# Andy Yakulis

> Andy Yakulis is the CEO and co-founder of Vector, a Salt Lake City defense company that combines unmanned systems, tactical integration, training, sustainment and battlefield feedback. A West Point graduate, Army special operations veteran, helicopter airline transport pilot and Stanford Sloan Fellow, he left active duty after 18 years to build a faster route from frontline lessons to American-made capability.

- **Role:** CEO and Co-Founder at Vector
- **Organizations:** Vector, U.S. Army, Army Applications Laboratory, Office of Strategic Capital, Medeloop.ai
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Geospatial Information Science, United States Military Academy at West Point, Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies, U.S. Naval War College, Master of Science in Management, Sloan Fellow, Stanford University Graduate School of Business
- **Known for:** Served 18 years as a U.S. Army officer and special operations commander., Graduated from West Point and earned graduate degrees from the U.S. Naval War College and Stanford Graduate School of Business., Holds an FAA Helicopter Airline Transport Pilot certification and served as a pilot-in-command and air mission commander.

## Career timeline

- **2006** — Graduated from West Point, where he played Division I lacrosse as a four-year varsity letterman, and commissioned as a U.S. Army officer.
- **2006-2024** — Served 18 years as a U.S. Army officer, including special operations command, tactical combat operations and aviation leadership.
- **2021-2023** — Co-founded Medeloop.ai and served as chief operating officer.
- **2021-2022** — Completed the Stanford MSx program as a Sloan Fellow, concentrating on innovation, entrepreneurship and venture capital.
- **2022-2023** — Served as Director, Corporate Ventures at the Army Applications Laboratory.
- **2023-2024** — Held investment and strategic engagement leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Strategic Capital.
- **2024** — Left active duty after 18 years and co-founded Vector.
- **2025** — Moved Vector’s headquarters to the Salt Lake City area and expanded toward vertically integrated defense manufacturing.
- **2025** — Vector closed a $61 million Series A and announced a multi-year contract with U.S. Special Operations Command.
- **2026** — Vector secured a $20 million J.P. Morgan loan to expand its Utah manufacturing capacity, supply chain and inventory.

## Achievements

- Served 18 years as a U.S. Army officer and special operations commander.
- Graduated from West Point and earned graduate degrees from the U.S. Naval War College and Stanford Graduate School of Business.
- Holds an FAA Helicopter Airline Transport Pilot certification and served as a pilot-in-command and air mission commander.
- Co-authored the 2024 Wall Street Journal opinion essay 'Ukraine’s Lessons for the Pentagon' with retired General David Petraeus.
- Co-founded Vector and led it through a $61 million Series A and a subsequent $20 million manufacturing loan.
- Played Division I lacrosse at West Point as a four-year varsity letterman.

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — Marked 20 years since his West Point graduation and reflected publicly on leaving the Army after 18 years to start Vector.
- **2026-03** — Vector secured a $20 million loan from J.P. Morgan to expand domestic manufacturing capacity, facilities, supply chains and inventory in Utah.
- **2026-02** — Appeared on the Mission Matters podcast to discuss American drone production, service contracts, operational funding and lessons from Ukraine and Israel.
- **2025-12** — Discussed Vector’s service-contract model, rotational presence in operational theaters and contractor-maintained stockpile concept on the DIB Innovators podcast.
- **2025-09** — Vector announced a $61 million Series A and described its integrated 'modern warfare as a service' model to Axios.

## Links

- Website: https://www.tfvector.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyyakulis

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/andy-yakulis
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-27