Intelligent Waves, a leading-edge trusted IT systems integrator that delivers high-impact transformational IT solutions to Government’s most mission-critical challenges, today announced that Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) has named Jared Shepard, its Chief Executive Officer, as one of Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2020 Mid-Atlantic Award finalists. Selected by a national expert panel of independent judges, Shepard joins a prestigious list of highly-accomplished entrepreneurial business leaders whose ambitions drive innovation, growth, and prosperity as they build and sustain successful businesses that transform our world.

“I am humbled by the recognition and honored to be counted among this peer group of exceptional leaders and accomplished entrepreneurs that are competing for this prestigious award,” commented Shepard. “Since the very beginning, my focus has been on taking the valuable lessons I’ve learned during my military service, and as a Veteran, finding ways to give back to the community through technological innovation to keep our warfighters safe and bringing trusted innovation to the front lines of defense. Then, leverage our businesses success to give back to those who put their lives on the line for our country by supporting Veteran causes.”

Shepard founded the Reston-based Intelligent Waves in 2006, turning his daily life experiences as a soldier, and as a civilian advisor to the Department of Defense (DoD) in Iraq and Afghanistan, into an impactful and innovative company focused on the defense and intelligence communities of the government. Under Shepard’s visionary leadership, Intelligent Waves has experienced exponential growth in contract awards and plans to create hundreds of new high-tech jobs in Northern Virginia. As of now, Intelligent Waves is projecting an additional $300 Million in new business wins in 2020. Recently, Intelligent Waves was honored as an Inc. 5000 company for the second time in a row.

Intelligent Waves is strategically committed and focused on investing, developing, deploying, and ensuring that our nation’s cybersecurity and defense systems and networks are protected by next-generation innovation and rapid-deployment solutions that will keep our military safe anytime, anywhere, on any network.

Making Shepard’s vision a successful reality, this year, Intelligent Waves has developed and launched Hypori. Hypori is a National Security Administration (NSA) Certified Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) Secure Virtual Mobile Infrastructure (VMI) that doesn’t require access or control of bring your own device (BYOD) mobile devices but allows secure access and interaction with controlled data with zero controlled data in transit or at rest.

Shepard’s passion didn’t stop there. An accomplished Defense IT thought leader, a proud Army Veteran, and an avid philanthropist, Shepard fervently gives back to veterans and disadvantaged children through STEM and sports. He founded Warriors Ethos, a nonprofit organization supporting wounded service members, veterans, and their families with transition assistance.

Intelligent waves has been selected as a top ten “best companies for veterans” by Monster and Military.com for the last three years in a row. At times being the only business under $1 Billion in value to make the list.

From the selected finalist group, announced by EY, award winners will be announced through a special virtual event in early October 2020 and will join a lifelong community of esteemed Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world. This year, unstoppable entrepreneurs who have provided extraordinary support for their communities, employees, and others during the COVID-19 crisis will also be recognized for their courage, resilience, and ingenuity.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth, and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. Winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ title. ey.com/us/eoy