- Windward has named retired Vice Adm. Bob Sharp as chief maritime intelligence officer
- Sharp previously served as NGA director and ONI commander
- The 34-year Navy veteran will bring intelligence leadership experience spanning naval, special operations and maritime missions
Windward, a Maritime AI company, has appointed retired U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Robert “Bob” Sharp as chief maritime intelligence officer.
Take part in discussions about maritime intelligence and emerging technologies at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Navy Summit, where Navy leaders, defense officials and industry executives will examine priorities shaping the future of naval operations. Register now for the Aug. 27 event.
What Will Bob Sharp Do at Windward?
The company said Wednesday that Sharp, a two-time Wash100 Award recipient, will work directly with CEO and co-founder Ami Daniel to guide its intelligence strategy and expand engagement with global clients in the government, defense, national security and commercial sectors.
Daniel said Sharp’s experience leading major intelligence organizations will support Windward’s efforts to advance its Maritime AI capabilities for customers with demanding operational requirements.
“Bob Sharp is one of the most respected figures in maritime and national security intelligence in the world, and we are proud to welcome him as Chief Maritime Intelligence Officer for Windward,” said Daniel.
Who Is Bob Sharp?
Sharp is a veteran intelligence officer who served in the Navy for 34 years. He was the director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency from 2019 to 2022, overseeing more than 14,000 personnel at 120 locations worldwide. He also served as commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence and director of the National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office, two organizations responsible for supporting U.S. maritime intelligence missions.
His previous leadership roles include director of intelligence at U.S. Special Operations Command and as commanding officer of the Joint Intelligence Center under U.S. Central Command.
Sharp joins Windward as the company advances a series of maritime intelligence initiatives. Windward recently partnered with Vantor to combine AI analytics and satellite-based monitoring for continuous vessel tracking. It has also collaborated with HawkEye 360 to combine radio frequency geolocation data with the Windward maritime analytics platform to enhance maritime domain awareness and monitoring capabilities.
