Former CISA nominee Sean Plankey named US CEO of defense startup | CyberScoop<\/title> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Former CISA nominee Sean Plankey named US CEO of defense startup\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"UFORCE, a London-based company founded by Ukrainians, is looking to make drones in America.\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup\/\"> <meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CyberScoop\"> <meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/cyberscoop\/\"> <meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-18T04:00:00+00:00\"> <meta property=\"og:image\" 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class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"26.302040816327\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"34.974063400576\">\n<p> UFORCE, a London-based company founded by Ukrainians, is looking to make drones in America. <\/p>\n<p>  <br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/89061\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg 4000w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=505,337 505w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=1012,675 1012w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=1264,843 1264w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1012px) 100vw, 1012px\"><figcaption> Sean Plankey, of Pennsylvania, responds to questioning during Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearings to examine his nomination to be Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, of the Department of Homeland Security, in the Dirksen Senate office building, in Washington, DC, on Wednesday July 24, 2025. (Mattie Neretin\/CNP\/Sipa USA) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"17.70578994614\"><body readability=\"38.278991596639\"><\/p>\n<p>Sean Plankey, most recently the nominee for director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, is joining defense technology company UFORCE as its U.S. chief executive officer.<\/p>\n<p>The London-based company created out of nine Ukrainian-based firms announced Plankey\u2019s move Monday less than a month after he <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cisa-director-pick-sean-plankey-withdraws-his-nomination\/\">withdrew his nomination<\/a> amid difficulties overcoming objections from senators who had placed a hold on it.<\/p>\n<p>Plankey\u2019s a cyber veteran of the first Trump administration but also had been serving as senior adviser on the Coast Guard at the Homeland Security Department, retiring from the Coast Guard this year.<\/p>\n<p>UFORCE makes combat drones for air, land and sea and plans to have its first U.S.-made unmanned surface vessels hitting the water by this summer. The startup reportedly brought its valuation to <a href=\"https:\/\/united24media.com\/latest-news\/uforce-hits-1b-valuation-becoming-ukraines-first-defense-tech-unicorn-16538\">$1 billion<\/a> earlier this year.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cThe United States and its allies are looking for defense technology partners that can move<\/p>\n<p>quickly, innovate continuously and deliver systems already proven across theaters of<\/p>\n<p>combat,\u201d Plankey said in a statement. \u201cUFORCE is uniquely positioned to meet that demand and we will do that by manufacturing these capabilities in America.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Said Oleg Rogynskyy, co-founder and CEO of UFORCE: \u201cSean\u2019s decision to join UFORCE reflects the strength of our platform and the growing recognition that the future of autonomous defense will be shaped by companies able to combine real combat validation with scalable Western deployment,\u201d <\/p>\n<p>CISA has gone without a permanent director for the entirety of the second Trump administration, and the president has yet to put forward a nominee for the position since Plankey\u2019s withdrawal last month. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin took over as DHS secretary in late March.<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"7.7216117216117\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Tim Starks\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-card__details\" readability=\"10.901098901099\">\n<h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Tim Starks<\/h4>\n<p> Tim Starks is senior reporter at CyberScoop. His previous stops include working at The Washington Post, POLITICO and Congressional Quarterly. An Evansville, Ind. native, he’s covered cybersecurity since 2003. Email Tim here: <a href=\"mailto:tim.starks@cyberscoop.com\">tim.starks@cyberscoop.com<\/a>. <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__container\">\n<h2 class=\"popular-stories__title\"> More Scoops <\/h2>\n<div class=\"popular-stories__stories\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__cards\">\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \" readability=\"24.049668874172\">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cisa-director-pick-sean-plankey-withdraws-his-nomination\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"505\" height=\"337\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-2.jpg?resize=505%2C337&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-md size-ratio-16-9-md wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg 4000w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=505,337 505w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=1012,675 1012w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=1264,843 1264w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 505px) 100vw, 505px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Sean Plankey, of Pennsylvania, responds to questioning during Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearings to examine his nomination to be Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, of the Department of Homeland Security, in the Dirksen Senate office building, in Washington, DC, on Wednesday July 24, 2025. (Mattie Neretin\/CNP\/Sipa USA) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\" readability=\"2.7777777777778\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cisa-director-pick-sean-plankey-withdraws-his-nomination\/\"> CISA director pick Sean Plankey withdraws his nomination <\/a> <\/h3>\n<p> Plankey had been waiting for more than a year, prompting the request to withdraw him as the one tapped to lead an agency now in further upheaval. <\/p>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/tim-starkscyberscoop-com\/\"> Tim Starks <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/national-security-ntsc-op-ed-sean-plankey-cisa-confirmed-director\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"252\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-3.jpg?resize=252%2C168&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-sm size-ratio-16-9-sm wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg 4000w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=505,337 505w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=1012,675 1012w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-5.jpg?resize=1264,843 1264w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 252px) 100vw, 252px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Sean Plankey, of Pennsylvania, responds to questioning during Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearings to examine his nomination to be Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, of the Department of Homeland Security, in the Dirksen Senate office building, in Washington, DC, on Wednesday July 24, 2025. (Mattie Neretin\/CNP\/Sipa USA) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/national-security-ntsc-op-ed-sean-plankey-cisa-confirmed-director\/\"> Secretary Mullin must help finish the job: Urge the Senate to confirm Plankey <\/a> <\/h3>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/chris-sullivan\/\"> Chris Sullivan <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cisa-leadership-change-madhu-gottumukkala-nick-andersen\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"252\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-4.jpg?resize=252%2C168&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-sm size-ratio-16-9-sm wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-6.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-6.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-6.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-6.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-6.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-6.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-6.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-6.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-6.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup-6.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 252px) 100vw, 252px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Madhu Gottumukkala, acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, testifies during the DHS oversight hearing in the Cannon House office building on Jan. 21, 2026. (Photo by Heather Diehl\/Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cisa-leadership-change-madhu-gottumukkala-nick-andersen\/\"> Gottumukkala out, Andersen in as acting CISA director <\/a> <\/h3>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/tim-starkscyberscoop-com\/\"> Tim Starks <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<section class=\"latest-podcasts\">\n<h2 class=\"latest-podcasts__title\"> Latest Podcasts\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"top-categories\">\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Government<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 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{"id":8652,"date":"2026-05-17T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=89061"},"modified":"2026-05-17T23:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T04:00:00","slug":"former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2026\/05\/17\/former-cisa-nominee-sean-plankey-named-us-ceo-of-defense-startup\/","title":{"rendered":"Former CISA nominee Sean Plankey named US CEO of defense startup"},"content":{"rendered":"