Former DOD official to lead SparkCognition's defense work

SparkCognition has named Wendy Anderson, a former Pentagon aide, general manager for defense and national security.

Anderson was deputy chief of staff to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and chief of staff to Ash Carter when he was deputy defense secretary. She also served as chief of staff to Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker.

"As General Manager, Defense & National Security, Anderson will lead SparkCognition's growing defense and aerospace business, in addition to government," according to the Austin, TX-based company which specializes in artificial intelligence technology applied to cybersecurity and physical safety and security.

SparkCognition also said Timothy Stefanick, who was military aide for Vice Presidents Dick Cheney and Joe Biden, is its director of federal operations, while Sam Septembre, formerly Fleet Cyber Command's science adviser for the U.S. Office of Naval Research, is serving as technical director on its defense team.

Earlier this summer, SparkCognition closed a nearly $33 million series B funding round meant to bolster the company's expansion. The funding round was led by Verizon Ventures, with participation from Boeing's HorizonX investment arm.