Brian Hendrickson

Independent Director & Strategic Advisor, EMEA

Brian Hendrickson is a technology executive, independent director and strategic advisor whose career has spanned national security, emerging technology, international business and venture-backed companies. He currently serves as Managing Director, EMEA for SANS Institute, where he has led the strategy, operations and transformation of its business across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He also serves as an independent director of Rivet Industries and Union Technologies and as an advisor to 8VC.

Hendrickson’s career has moved between military service and the commercial technology sector. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he began his Navy career as a surface warfare officer before transferring to Naval Special Warfare and serving as a Navy SEAL. He left active duty in the 1990s to attend Harvard Business School and subsequently worked in biotechnology and technology startups, including a software services company that completed an IPO in 1999.

Following the September 11 attacks, Hendrickson returned to active duty in early 2002, beginning a second chapter of military service that culminated in his retirement in 2019 as a Rear Admiral. His senior assignments included Deputy Commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, Assistant Vice Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, and Director at U.S. Southern Command. His combination of military and commercial experience led to his selection as the Founding Military Director of the Defense Innovation Unit, where he helped establish the Department of Defense organization created to connect national security challenges with commercial technology and venture capital.

Following his military retirement, Hendrickson led defense and public-sector activities at Magic Leap, a pioneer in augmented reality and spatial computing. He continues to work at the intersection of emerging technology and national security through his board roles, advisory work and investments.

Hendrickson is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the Board of Advisors of the Navy SEAL Foundation. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy.