Dr. Bryan Pendleton is an entrepreneur and executive leader in data, AI, technology, information sharing, and intelligence with over 26 years of experience driving enterprise transformation and innovation across DHS and DoD. He is well-known for his ability to expertly navigate federal bureaucracies and deliver game-changing outcomes. As he completes his final months of service at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) prior to federal retirement, Dr. Pendleton launched FireSite Solutions LLC to being supporting public and private sector clients on initiatives that drive innovation, improve performance, and deliver tangible results.

As the Founder and CEO of FireSite Solutions LLC, Pendleton brings a track record of successfully applying his rare combination of technical acumen, multi-domain intelligence expertise, operational excellence specialization, change management mastery, and federal contract execution to solve extraordinarily complex challenges where others have failed on previous attempts or he was told it was impossible.

In his current role as Senior Technical Advisor and prior roles Mission Solutions Director (A),  Chief Data Officer, Senior Official for AI and founder of the Homeland Identities, Targeting, and Exploitation Center, he led high-impact transformation efforts spanning IT resource optimization, enterprise data modernization, artificial intelligence, secure cloud-native software delivery, Agile and DevOps adoption, and national-level information sharing. His leadership in spearheading cutting-edge, cloud-native, and AI-enabled technologies directly enabled mission-critical functions such as screening, vetting, and threat identification, delivering measurable operational advantages to DHS in a dynamic and rapidly evolving threat environment.

A certified change management expert and retired Army intelligence professional, Dr. Pendleton is widely respected for his ability to align strategy with measurable impact. At DHS, he became known for preserving key service contracts even amid enterprise-wide efficiency reviews by clearly articulating their mission value and repositioning delivery for operational relevance.

His leadership has shaped programs across the Defense Intelligence Agency, DHS, and Capitol Hill, where he successfully secured congressional support and funding for emerging national security initiatives. A recognized authority on aligning acquisition strategies with mission needs, Dr. Pendleton is trusted by senior executives to realign underperforming efforts, drive cross-functional transformation, and implement future-ready solutions at scale.

Pendleton holds a Doctorate in Business Administration (Quality Systems Management), an MBA, a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College, and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Management. He is a Harvard Senior Executive Fellow, a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, a Prosci-certified Change Management Professional, a Federal Executive Institute graduate, and a Carnegie Mellon certified Chief Data Officer (CDataO) earning Best-of-Cohort honors. His distinctions include the NWC Excellence in Writing Award and the 2021 LTG Patrick Hughes Award for Leadership from the National Military Intelligence Foundation, among many other military and civilian honors.

At FireSite Solutions, he leads a company grounded in mission-driven execution, trusted delivery, and strategic innovation—helping clients across sectors simplify complexity, optimize performance, and accelerate outcomes.