About

In the fast-changing AI-era, I enjoy writing about how leaders can set their strategic vision well and improve their organization's stability, like how the keel under a sailboat offer stability and direction.

Connect with me on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Professional

Michael is an advisor and investor, helping leaders grow, scale, and mature their organizations.

Michael King is a strategist and advisor who has spent over two decades at the intersection of US Federal Government needs, technology challenges, and helping organizations scale and mature.

Michael served with Halfaker and Associates, serving in several different executive roles (including COO, CTO, and CIO/CISO), helping the firm scale and mature to over 500 employees, which prepared the organization for its eventual acquisition by SAIC. His work is defined by a commitment to 'The Keel'—the belief that complex enterprise systems require simple, stable foundations to succeed. He holds degrees in Computer Engineering from the University of Virginia and Information Systems from Johns Hopkins University.

Why 'The Keel'?

The theme of this site, The Keel, stems from my background in sailing, a skill I learned teaching it as a camp counselor at Camp Piankatank during college summers. During those college summers, I split my time between systems research in computer processor branch prediction and teaching kids to navigate the Chesapeake Bay.

On the water, you quickly learn that the keel is a critical part of the sailboat. It is the weighted fin beneath the surface that provides the mass necessary to prevent capsizing. More importantly, it provides the essential capability to translate the wind's power into the desired direction. Without a keel, you simply drift where the wind blows; with one, you can navigate a precise course.

I created The Keel to help organizations build that same stability into their business systems.

Personal

When I'm not whiteboarding strategy or advising founders, I enjoy adventures with family and friends, especially helping my kids enjoy and explore the world, through things like 3D printing, boating, and cycling.