanity & personal liberties.' (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- Previous roles include Strategic Major Accounts at Axion; Strategic Major Accounts - GTM at Windsurf; Strategic Major Accounts at Chronosphere; Strategic Major Accounts at Anjuna Security; Strategic Major Accounts at Lacework; Strategic Named Accounts - Majors at Splunk; (acquired by Splunk) Strategic Major Accounts at SignalFx; (acquired by Cisco) Strategic Enterprises Account Executive at AppDynamics. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- Previous roles include Director, Major Accounts at Cognition; Limited Partner at SVB Capital; Strategic Major Accounts at Axion; Strategic Major Accounts - GTM at Windsurf; Strategic Major Accounts at Chronosphere; Strategic Major Accounts at Anjuna Security; Strategic Major Accounts at Lacework; Strategic Named Accounts - Majors at Splunk. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- Ultra-endurance athlete: says he is 'Consistently top 2 in Spartan Ultra elite heats (39 miles, 60+ obstacles, >90% DNF rate).' (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)
- Has subscribed to The Information since 2026, with Cognition AI listed as his employer. (https://www.theinformation.com/u/ryanmillard)
- Location is Cincinnati Metropolitan Area. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125)

## Experience
- Director, Major Accounts at Cognition - Cincinnati Metropolitan Area (May 2026 - Present)
- Limited Partner at SVB Capital (Jan 2021 - Present)
- Strategic Major Accounts at Axion - Cincinnati Metropolitan Area (Oct 2025 - May 2026)
- Strategic Major Accounts - GTM at Windsurf - Cincinnati, Ohio, United States (Jan 2025 - Jan 2025)
- Strategic Major Accounts at Chronosphere - Cincinnati, Ohio, United States (Jan 2023 - Jan 2025)
- Strategic Major Accounts at Anjuna Security - Cincinnati Metropolitan Area (Jan 2022 - Jan 2023): - Closed largest deal in company history

- Built Central US pipeline at 8x coverage in 3 months
- Strategic Major Accounts at Lacework (Jan 2021 - Jan 2022)
- Strategic Named Accounts - Majors at Splunk - Cincinnati, Ohio, United States (Jan 2019 - Jan 2021): Joined Splunk via acquisition of SignalFx; was part of strategic account penetration effort for new Observability business unit.

- President's Club x 2
- Above 200% of quota both years
- (acquired by Splunk) Strategic Major Accounts at SignalFx - Cincinnati, Ohio (Jan 2018 - Jan 2021): The only real-time monitoring/observability solution built for cloud, containers, and modern, ephemeral environments, applications, and services.
- (acquired by Cisco) Strategic Enterprises Account Executive at AppDynamics - Cincinnati, Ohio, United States (Jan 2017 - Jan 2018): AppDynamics is Gartner's Magic Quadrant Leader for Application Performance Management (APM). 

Amidst a landscape of pervasive & inevitable digital disruption, we empower today's software-defined businesses to proactively monitor, manage, and optimize the most complex software environments.  

Thousands of the world's leading brands leverage AppDynamics as the engine driving their own digital transformation efforts, and the combination of deep analytics & decisive proactivity we make possible for our clients leads to game-changing improvements in operational efficiency, customer experience, and business outcomes.
- Enterprise Account Executive at BlueCat - Cincinnati, Ohio, United States (Jan 2016 - Jan 2017): DNS security powerhouse.
- Sales Director at Medallia - Cincinnati, Ohio, United States (Jan 2014 - Jan 2016): Regardless of industry & vertical, the companies that will win now, and in the future, have one thing in common: enthusiastic customer loyalty that doesn't depend on price or convenience.

As organizations (both large & complex and small & nimble) grapple with an increasingly informed customer base that has more choices than ever, the organizations that WIN will be those that PROACTIVELY CREATE the experiences their customers expect.  This is where Medallia comes in.

Our vision and guiding mission is to create a world where companies are loved by their customers.  We do this by helping great companies capture and leverage customer feedback to inspire action and drive business results.
- Account Executive at Kognitio - Cincinnati, Ohio, United States (Jan 2012 - Jan 2014): Recruited by the SVP Global Sales to lead the North American sales team in identifying and penetrating new markets.  Created North American Go-To-Market plan, drove expansion of the North American sales pipeline (producing unique value propositions for new markets), and played key role in newly developed global channel program.  Personally appointed by senior executive management team to lead strategic initiative to position the company more attractively to potential new hires.

- Led North American sales team in 24% YoY growth (fy2013 - fy2014)

- Expanded new deal pipeline for the North American market by over 200%

- Consistently exceeded quota by an average of 171%

- Exceeded all management-established goals 100% of the time

-  Identified and attacked qualified leads, including 8 new clients (a company record) in fy2013, utilizing a proprietary strategy of lead discovery and pursuance now implemented throughout the company
- Infantry Non-Commissioned Officer at United States Marine Corps - Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (Jan 2009 - Jan 2013): - Led 13 Marines while holding Squad Leader billet.

- Executed battlefield duties as an infantry rifleman during combat operations in the Upper Gereshk Valley, Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom, 2011).

- Maintained 100% accountability of over 600 Marines and Sailors during helicopter-borne assault training at the Yuma Proving Grounds (Yuma, AZ).

- Maintained 100% accountability of over 200 Marines and Sailors during mountain warfare training in Bridgeport, CA.

Other skills include:

Small unit leadership, scouting, patrols, defensive operations, offensive operations,helicopter extractions/insertions, SPIE (Special Purpose Insertion Extraction) Rigging, weapons handling, combat marksmanship, combat swimming, mission accomplishment.
- Strategic Major Accounts - GTM at Windsurf (Jan 2025 - Dec 2025)
- Strategic Major Accounts at Chronosphere (Jan 2023 - Dec 2025)
- Strategic Major Accounts at Anjuna Security (Jan 2022 - Dec 2023): - Closed largest deal in company history

- Strategic Major Accounts at Lacework (Jan 2021 - Dec 2022)
- Strategic Named Accounts - Majors at Splunk (Jan 2019 - Dec 2021): Joined Splunk via acquisition of SignalFx; was part of strategic account penetration effort for new Observability business unit.

- (acquired by Splunk) Strategic Major Accounts at SignalFx (Jan 2018 - Dec 2021): The only real-time monitoring/observability solution built for cloud, containers, and modern, ephemeral environments, applications, and services.
- (acquired by Cisco) Strategic Enterprises Account Executive at AppDynamics (Jan 2017 - Dec 2018): AppDynamics is Gartner's Magic Quadrant Leader for Application Performance Management (APM). 

Amidst a landscape of pervasive & inevitable digital disruption, we empower today's software-defined businesses to proactively monitor, manage, and optimize the most complex software environments.  

Thousands of the world's leading brands leverage AppDynamics as the engine driving their own digital transformation efforts, and the combination of deep analytics & decisive proactivity we make possible for our clients leads to game-changing improvements in operational efficiency, customer experience, and business outcomes.
- Enterprise Account Executive at BlueCat (Jan 2016 - Dec 2017): DNS security powerhouse.
- Sales Director at Medallia (Jan 2014 - Dec 2016): Regardless of industry & vertical, the companies that will win now, and in the future, have one thing in common: enthusiastic customer loyalty that doesn't depend on price or convenience.

As organizations (both large & complex and small & nimble) grapple with an increasingly informed customer base that has more choices than ever, the organizations that WIN will be those that PROACTIVELY CREATE the experiences their customers expect.  This is where Medallia comes in.

Our vision and guiding mission is to create a world where companies are loved by their customers.  We do this by helping great companies capture and leverage customer feedback to inspire action and drive business results.
- Account Executive at Kognitio (Jan 2012 - Dec 2014): Recruited by the SVP Global Sales to lead the North American sales team in identifying and penetrating new markets.  Created North American Go-To-Market plan, drove expansion of the North American sales pipeline (producing unique value propositions for new markets), and played key role in newly developed global channel program.  Personally appointed by senior executive management team to lead strategic initiative to position the company more attractively to potential new hires.

- Infantry Non-Commissioned Officer at United States Marine Corps (Jan 2009 - Dec 2013): - Led 13 Marines while holding Squad Leader billet.

Other skills include:

Small unit leadership, scouting, patrols, defensive operations, offensive operations,helicopter extractions/insertions, SPIE (Special Purpose Insertion Extraction) Rigging, weapons handling, combat marksmanship, combat swimming, mission accomplishment.

## Education
- Wright State University - Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), International Relations and Affairs - (Jan 2005 - Jan 2009): Beginning of my quest to permanently stop genocide, autocracy, and all crimes against humanity & personal liberties.

Awarded "Best Actor" twice for roles in "The Philadelphia Story," and "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf;" received one "Best Supporting Actor" award for role in "Brighton Beach Memoirs."  

Handpicked to create and star in orientation video with select group of peers for incoming students.  

Came in first place for one, as well as semi-finals for various other, tournaments during time on the school's speech and debate team.
- Wright State University - Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), International Relations and Affairs - (Jan 2005 - Dec 2009)

## Sources
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan125
- https://cognition.com/blog/windsurf
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/canyon-manske-47b238b4?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAABg9Q58BZwMKJb4Sp2369xr2CypCcwV4GVg
- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/iansilsby_im-very-excited-to-join-cognition-im-grateful-activity-7520833083995090944-Pg0T
- https://hr.spartan.com/hr/race/past-results/8105
- https://www.theinformation.com/u/ryanmillard
- https://github.com/Ryan-Millard
- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cognition-ai-labs_cognition-is-acquiring-corridor-to-build-ugcPost-7521638660396744705-8dMO?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAAHCgwk8B2dfBl99xMLkVLk_nKvrCoRrOV40
- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cognition-ai-labs_your-company-doesnt-run-on-one-budget-activity-7523045747999645696-O1A2?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAAHCgwk8B2dfBl99xMLkVLk_nKvrCoRrOV40
- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cognition-ai-labs_wells-fargo-technology-engineers-spent-four-ugcPost-7521607844866002944-erpv?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAAHCgwk8B2dfBl99xMLkVLk_nKvrCoRrOV40
- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cognition-ai-labs_today-were-introducing-a-new-devin-desktop-ugcPost-7519436734171062273-735y?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAAHCgwk8B2dfBl99xMLkVLk_nKvrCoRrOV40
- https://www.facebook.com/theocrreport/posts/spartan-cincinnati-race-results-spartan-ultra-and-beast-june-7-2025-lawrenceburg/1272261171567536/


Researched with Autumn (https://www.autumn.ai) from public sources. Updated 2026-11-04. Profile: https://www.autumn.ai/resources/cognition/people/ryan-millard · Everyone at Cognition: https://www.autumn.ai/resources/cognition/people