Washington, DC:  Shyam Sankar, a Mumbai-born technologist, is reportedly a top contender for former President Donald Trump’s Pentagon Chief Research and Engineering position. Currently serving as the CTO and Executive VP of Palantir Technologies, Sankar brings over 20 years of expertise in AI and disruptive software.

The Pentagon's Chief Research and Engineering position oversees the Department of Defense’s research and development, shaping technological priorities. Sankar's candidacy follows his critiques of the Pentagon's procurement system, advocating for the adoption of commercial tech to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Sankar, an early Palantir employee, pioneered the Forward Deployed Engineer role. He holds degrees from Cornell and Stanford and serves as Chairman of Ginkgo Bioworks. In 2024, he was named one of the “Top 7 People in Defense Tech."