Mike Gallagher, a former Republican Congressman from Wisconsin, is taking on a significant role at Palantir Technologies Inc. as the head of defense, marking a strategic addition to the company’s leadership as it aggressively pursues government contracts. Gallagher, known for his strong stance on China and his leadership in legislative efforts to push TikTok’s Chinese parent company towards divesting its U.S. operations, brings a wealth of government experience to Palantir.
In his new role, Gallagher will report directly to Palantir’s CEO, Alex Karp, and has committed to dedicating his full effort to the position. “I’ve never done anything half-heartedly,” Gallagher said. “I’m bringing all my energy and talent to this role.”
During his tenure in the House of Representatives, Gallagher served as the chairman of the House select committee on China, where he focused on maintaining U.S. dominance in critical technologies. This background aligns seamlessly with Palantir’s mission, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence, where the company has been vocal about the need for U.S. leadership.
“Mike’s unique skills have been instrumental in shaping U.S. policy towards our global adversaries,” Karp stated. “We’re thrilled to have him on board and are confident he will be invaluable to our defense initiatives.”
Gallagher is currently transitioning into his new role, where he will oversee Palantir’s defense operations, focusing on delivering advanced data analytics technology to the U.S. government and its allies. Defense-related sales are a major component of Palantir’s government business, which is anticipated to grow significantly. The company was recently selected as the prime contractor for a major Department of Defense contract centered on artificial intelligence.
Reports of Gallagher’s potential move to Palantir surfaced before his resignation from Congress in April, but the specifics of the role were not officially confirmed until now.
Gallagher has been familiar with Palantir for nearly a decade, and his relationship with CEO Alex Karp began after they both participated in a panel discussion at the Reagan National Defense Forum. Gallagher was particularly impressed by Karp’s straightforwardness. “Unlike many government officials and corporate leaders who shy away from candid discussions, Dr. Karp is refreshingly direct,” Gallagher noted.
In his new role, Gallagher takes over from Doug Philippone, a long-standing Palantir executive, who will continue to advise the company while also focusing on his venture capital firm, Snowpoint Ventures.
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