Senior Government Advisor to a US Intelligence Agency, and is also Senior Director, Emerging Technology at VMware Research. Robert’s IT Career has been focused on technology innovation in government. Robert has done everything from architecting shipboard computing environments for the US Navy, to defining and executing the investment strategy for the US Intelligence Community in Big Data and Analytics at In-Q-Tel. His unique career has led to close relationships among technical entrepreneurs, venture capital investors, and senior leaders across the government. Robert feels passionate and energized when he can bring these together to create meaningful velocity in critical government capabilities. IT is not Robert’s first career. He started his professional life as an opera singer. As a former musician in IT, Robert is a strong believer in the value of alternative disciplines in delivering innovative and ground-breaking approaches to complex problems. Mr. Ames is an active career mentor and an avid guitarist and singer in his spare time.

Is a Navy and Air Force veteran, DoD-certified Executive Program Manager (PMP/PgMP-equivalent) with Top Secret/SCI clearance, and joined VMware after co-founding the DoD’s premiere software startup, Kessel Run, and growing it to 1,300 members while serving as the Deputy Commander, AFLCMC Detachment 12. His diverse background includes Joint, operational, and Navy nuclear power plant engineering, maintenance and operations coupled with PM experience in all acquisition phases; particularly IT, software intensive systems, C4ISR, and satellite development and sustainment. Jeremiah’s passion, and what drew him to the VMware team, is driving customer value through entrepreneurial management, agile development methodologies and innovation. He drives digital transformation throughout the Government, and the industrial base that supports it, through engendering acquisition management reform, modern engineering practices and technologies, and a generative culture.