About us

Michelle Matthews is the President of Garud, providing vision, strategic leadership and oversight of the company by working with the Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Business Operations and the Senior Vice Presidents to establish long-range goals, growth strategies, plans and policies. She brings over 15 years of consulting and leadership experience and has built a career on providing delivery excellence for clients and the development of people.

Prior to joining Garud, Michelle held several leadership roles at QinetiQ US (Formerly Avantus Federal), Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Alion Science & Technology, and Booz Allen Hamilton.

Michelle holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Sciences in Management and Acquisition / Supply Chain Management and a Bachelor of Sciences in Physical Sciences from University of Maryland. She has held a Program Management Professional (PMP) certification since 2014.

As Garud’s Senior Advisor, Rajiv works closely with the President to formulate growth strategies and the supporting business development plans that enable the company’s vision. He oversees day-to-day operations of the company and coordinates execution and customer advocacy with the Director of Business Operations and the Senior Vice President.

Rajiv has over 30 years of experience working in various management and technical positions in the area of business development, program management and as a chief technologist. He has been part of technical solutions for very complex and pressing security needs in both infrastructure and container security applications. He has been an invited speaker as a subject matter expert to address specialized technical applications, particularly in the area of national security challenges and how emerging technology can provide solutions to technical and operational needs.

He holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mining Engineering, and a Master’s degree in Computer Science and Management.

Rajiv and Neelam have been married for 36 years and they have two sons, Kunal and Rahul.

Sarah has a Master of Business Administration, Bachelor’s in Management, and an Associates in Human Resource Management. She has obtained SHRM-CP, PMP, PSM, FSO and Six-Sigma Green belt certifications. Sarah is a U.S. Army veteran and has over 20 years of management and DOD support.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and being outdoors with her many pets.

Since July of 2023, Amy has been the Chairperson of the Garud Technology Services Board of Directors and works closely with the owners, executives and other Board of Directors at Garud while executing her duties.  She is also the Chief Business Officer for the North American region for ELEKS and is responsible for delivering exceptional customer service and value to over 60 commercial and government clients.

Amy has more than 30 years of experience supporting the United States Department of Defense in various capacities supporting national security with technical and service-based solutions. Before joining ELEKS and Garud, Amy founded Operational Intelligence LLC in 2008, and helped build it from a startup into a well-respected small business providing analytical and technical operational capabilities to various United States government clients.  She has also worked for SAIC, Avantus and the United States as a government civilian for the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Amy holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence. She proudly served in the United States Air Force on both active duty and reserves in various parts of the intelligence field for nearly 23 years. She proudly retired for the United States Air Force Reserves in 2015 as an Intelligence Officer serving on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon.

Mike Decker has over 40 years of experience in defense and intelligence plans and operations.  He has served as the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Oversight and as Director and Assistant Director of Intelligence for the United States Marine Corps.  He is the recipient of the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal.

After military and government service, Mike served as the Director of Intelligence and Security Programs at Operational Intelligence, LLC, a QinetiQ-US company, as the Director, Marine Forces Programs at the RAND Corporation, and as a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Defense Analysis.  Mike has served as a Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency-approved Outside Director, as a Director for the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA), and on the AFCEA Intelligence Committee.

Early in his Marine Corps career, Mike served as an infantry officer during expeditionary operations in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, including a deployment to Beirut, Lebanon, as part of the Multinational Force in Lebanon.  Mike also served as an intelligence officer with a Marine Expeditionary Unit in the Western Pacific and with a Marine Expeditionary Force supporting Central Command.  Mike deployed to Saudi Arabia as a senior intelligence analyst during the Gulf War, for which he received the Bronze Star Medal.

38+ years of civilian experience in Intelligence, Security, Policy, Programs, Budget, and Organizational Management across the Department of the Air Force and the Offices of the Secretary of Defense.  24+ years as a Defense Intelligence Senior Executive (DISES III +15 years).  Career assignments: Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (Technical Collection and Analysis), Office of the Secretary of Defense; Director, Concepts, Development, and Management Office (CDM), Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force.

Developed and managed a broad portfolio of National Security programs, projects, and activities addressing technical, operational, and policy challenges for the Defense Intelligence Enterprise and the Department of Defense. Drove complex problem-solving and provided oversight of assigned organizations, programs, and developmental activities enabling Great Power Competition, advanced data analytics, economic statecraft, and special operations.

Proven excellence: driving organizational and mission strategies; sensing, interpreting, and forecasting political, operational, and organizational risks; identifying, innovating, and shaping tactical and strategic opportunities; cultivating and driving strategic partnerships and alliances.