Chris Donaghey

Founder & Executive Board Member

Christopher “Chris” Donaghey is Chief Executive Officer of Applied Energetics, Inc., a developer of advanced optical technologies and ultrashort pulse laser directed energy solutions serving the national security, biomedical, and manufacturing industries. 

Prior to joining Applied Energetics, Donaghey served as senior vice president and head of corporate development for SAIC where he was responsible for executing the company’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A) strategy and supported the development and implementation of SAIC’s strategic plan. Donaghey joined SAIC in 2017 as senior vice president of finance for SAIC’s operations and provided strategic leadership and business guidance to the organization. 

Before joining SAIC, Donaghey was vice president of Corporate Strategy and Development for KeyW Corporation, a national security solutions provider for the Intelligence, Cyber and Counterterrorism Communities, where he guided overall corporate strategy, M&A, and capital markets activities. 

Donaghey served in the U.S. Navy Reserve, where he provided scientific and technical analysis of missile guidance and control systems and advanced electronics for the Short Range Ballistic Missile group at the Defense Intelligence Agency's Missile and Space Intelligence Center.

Donaghey earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Texas Tech University and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy.