# Michael Hunter

> Michael Hunter is the co-founder and CEO of Spear AI, a Washington, D.C. defense technology company turning the ocean's underwater noise into usable intelligence. A former Navy intelligence analyst who deployed to Baghdad with SEAL Team Two and later led AI projects inside the Pentagon's Project Maven, Hunter started Spear AI in 2021 with retired submarine commander John McGunnigle. The company builds software, modular sensors, and engineering services that help the U.S. Navy and commercial partners label and make sense of maritime acoustic data at the edge.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at Spear AI
- **Organizations:** Spear AI, Office of Naval Intelligence, U.S. Navy, Project Maven (CDAO)
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BA, History & International Relations, Georgetown University, MA, National Security, Georgetown University
- **Known for:** Co-founded Spear AI (2021), a maritime defense AI company headquartered in Washington, D.C., Led AI integration work on the Pentagon's Project Maven, Built Spear AI's Horizon platform for managing and labeling maritime acoustic data

## Career timeline

- **early career** — Navy intelligence analyst and human intelligence specialist with the Office of Naval Intelligence's Trident office
- **deployment** — Deployed to Baghdad with SEAL Team Two as a targeting officer
- **intelligence** — Supported the Defense Intelligence Agency's field operations and Joint Special Operations Command
- **2018** — Served as a Navy projects lead on the Pentagon's Project Maven, driving AI integration for defense
- **2021** — Co-founded Spear AI with John McGunnigle; became CEO
- **2025** — Closed Spear AI's seed funding round co-led by Scare the Bear Capital and Cortical Ventures

## Achievements

- Co-founded Spear AI (2021), a maritime defense AI company headquartered in Washington, D.C.
- Led AI integration work on the Pentagon's Project Maven
- Built Spear AI's Horizon platform for managing and labeling maritime acoustic data
- Grew Spear AI to roughly 67 employees with offices in Washington D.C., Falmouth MA, and Groton CT
- Closed a seed funding round in 2025 co-led by Scare the Bear Capital and Cortical Ventures

## Latest updates

- **2025-07** — Spear AI closed its seed funding round co-led by Scare the Bear Capital and Cortical Ventures to accelerate maritime AI solutions and expand technical services.

## Links

- Website: https://www.spear.ai
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikehunter45/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/michael-hunter
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-22