Edward H. Ghafari

Dr. Edward H. Ghafari is a Technology Executive, AI Expert, and Systems Engineering Authority with over 35 years of leadership experience across tech startups, Fortune 500 companies, military, and federal programs. He currently serves as the Founder, President, and CEO of iCES Corporation, an AI-first engineering firm specializing in AI-driven cybersecurity, agentic AI, and complex-systems solutions for federal agencies and commercial enterprises. In this capacity, he provides AI governance and strategy to international bodies like the World Bank and leads AI transformation for various global businesses. Additionally, Dr. Ghafari is an Adjunct Professor and AI Research Engineer at George Washington University, where he has conducted research in AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity.

Throughout his career, Dr. Ghafari has held several high-level leadership positions, including serving as the Executive Director for the Department of Defense (DoD) at SRA International, where he managed hundreds of millions in business for agencies such as DARPA, DHS, and the DOJ. He was the Chief Operating Officer of CoolLogic Inc., a venture-backed startup focused on embedded Linux, and served as the Director of Product Development at Efficient Networks, where he helped lead the company through a successful IPO and a $1.1 billion acquisition by Siemens AG. Earlier in his career, at Bell Atlantic (now Verizon), he launched the first DSL network in the U.S. and received three patents for his foundational work in internet technologies.

Dr. Ghafari holds a Doctorate in Engineering with an emphasis on Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, as well as an M.S. in Information Systems and Systems Engineering from George Washington University. He earned his B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Lawrence Institute of Technology. His executive education includes the Global CEO Program at UC Berkeley’s HAAS School of Business, Corporate Governance at UPENN Wharton, AI Strategy and Leadership from MIT Sloan, and Advanced AI and Quantum Computing from MIT CSAIL. Beyond his professional roles, he serves on the George Washington University (SEAS) National Advisory Council and the Center for Advanced Defense Studies.