Denver, CO  ·  Enterprise AI Leader

Chad Neal

I help build the teams and the tools that bring AI to the Fortune 100.

A decade in Solutions Architecture at AWS, much of it through hypergrowth. Today I support a 56-person team serving a $4.9B ARR portfolio, and I’m still deep in the weeds of agentic development, speaking on AI-DLC and GenAI at executive roundtables.

By the numbers
10yrs
In Solutions Architecture at AWS
$4.9B
Customer ARR the team serves
$4.4B
Largest single deal of my career
100+
Architects we've hired and grown
41
Teammates promoted, 17 to Sr/Principal
9
AWS re:Invents on stage, 1,000+ rooms
The profile

Two operating modes, one operator.

For a decade I’ve been lucky to do both, helping scale the organization and still shipping the software. Some weeks that means a room full of CxOs; some nights it’s Claude Code and a keyboard.

01 / The Operator

Executive

Supports a 56-person Solutions Architecture organization, 5 managers and principal architects.
Stewards $4.9B in ARR across XAI, DoorDash, Uber, Lyft, Reddit + 200 tech companies.
Helped close a $4.4B multi-year enterprise commitment.
Helped hire 100+ architects; 650+ interviews as an Amazon Bar Raiser.
Championed 41 promotions; named SA Manager of the Year, 2019.
Runs CxO workshops on agentic workloads and responsible AI adoption.
02 / The Builder

Technologist

Hands-on builder, skilled across agentic frameworks: Claude Code, AWS Kiro, Cursor, Codex, and Grok Build.
apresai.dev, a personal AI tool suite: Podcaster, re:Gist, and 2nb.
Clipz, a macOS clipboard manager, live on the App Store.
Voice Powered Analytics, open source, published on awslabs.
Supported re:Invent 2025 launch customers for Nova Forge (Reddit) and AgentCore (Epsilon).
Pioneered Boeing’s first AWS adoption, back in 2008.
Experience

From the flightline to the frontier of AI.

A 30-year path through defense, aerospace, cloud, and now enterprise AI, with a few lucky early bets along the way.

2016
to
Now

Amazon Web Services

10 years · Enterprise AI & Solutions Architecture leadership
North America Solutions Architecture Leader: Software, Internet & Model Providers2025 to Present

A 56-person team serving a $4.9B ARR portfolio and 200+ customers at the frontier of agentic AI. Supported re:Invent 2025 launch customers: Reddit (custom Nova Forge model) and Epsilon (AgentCore, 30% faster campaigns). Helped close a $4.4B multi-year commitment.

North America Solutions Architecture Leader: Advertising & Marketing2024 to 2025

Helped drive double-digit YoY growth on >$2B ARR through GenAI-led engagement; supported Bedrock and Claude adoption across retail media and commerce platforms.

Solutions Architecture Leader: Enterprise (Cross-Industry)2016 to 2023

Founded the AWS Denver office as first SA hire. Nike, Nordstrom, Experian, Thermo Fisher. Helped close $1.4B in telco customer commitments and started the Rapid Response Team that supported Zoom and Databricks through hypergrowth.

2006
to
2016

Jeppesen / Boeing

10 years · Chief Solutions Architect / Infrastructure Architect

Helped lead Boeing’s first AWS adoption in 2008, an early bet on cloud when few were paying attention. Worked on global cloud transformation across Europe, Australia, and Asia in a regulated aerospace environment.

2001
to
2006

Northrop Grumman

5 years · Sr Software Engineer (TRW Space Systems)

Space-based ISR programs: missile defense, C2, battlefield management. Part of the $2.9B NPOESS proposal team. DOD TS/SCI / SSBI clearance.

2000
to
2001

Lockheed Martin

Software Engineer

Software development on classified ISR projects: C/C++, firmware, deployment automation. DOD TS/SCI clearance.

1996
to
2000

United States Air Force

Veteran · F-15E Strike Eagle
Signature work

A few outcomes I’m proud of.

re:Invent 2025 launch

Reddit × Nova Forge

A custom-trained model that lifted content-moderation precision by 26 points, cut missed threats 25%, and consolidated multiple ML workflows into one.

re:Invent 2025 launch

Epsilon × AgentCore

20+ agents in production, 30% faster campaign setup and a 20% lift in personalization capacity across 200M consumer identities.

Tier-1 event

NHL × AWS Executive Forum

Hosted NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman at the executive forum during the Stanley Cup Final, as an Amazon Senior Speaker.

Enterprise deal

A $4.4B commitment

A multi-year enterprise commitment closed alongside a cross-functional deal team, the largest single commitment of my career.

Built from zero

Founded AWS Denver

First SA hire in the market. Helped build the team, culture, and customer base from scratch, now a cornerstone of the Mountain region.

Operating model

Rapid Response Team

A technical SWAT model that was adopted across AWS for high-stakes engagement, and supported Zoom and Databricks through pandemic-scale hypergrowth.

Talent engine

Bar Raiser & team builder

650+ interviews, 100+ hires, 41 promotions. Supported the Returners Program, helping people re-enter the workforce.

Expertise

Where I go deep.

AI & Platforms
Enterprise AI strategyGenAI & LLM deploymentAgentic workloadsBedrockAnthropicOpenAIXAIResponsible AI adoptionAI developer lifecycleClaude CodeAWS KiroCursorCodexGrok
Leadership & GTM
SA org buildingHiring at scaleBar RaisingExecutive (CxO) workshopsSales execution programsP&L-scale quota ownership
Industries & Compliance
Retail & retail mediaFinancial servicesLife sciencesAdvertisingRegulated, PCI / SOC / PIIDefense & aerospace heritage
Things I’ve shipped

I build with the same tools I recommend.

Side projects, shipped products, and open source, a habit of staying close to the tools I put in front of customers.

On stage

9 re:Invents.
Audiences of 1,000+.

An Amazon Senior Speaker with a decade of executive AI sessions on agentic workloads, LLM deployment, and responsible adoption. I’ve moderated Tier-1 events, including the NHL × AWS Executive Forum at the Stanley Cup Final, where I hosted NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, plus hands-on CxO strategy workshops that turn boardroom intent into production systems.

9
re:Invents led
1k+
per session
650+
interviews run
30
years building
Get in touch

Let’s build
something.

Based in Denver, CO, open to San Francisco and New York. LinkedIn is the best way to reach me.

Connect on LinkedInin/chadaneal  ·  Denver, CO · Mountain Time
Education
BS, Information Technology · University of Phoenix
AS, Electronics Engineering · Community College of the Air Force
Certifications
AWS Solutions Architect (Professional)
AWS SysOps Administrator (Associate)
Clearance
DOD TS/SCI (inactive)