​Shyam Sankar is the Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Palantir Technologies, where he has played a pivotal role in transforming the company from a Silicon Valley startup into a global leader in software and artificial intelligence. Joining Palantir in 2006 as its 13th employee, he pioneered the role of the Forward Deployed Engineer, shaping the company’s distinctive engineering model . Sankar’s expertise lies in developing and delivering innovative software and AI solutions for both government and private sector clients. He is also a recognized thought leader, frequently contributing to discussions on technology and policy, and has appeared before U.S. congressional committees on cybersecurity and strategic competition . Beyond his work at Palantir, Sankar serves as Chairman of Ginkgo Bioworks and is a trustee at the Hudson Institute. He holds a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Cornell University and an M.S. in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University.