Telecommunications and defense industry veteran brings strategic expertise to AI-powered defense technology leader
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., September 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – Skylark Labs, a leader in adaptive artificial intelligence for defense and security applications, today announced that John Donovan, former CEO of AT&T Communications and current Board Member of Lockheed Martin, has joined its Defense Advisory Board.
"John's exceptional experience bridging global telecommunications infrastructure, network resilience, and defense innovation positions him perfectly to guide our next phase of growth," said Dr. Amarjot Singh, Founder & CEO of Skylark Labs. "His strategic insights will accelerate our mission to deliver real-time, adaptive AI systems that enhance national security capabilities."
Donovan brings decades of leadership experience across telecommunications and defense sectors:
(August 2017–October 2019)
Led one of the world's largest telecommunications companies through significant digital transformation initiatives
(since October 2021)
Supporting the defense contractor's advanced technology and network-centric warfare strategies
(President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee)
Provided critical guidance on national communications infrastructure resilience
Bringing cybersecurity and network security expertise to the global leader in cybersecurity solutions
Donovan's appointment strengthens an already distinguished advisory board that includes Lt. Gen. Michael S. Groen (Ret.), former U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General and director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center; Dr. Ajay Kumar (Ex Defense Secretary of India); Col. Brad Boyd (Ret.), former U.S. Army Colonel and Director of the Chief of Staff's Coordination Group at JAIC, Stanford Fellow; and Col. Douglas A. Drakeley (Ret.), former U.S. Air Force Reserve Colonel and Director of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), among other senior defense and intelligence leaders with decades of combined experience in national security and emerging technologies.
Skylark Labs has established itself as a trusted defense technology partner across the U.S. and India through multiple successful contracts and deployments. The company's portfolio includes U.S. Air Force and Customs and Border Protection contracts for counter-drone capabilities, partnerships with defense contractors including CACI, and deployments with Indian Navy, Air Force, and Army installations. Commercial partnerships span global enterprises including Mercedes-Benz, Coca-Cola, and NEC, alongside major event security deployments and smart city initiatives.
The company's edge-based AI platforms—including the Kepler multi-sensor fusion system, ARIES counter-drone technology, and Scout Tower surveillance systems—deliver autonomous decision-making capabilities that function independently of cloud infrastructure, ensuring operational effectiveness in communication-denied environments across diverse operational theaters.
