Mike Madsen is the Deputy Director and Director of Strategic Engagement at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). In this position, he manages strategic relationships with senior Defense officials and commercial technology and venture leaders. Before joining DIU, Mike was the Executive Director for the Section 809 Congressional Advisory Panel on Streamlining Acquisition. The Panel provided the intellectual underpinnings for acquisition reform language in defense authorization statutes. Prior to this, Mike served for 22 years in the U.S. Air Force where he led at the group and squadron levels and is a decorated combat pilot. Mike retired from the Air Force while he was the Senior Air Force Advisor to the Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Mike also served as Division Chief in Legislative Liaison in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, directly advising the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force on issues before the congressional defense committees. He holds a degree in Meteorology from the University of Nebraska and holds master’s degrees in international relations, national security strategy, and national security studies. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.