The first half of 2024 has brought significant change and opportunity to the Technology Advancement Center (TAC). Following TAC’s recent appointments of a new CIO, CTO, and Senior Advisor, expansion of its Board of Directors, and establishment of an Advisory Board, TAC continues to strengthen its leadership lineup once again.
We are excited to welcome two new additions to the management team: Yonald Chery as Technical Director, and Francis Knott as Vice President Business Development.
Chery is a seasoned high-tech entrepreneur, technologist, investor, and mentor in both the government and private sectors. Most recently, Chery served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Core One. Previously, he was CTO at DataTribe. Prior to these roles, Chery tackled complex challenges at the intersection of technology, innovation, and mission to advance the safety and security of the nation as a Technical Director at the U.S. Department of Defense. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and master’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). At TAC, Chery will lead initiatives to identify and promote small businesses with cybersecurity, AI, and other novel advanced technical capabilities for use by our various government partners.
Francis Knott brings over twenty years of experience in the technology industry as an accomplished entrepreneur and business development professional. He has a proven track record of driving company growth and has supported multiple companies through successful acquisitions and IPOs. Most recently, Knott served as Vice President of Business Development at Archon Secure (a CACI company), where he identified and cultivated new business opportunities within the government sector. Prior, he was Executive Vice President at Attila Security, and Vice President Business Development at Silent Circle. In his role at TAC, Knott will be instrumental in managing strategic partnerships, overseeing program development, corporate strategy, and strengthening TAC’s ecosystem
“Both Yonald and Francis bring to TAC valuable leadership experience across the technology sector that will bolster our ability to generate new and exciting opportunities for small businesses and future technology leaders to reach government audiences,” said Gregg Smith, CEO of TAC. “Their appointments mark another significant step in our commitment to growth and expansion of business and to foster innovation that will contribute to advancing our nation’s cybersecurity capabilities.”
TAC is committed to serving the innovators that will ultimately help meet the technology needs of the U.S. government. At the nonprofit’s collaboration facilities, TheLink and DiscoveryX, TAC provides the cybersecurity community at large a central hub to innovate, learn, and get to know one another. Students and aspiring professionals alike have been offered the opportunity to delve into cybersecurity through dedicated training sessions and immersive educational experiences. Industry experts have stopped by the facilities to participate in panels and share insights on a range of high-tech and cybersecurity topics. Meanwhile, social events have successfully gathered the cybersecurity community for networking and learning.
If you’d like to stay up to date on TAC’s upcoming events, please visit: https://thetac.tech/tac-events/.
For more information about TAC, including details about the partnership ecosystem and opportunities to engage with industry leaders, please visit https://thetac.tech/.