About Primer
Primer accelerates human understanding, turning unlimited amounts of data into actionable intelligence you can use to make decisions faster and with more confidence. Our technology enables leaders, researchers, operators and analysts in the world’s most critical organizations to better understand shifting threats and opportunities with the help of AI.
Leadership
Our team brings a blend of deep technological expertise, lived operational experience, and a proven track record scaling up companies.
Executive team
Sean Moriarty
Chief Executive Officer
Sean brings three decades of executive leadership experience to Primer from various B2B and B2C technology businesses, from consumer internet and e-commerce to cloud computing and enterprise platforms. He was previously CEO of Leaf Group, CEO of Ticketmaster, Chairman of Metacloud (acquired by Cisco), and the Co-Chairman of the Pat Tillman Foundation. He currently serves as the lead independent director at Eventbrite (NYSE: EB) and on the board of directors of Black Rifle Coffee Company (NYSE:BRCC). Actively involved in non-profit work, Sean serves as an Ambassador to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and on the board of directors of Coach Art, an organization that provides coaching and lessons in the arts and athletics to children living with chronic illness and their siblings.
Sean Moriarty
Chief Executive Officer
Leonard Law
Chief Product Officer
Leonard brings extensive experience leading enterprise B2B and B2C product teams as Primer’s Chief Product Officer. Prior to joining Primer, he held roles leading developer products at Coinbase, heading the Financial Services vertical at Google Cloud, and leading technology as the CIO/CTO at W. P. Carey. Leonard holds Bachelors degrees in Computer Science and Economics from Yale, a Masters in Computer Science with a concentration in AI from Yale, and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Leonard Law
Chief Product Officer
Matthew Macnak
Chief Technology Officer
Matthew started out his career as a Submarine Officer where he completed 6 Strategic Deterrent Patrols onboard the USS ALASKA GOLD and served his final tour on OPNAV N3/N5 staff. After separating from active duty, Matthew worked in the defense industry leading engineering teams in the design, testing, and deployment of C4ISR systems for DHS and the US Army. Most recently, Matt led teams at DataRobot, AWS, and Instabase where he helped government agencies adopt AI/ML technologies to enhance mission outcomes. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University, a Master of Science degree from Johns Hopkins University, a Masters in Business Administration from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, and is also a graduate of the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Power School.
Matthew Macnak
Chief Technology Officer
Edgar Ejercito
Chief Financial Office
Edgar brings extensive financial experience at both public and private technology companies as Primer’s Chief Financial Officer. He was previously the Vice President of Finance at Everlaw, where he built the accounting, FP&A, treasury, investor relations, and procurement functions. Prior to that, Edgar worked in both FP&A and investor relations at Guidewire. Pre-Finance, Edgar was a nuclear submarine officer in the US Navy and a management consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton. Edgar holds two degrees from Northwestern University: a BSE in Materials Science Engineering and an MBA from The Kellogg School of Management, where he was an F.C. Austin Scholar. He currently serves as a board member of the Friends of Potrero Hill Nursery School.
Edgar Ejercito
Chief Financial Office
Adam Wergeles
EVP and General Counsel
Adam Wergeles is an experienced legal and business executive with over three decades of experience guiding technology and media companies through complex legal landscapes. Currently serving as Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Primer Technologies, an AI/ML firm specializing in decision-ready AI for the defense and intelligence sector, he leads the company's legal and HR departments, leveraging his extensive background in managing legal affairs for both public and venture-backed enterprises. Prior to his role at Primer, Wergeles held significant positions including Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel at Leaf Group Ltd., a public company, where he oversaw legal, communications and M&A for a diverse portfolio of media and e-commerce brands. He then shepherded the sale of Leaf Group to Graham Holdings in 2021. His career also encompasses roles such as Executive Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at Serviz, Inc., and Chief Legal Officer at ReachLocal, where he played a pivotal role in the company's IPO and international expansion. Wergeles holds a Bachelor of Arts from Hamilton College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.
Adam Wergeles
EVP and General Counsel
Toni Hipp
EVP, Head of Government Affairs and Chief of Staff to the CEO
Toni Hipp, the Head of Government Affairs and Chief of Staff to Primer’s CEO, brings over 15 years of experience in government and industry, culminating in a unique blend of strategic policy development, research analysis, and multi-modal communication skills. During her career at the Central Intelligence Agency, Deloitte, and Google she excelled in simplifying complex problems to enhance leadership decision-making, providing in-person briefings to top officials including the President of the United States, senior military and Congressional leaders, as well as C-suite executives. Additionally, her commitment to service led her to conduct a war zone tour in the Middle East. Toni holds a MS from Carnegie Mellon University and a BA from Yale University.
Toni Hipp
EVP, Head of Government Affairs and Chief of Staff to the CEO
Robert Matney
Chief Evangelist
Robert Matney, Chief Evangelist brings 24 years of B2B and B2C technology leadership. Prior to joining Primer, he led Public Sector, Strategic Partnerships, and R&D projects at Yonder, served as COO of software development agency Polycot, was a Principal at several consulting agencies, and led Communications for Amicus, a now-acquired financial services regulatory compliance technology firm. He started his technology career at Apple Inc. Robert studied Philosophy and Literature at The University of Texas at Austin.
Robert Matney
Chief Evangelist
Federal Advisory Board
Bob Ashley
Ret. Lieutenant General, U.S. Army | Former Director, Defense Intelligence Agency
Bob Ashley is a retired Army lieutenant general with thirty-six years of leadership, operational, and combat experience in intelligence, global security, and risk management. In his last position he served as the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency responsible to the Secretary of Defense for global security and risk management. He also served as the senior intelligence officer in the Army responsible to the Secretary of the Army for security and intelligence systems development for an Army intelligence force of over sixty thousand soldiers. As the Commandant for the Army’s Intelligence Center and School, he helped train over ten thousand soldiers annually in multiple job specialties including cyber, counter-intelligence, human intelligence, analysis, open source intelligence and development of enterprise intelligence collection systems. He also has extensive combat experience excelling in high pressure environments as a commander and senior intelligence officer for the Joint Special Operations Command, Central Command, and International Security and Assistance Forces Afghanistan. In all these assignments, Bob was integral in leader development and has served as an instructor for the Defense Department's Capstone Program training new general and flag officers as well as an instructor at the Defense Department's Pinnacle Course training three-star flag and general officers in preparation for key leadership positions. Since leaving the Army in 2020, he has focused on national security issues supporting several advisory boards.
Bob Ashley
Ret. Lieutenant General, U.S. Army | Former Director, Defense Intelligence Agency
Sue Gordon
Former Principal Deputy Director, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Sue most recently served as the fifth Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, where she was a key advisor to the President and National Security Council and was central to driving innovation and partnerships with the commercial sector across the 17-member intelligence community. Previously, Sue served as the Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), providing leadership to the agency, managing the National System of Geospatial Intelligence, and driving NGA’s transformation to meet the modern technological needs required to maintain the nation’s global position. Prior to joining the NGA, she held Senior Executive positions for more than 27 years with the Central Intelligence Agency. In addition to her vast experience working across national security and intelligence, Sue also brings perspective and technological expertise to Primer’s commercial verticals in finance, retail, and the life sciences. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Duke University.
Sue Gordon
Former Principal Deputy Director, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Collin Green
Ret. Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy | Former Deputy Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
Collin brings 38 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Navy, serving as Deputy Commander of USSOCOM for his final assignment. A 1986 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Class 149 in 1988, Collin embarked on a career defined by pivotal roles and critical missions that spanned the globe, including operations in Europe, Africa, and Asia. His command tours include SEAL Team 3, where he deployed as commander, Naval Special Warfare Task Group - Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Naval Special Warfare Unit 3; Naval Special Warfare Group 1, U.S. Special Operations Command South, and Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command.
Collin Green
Ret. Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy | Former Deputy Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
Wayne McCool
Former Associate Deputy Director for Analysis, Central Intelligence Agency
Wayne McCool is a seasoned national security and intelligence leader with over 30 years of experience across the US Intelligence Community and the US Navy leading global intelligence and technology programs. He has consistently driven strategic decision making, foreign intelligence missions, and technology advancements and currently advises a range of companies working at the intersection of national security and technology. His last government assignment for nearly five years was as the Associate Deputy Director of CIA for Analysis (ADDA), where he ensured the quality of global intelligence, the professional development of several thousand officers, and the innovation of technology, tools, and capabilities for analysis and operations. He is known as a change agent, leading a several year program to digitally transform the analysis directorate, change culture on data analysis, and develop capabilities on emerging technologies.
Wayne McCool
Former Associate Deputy Director for Analysis, Central Intelligence Agency
Charlie Moore
Ret. Lieutenant General, U.S. Air Force | Former Deputy Commander, U.S. Cyber Command
Charlie Moore is a highly decorated retired Lieutenant General of the United States Air Force who is recognized as one of the most influential and impactful senior cyber leaders and aviators within the United States Military. Prior to his retirement, after 33 years of service, he served as the Deputy Commander, United States Cyber Command, where he and the Commander answered directly to the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense as the agents. responsible for the planning and execution of global cyberspace operations, activities and missions. He held a variety of additional assignments including command of two Fighter Wings, a combat Operations Group and a fighter squadron. Lt General Moore has over 3000 hours of flight time in 13 different aircraft and over 640 hours of combat time in the F-16. His extensive leadership, across the spectrum of competition/conflict, includes the cyber defense of the 2018/2020 U.S. elections, the response to the Solar Winds/Colonial Pipeline and Log4j compromises, DoD’s information/cyber support to Ukraine and multiple other international crises. Additionally, he participated in Operations Southern Watch, Joint Forge, Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Enduring Freedom. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Air Force Academy, a Master’s of Human Resource Management from Troy State University and a Master’s of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University. Additionally, he was a National Defense Fellow at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs Harvard University. Charlie currently serves as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Vanderbilt University and as an Executive Advisor/Consultant on cyber and national defense related issues.
Charlie Moore
Ret. Lieutenant General, U.S. Air Force | Former Deputy Commander, U.S. Cyber Command
Daniel Simpson
Ret. Major General, U.S. Air Force | Former Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), U.S. Air Force
Daniel brings 37 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Air Force and served as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. He was responsible to the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force for policy formulation, planning, evaluation, oversight and leadership of Air Force ISR capabilities; force development of over 73,000 ISR and cyber operations Total Force Airmen; management of a $14 billion-dollar yearly budget portfolio and the integration of Air Force ISR planning with the national intelligence community. He also served as the National Intelligence Manager for Aviation and as the Executive Director, National Aviation Intelligence Integration Office under the auspices of the Director of National Intelligence.
Daniel Simpson
Ret. Major General, U.S. Air Force | Former Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), U.S. Air Force
Theodore (Ted) J. Singer
Former Assistant Director, Near East Mission Center, Central Intelligence Agency
Over a 35-year Federal career, Theodore (Ted) J. Singer excelled in positions of increasing responsibility and U.S. national security scope. As a five-time CIA Chief of Station, Head of CIA’s Middle East Operations, and Senior Intelligence Service officer, he earned national recognition for crisis management and corporate leadership, including strategic planning, stewardship of significant personnel and financial resources, and operational control on fast-moving, vital intelligence programs, often under direct Presidential oversight. He developed deep regional acumen across the Middle East and Europe, serving 11 overseas tours in both politically charged locations and unstable environments, and established a sensitive CIA office charged with mitigating counterintelligence and supply chain risks to the U.S. Intelligence Community. Retired as of 2023, Mr. Singer currently works as a principal, consultant, and advisor to private and public sector clients on geopolitics and risk. He is a Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and writes and speaks often on Middle East and intelligence subjects. Prior to CIA, Mr. Singer worked as a management consultant at Price Waterhouse (1986–88). He is a recipient of the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal (2023), the Director of Central Intelligence Agency’s Award (2019), and the Director of National Intelligence’s Award for Leadership (2016). Mr. Singer holds a B.S. in International Politics from Georgetown University (1986) and a Certificate in Arabic Language from Middlebury College (1990), and has proficiency in Arabic, French, and Turkish.
Theodore (Ted) J. Singer
Former Assistant Director, Near East Mission Center, Central Intelligence Agency
Stephen Townsend
Ret. General, U.S. Army | Former Commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)
Steve Townsend served as Combatant Commander of U.S. Africa Command after commanding the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command and XVIII Airborne Corps. With more than 40 years of military experience, he has commanded troops at every echelon from the platoon to corps including two combined joint task forces. Steve served in the Pentagon on the Joint Staff, at U.S. Central Command and at U.S. Pacific Command he was the J-5 strategy and plans officer for China. His combat and operational experience includes Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada), Operation Just Cause (Panama), Operation Uphold Democracy (Haiti), Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq), Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and from 2016-17 he led Operation Inherent Resolve, the multinational effort to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. He is currently a board member and advisor for several privately and publicly held companies.
Stephen Townsend
Ret. General, U.S. Army | Former Commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)
Board members
Sean Moriarty
Chief Executive Officer
Lee Fixel
Founder, Addition
Peter Tague
Managing partner, USIT
Clay Hutmacher
Major General (ret), US Army
Our investors
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Our office locations
San Francisco, CA
Pasadena, CA
Washington D.C.