U.K.-based autonomous maritime defense company Kraken Technology Group has appointed Justin Litko as CEO of the company's United States division, Kraken Technology U.S.
Litko is a retired U.S. Army special forces warrant office. After his career in the Army, Litko moved into the defense technology field, most recently serving as vice president of the special operations solutions division of BlueHalo.
"As CEO of Kraken U.S., Justin will turbocharge Kraken's rapidly expanding presence in America," said Mal Crease, CEO and founder of Kraken Technology Group. "Justin is an exceptional addition to the company and will lead Kraken through its next stage of growth in delivering reliable and effective autonomous systems for the U.S. in the U.S."
The appointment of Litko comes on the heels of Kraken's recent Series B funding round of $175 million and billion-dollar valuation. The company has also partnered with Anduril Industries to develop and deliver high-performance, integrated capabilities for unmanned vessels in the United States. Litko will oversee the company's production in the United States and its work with the U.S. Special Operations Command.
"Kraken has proven its technology across the globe," Litko said. "I am delighted to be joining Kraken U.S. to accelerate its delivery of American-made unmanned vessels in support of our military and deploy mission-ready autonomy on the water at the speed the threat demands."
