Michael Dunaway

Michael Dunaway is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the CIRRUS Group, a public benefit Limited Liability Company dedicated to aiding communities in improving city services, sustainability, and overall quality of life through the integration of digital technologies.

From 2001-2005, Dunaway led the smart cities program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and currently serves as a Research Associate in digital twin applications within the Internet of Things Infrastructure Group at NIST. Previously, he led research centers in advanced technologies and smart cities at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Louisiana, where he served concurrently as Director of the Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center. Previous positions included Director for Preparedness and Resilience Programs at the National Headquarters of the American Red Cross; Chief for Risk Management and lead for the Community Resilience program in the Science & Technology Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and as a project manager in the Warfighter Protection Division of the Office of Naval Research.

A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, retiring from active duty at the rank of Captain. He holds a Master of Arts from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a PhD (systems engineering) from George Washington University.