SMX Appoints Former CIA Chief Operating Officer to Board of Directors

SMX, a leader in mission support and IT solutions, welcomes Andrew Makridis to its Board of Directors. Makridis, the former Chief Operating Officer of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), brings decades of experience in the U.S. Intelligence Community and national security establishment. His expertise in strategic and operational leadership will help SMX deliver innovative solutions to address critical digital transformation, IT, and data analytics needs in the public sector.

Herndon, VA— SMX, a company specializing in next-generation mission support, digital transformation, and IT solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Makridis to its Board of Directors. Makridis, who previously served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), brings a wealth of experience and deep relationships across the national security establishment.

During his nearly four decades of service in the U.S. Intelligence Community, Makridis rose to the number three position at the CIA, retiring at the end of 2022. As the Chief Operating Officer, he was responsible for managing the CIA's day-to-day operations, including budgeting, personnel-related issues, resource management, security and information technology. He also played a key role in developing the agency's multi-year strategy for fulfilling its mission as the nation's first line of defense.

Makridis's previous roles within the CIA include serving as the Associate Deputy Director for Science and Technology and leading the Agency's Weapons and Counterproliferation office. He also played a critical role in the CIA's response to the WikiLeaks data breach and the restructuring of its overall cybersecurity posture.

Peter LaMontagne, CEO of SMX, expressed his excitement about Makridis joining the Board of Directors, stating, "Andy brings a wealth of experience and deep relationships across the national security establishment, and his decades providing strategic and operational leadership at the CIA will be a tremendous asset to SMX as we continue to deliver mission-oriented and differentiated solutions to address some of the public sector's most critical digital transformation, IT, and data analytics needs."

Makridis expressed his enthusiasm for joining SMX, saying, "Since leaving government in 2022, my primary focus has been to align myself with organizations that are helping to solve the numerous challenges facing the public sector today. SMX's combination of providing differentiated digital transformation, data analytics, and mission-oriented technology solutions aligns well with my prior experiences. I look forward to partnering with Peter, the SMX team, and OceanSound Partners to support the company's growth and evolution going forward."

Joe Benavides, Managing Partner of OceanSound, also expressed his excitement about Makridis joining the Board of Directors, stating, "Andy's years of distinguished service and incredible leadership in the national security realm helping address some of our nation's most complex and sensitive operational and mission challenges will be invaluable to our team. We are honored to have Andy join the SMX Board of Directors, where his experiences, technical expertise, and mission-oriented leadership skills will be invaluable to SMX as he steps into this role supporting the company's growth and value creation strategy."

Makridis's distinguished service in the U.S. Intelligence Community has earned him numerous awards, including the CIA's George H.W. Bush Award for Leadership, the John A. McCone Award for Engineering Excellence, the CIA Intelligence Medal, and the Presidential Rank Award, the nation's highest honor for civilian service.

About SMX:

SMX is a leader in next-generation mission support, digital transformation, and IT solutions. The company operates in close proximity to clients across the U.S. and around the globe, delivering scalable and secure solutions combined with the mission expertise needed to accelerate outcomes for various public and private sector clients, including the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, Fortune 1000, and the public sector. For more information, please visit [https://www.smxtech.com/](https://www.smxtech.com/).

About OceanSound Partners:

OceanSound Partners is a New York-based private equity firm that focuses on control investments in technology and technology-enabled services companies serving government and enterprise end markets. The firm takes a partnership approach, working closely with founders, entrepreneurs, and executives to drive transformational growth. For more information, please visit [www.oceansoundpartners.com](https://www.oceansoundpartners.com/).

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SMX

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