CACI International Chairman Michael A. Daniels, a longtime technology executive and government adviser who helped shape innovations critical to national security, has died, the company announced.
Daniels was remembered as a visionary leader and mentor whose decades of experience left a lasting mark on CACI and the broader technology, government and corporate sectors. The company said his leadership style reflected lessons from a distinguished career spanning senior roles in business, high-level government advisory positions and a personal journey rooted in humility and service.
To ensure a smooth transition, CACI’s board elected Lisa S. Disbrow as chair. She will work closely with President and CEO John Mengucci to advance the company’s growth strategy.
Daniels, a CACI director since 2013, was elected chairman in January 2021. Over his decades-long career, he held numerous leadership roles and championed advancements in cybersecurity, data analytics, digital solutions and other technologies critical to protecting the U.S. military, citizens and homeland.
Daniels was a sharp business leader respected by colleagues and known for focusing on CACI’s future while keeping integrity and ethics central to its mission, according to President and CEO John Mengucci.
“From a personal standpoint I can’t begin to express what it meant to have a partner like Mike during the last four and a half years,” he added. “His commitment to CACI was proven and steadfast, and we are grateful that he so generously shared his time and talent with us for decades.”
In December, Daniels received the 2024 NACD Directorship 100 B. Kenneth West Lifetime Achievement Award. Earlier in the year, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce recognized him for his career as a technology leader and his contributions to the state’s economy.
Daniels also held board and chair roles at several public and private technology companies during and after the dotcom era. He previously served as chairman of the Logistics Management Institute, senior White House adviser on international technology for DARPA and senior adviser to the National Security Council.
Despite his achievements, Daniels remained grounded. Raised in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, he worked as a janitor and truck driver in his father’s business before rising to set high performance standards and embody CACI’s principles of character and innovation.