TIME100 AI 2026 · Thinkers
Emil Michael
Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering and Department of Defense CTO
Before becoming the Pentagon's chief technology officer, he was Uber's chief business officer from 2013 to 2017.
- Born
- 1972, Cairo, Egypt
- Now
- Under Secretary for Research and Engineering and CTO, U.S. Department of Defense (Department of War)
- Studied
- Stanford University, Harvard University
Interesting facts
- Early start
Born in Cairo and raised in New Rochelle, New York, where he worked in his father's pharmacy as a kid.
en.wikipedia.org - Before AI
Left Goldman Sachs after a year to help start Tellme Networks, an automated phone-system company, in 1999.
en.wikipedia.org - Detour
Spent 2009 to 2011 as a special assistant to the Secretary of Defense, between Silicon Valley jobs.
linkedin.com
Career
- U.S. Department of Defense (Department of War)Under Secretary for Research and Engineering and CTO2009 to now
- UberChief Business Officer2013–2017
- KloutChief Operating Officer2012–2013
- Technology Advisory and Consulting ServicesPresident2011–2017
- Tellme NetworksCo-founder; SVP of Field Operations1999–2008
- Goldman SachsInvestment Banking Associate1998–1999
Education
- JD, Law, Stanford University, 1998
- BA, Government, Harvard University, 1994
