Former CISA Nominee Sean Plankey Joins Defense Startup UFORCE as US CEO

Sean Plankey, who recently withdrew his nomination for CISA Director, has been appointed U.S. CEO of UFORCE, a London-based defense technology company formed from nine Ukrainian firms, CyberScoop reports. Plankey, a veteran of the first Trump administration and former senior advisor for the Coast Guard at the Department of Homeland Security, retired from the Coast Guard this year.

UFORCE specializes in combat drones for air, land, and sea, with plans to launch its first U.S.-made unmanned surface vessels this summer. The company’s valuation reportedly reached $1 billion earlier this year. According to CyberScoop, Plankey stated that UFORCE is uniquely positioned to meet the demand for defense technology partners that innovate quickly and deliver combat-proven systems, with manufacturing capabilities in the U.S.

This move highlights a critical shift in the defense tech landscape: the rapid integration of battle-tested solutions into Western supply chains. With ongoing global conflicts, the demand for agile, proven technology is immense. Plankey’s deep government and cybersecurity background will likely accelerate UFORCE’s ability to navigate complex regulatory and defense procurement environments, bringing these capabilities to market faster.