Ben FitzGerald has been selected to assume the CEO role at Rebellion Defense, a position currently held by Interim CEO Barry Sowerwine.
FitzGerald, who was unanimously endorsed by the board and CEO search committee, will begin his new responsibilities effective Jan. 1, 2024, Rebellion Defense announced from its Washington, D.C. headquarters on Monday.
“Ben is a seasoned and thoughtful leader who has dedicated his professional life to advancing national security and protecting democracy,” said Sowerwine.
FitzGerald previously served as executive chair of Rebellion’s board, and Sowerine said his “proven leadership” in the role as well as his strong understanding of the organization’s people and offerings and knowledge of the defense industry “uniquely position him” to drive company growth.
Prior to joining Rebellion, FitzGerald spent more than two decades serving in positions within the U.S. Department of Defense, Congress and other industry organizations. His areas of expertise include business development, fundraising and strategic vision as well as mentoring startups.
During his time at the DOD, FitzGerald was executive director of strategy, data and design in the department’s Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, where he oversaw a major defense acquisition reorganization initiative. Earlier, he served as a professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
FitzGerald has also held roles at the Center for a New American Security, Noetic’s North American business arm, IBM and Unisys.
He began investing in Rebellion in 2019, and in May 2023, he was appointed as executive chair of the company’s board. Rebellion expects his relationship with the company’s leadership and employees to enable a smooth CEO transition.
“I’ve seen firsthand how Rebellion software empowers our nation’s defense capabilities. I’m excited to build on this foundation and continue working alongside our incredible team to drive our vision forward,” FitzGerald said.
