Luke Shabro

Experience

1. CEO and Founder

   Wayfinder Strategies

   Sep 2025 — Present · Chesapeake, VA, US

   Wayfinder Strategies helps defense and dual-use companies navigate the complex Department of Defense (DoD) ecosystem with clarity, confidence, and measurable results. As Founder and CEO, I partner directly with innovators, startups, and small businesses to develop winning strategies that connect their technologies to real mission needs.Through tailored advisory, event preparation, and strategic coaching, I help clients: • Build and execute effective defense engagement strategies that align to operational priorities and acquisition pathways. • Refine their narratives, messaging, and value propositions to resonate with military decision-makers. • Prepare for industry days, technology competitions, and experimentation events with the confidence and insight to win the room. • Identify and target the right DoD stakeholders and opportunities to accelerate growth and maximize ROI.Wayfinder Strategies was founded on one core belief: the best innovations in national security often fail not because of capability gaps, but communication gaps. My mission is to close that gap — helping companies translate innovation into mission impact and business advantage.I draw on more than two decades of experience across defense intelligence, wargaming, and innovation — including roles with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, NATO, Defense Unicorns, and the Southwest Mission Acceleration Center — to guide companies through the realities of defense engagement and help them position for lasting success.At Wayfinder Strategies, I’m not just advising — I’m helping innovators chart the course from first contact to contract.

Education

• Old Dominion University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

  2010 — 2012

• Virginia Tech

  Master's of Arts

  2013 — 2016