Michael Dunaway is Founder and CEO of CIRRUS Group, a Maryland-based Public Benefit LLC focused on assisting cities and communities in digital transformation to improve city operations and services, community resilience, and overall quality of life. From 2021-2025, he was program lead for the Global Community Technology Challenge (GCTC), the federal Smart Cities program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Dr. Dunaway has led research centers in advanced technologies and smart cities at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he served concurrently as Director of the Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center. Previous positions included the National Headquarters of the American Red Cross; the S&T Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and 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 an M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and Ph.D. (Systems Engineering) from George Washington University. He currently holds an appointment as adjunct professor at GWU’s College of Professional Studies.