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Saildrone is excited to announce the addition of Matt Woody as Director of Defense and Intelligence Sales. Woody has spent the past 15 years helping start-ups and other young businesses grow and operate profitability in the defense sector. Prior to joining Saildrone, he led the successful market entry of a UK-based professional services firm building a large book of business within the Department of Defense, NATO, and other US and international government agencies. As the Senior Vice President of Business Development, he oversaw the go-to-market strategy for identifying, capturing, and executing new business opportunities.
“I’m passionate about ensuring our oceans remain free, peaceful, and rooted in a rules-based order. The maritime domain is critical to our economy, our national security, and our way of life. Working in this sector with an innovative and mission-proven organization like Saildrone is very inspiring,” said Woody.
Woody began his commercial career at Mission Essential, LLC, a small business whose revenue rose rapidly when the company was awarded the Department of Defense Language Interpretation and Translation Enterprise (DLITE) contract—a multibillion-dollar program providing cleared linguists and analysts around the world in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). That rapid growth allowed Woody a hands-on opportunity to support and learn from the demands of an expanding organization. He brings those lessons learned to Saildrone.
Based out of Saildrone’s Washington, DC, office, Woody will leverage his experience and relationships to grow Saildrone’s maritime domain awareness (MDA) and intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) customer base. Throughout his career, he has worked around the world, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the horn of Africa, in support of US national security missions. He has won, captured, and helped execute hundreds of programs, realizing over $10 billion in awarded value.
“With a deep understanding of the Defense and Intelligence sector—both US and internationally—and vast experience growing early-stage services businesses, Matt is a valuable asset to Saildrone’s sales team as we work to position the company as a market leader in maritime security services and analytics,” said Dennis Jones, VP Sales.
Woody holds an MBA from Hult International Business School in London and a BA in foreign affairs and economics from Miami University.
