With over two decades of distinguished defence-related service, Patrick Shepherd joined Europe’s leading robotics and autonomous systems developer Milrem Robotics as Chief Sales Officer.
Shepherd has held diverse roles within the defence industry, culminating in his most recent position as the North American Customer Account Lead at VTT Technical Research Center of Finland.
His professional journey also includes a 16-year tenure at Lockheed Martin, where he served in various roles including Integration and Test Manager, Certified Program Manager, and Strategy and Business Development Manager for the Nordics.
“During this time, I spearheaded the development of numerous vehicles for both domestic and international armed forces. My work earned me a letter of commendation from the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps for exceptional Program Management skills,” Shepherd said.
Furthermore, Shepherd’s background encompasses a noteworthy period of service in the United States Army as an Artillery Officer in the 172nd Stryker Brigade in Fort Wainwright Alaska, during which he embarked on a 16-month deployment to Iraq, receiving a Bronze Star in recognition of his contributions.
“The global ground robotics market will grow significantly in the coming years and Milrem Robotics is expanding its global footprint. Our systems have already been delivered to 16 countries, but many more are looking for robotic systems. Milrem continues to grow the team with strong talents and industry leaders in order to be the leader in the robotics market,” said Kuldar Väärsi, founder and CEO of Milrem Robotics. “Patrick substantially increases the capabilities of our commercial team with excellent experience and knowledge of the customers and the industry. He, as our new CSO, will ensure that we know what our customers expect and that we provide the best solutions to solve their capability needs with robotics,” Väärsi added.
“It is with great enthusiasm that I embrace the opportunity to join Milrem Robotics as Chief Sales Officer. The company stands at the forefront of innovation in robotic vehicles and autonomous solutions, poised to revolutionize future combat operations and reduce soldiers’ exposure to the dangers of close combat, IEDs and artillery,” Shepherd said. “Drawing from the insights gained during my time in Iraq, I am committed to guiding our team and to providing paramount value to our clientele and their servicemen. Our duty is to ensure they have access to the most superior, high-performance machinery available on the market, all while maintaining an affordable price point.”
Milrem Robotics is the leading European robotics and autonomous systems developer and systems integrator, with more than 200 talented specialists working in offices in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the US. The company is known for their THeMIS and Multiscope UGVs, the Type-X Robotic Combat Vehicle and the MIFIK autonomy kit.