Walid Abu Khaled

Walid Abdulmajid Abukhaled is a defense and industrial sectors veteran with nearly 30 years of global experience in military and industrial industries. Born in 1966 in Saudi Arabia, Abukhaled has established himself as a respected figure in defense strategy and organizational transformation across the Middle East and globally.

Abukhaled holds a bachelor's degree in industrial and management systems engineering from the University of South Florida obtained in 1989 and completed an executive leadership program at the University of Pennsylvania. His extensive career spans multiple Fortune 500 defense and industrial companies across two decades.

Career History

• BAE Systems (1999–2011): Multiple leadership positions including head of technical services, head of PR and communications for the Middle East, head of strategy, director of industrial strategy, and director of portfolio management
• International System Engineering (2009–2011): Board director of the advanced electronics company
• General Electric (2011): President and CEO for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain
• Ministry of Commerce and Industry (2012): Consultant to the minister, then appointed deputy minister for industrial affairs in 2013
• Northrop Grumman (2014–2019): CEO for the Middle East and general manager of Northrop Grumman Aviation Arabia
• Saudi Arabian Military Industries/SAMI (2019–2024): Chief strategy and business development officer, acting CEO from April 2020, and confirmed CEO from August 2020 until his departure

Under Abukhaled's leadership, SAMI achieved top 100 defense company status within four years of operations, and in 2021 generated annual defense revenue of SAR 3 billion, representing a 2,782% year-over-year increase. He also served as the inaugural strategic partner for the World Defense Show, designing the exhibition's largest pavilion and facilitating several strategic agreements with leading international defense original equipment manufacturers. Abukhaled has been recognized with accolades including 'CEO of the Year' at the Arabian Business Achievement KSA Awards 2015 and 'Entrepreneur of the Year – Thought Leadership' at the Enterprise Agility Awards 2018.

What Walid Abukhaled could bring to future defense leadership roles: With nearly three decades across defense contracting, public-sector industrial policy, and military industries commercialization, Abukhaled brings proven expertise in scaling emerging defense enterprises into globally competitive firms, navigating government-industry partnerships, and executing technology localization strategies aligned with national strategic objectives. His track record of rapid organizational growth, cross-cultural executive management, and ability to bridge U.S.-Saudi defense relationships positions him well for senior international defense leadership.