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Steve Simoni is an American defense technology executive, entrepreneur, and former U.S. Navy nuclear engineer. He is the co-founder and President of Allen Control Systems (ACS), a defense technology company specializing in autonomous and AI-enabled counter-drone weapon systems. Simoni is also known for his public commentary on modern warfare, unmanned systems, and defense industrial base reform.

Early life and education

Simoni served as a nuclear engineer in the United States Navy, where he worked on advanced technical systems and developed an interest in applied engineering, autonomy, and national security challenges. Details of his early life and formal education have not been publicly disclosed.

Career Early career and entrepreneurship

After leaving the Navy, Simoni transitioned into technology entrepreneurship. He co-founded a restaurant payments and technology company alongside Luke Allen, which was later acquired by DoorDash in 2022 for a reported eight-figure sum.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the rapid proliferation of small unmanned aerial systems on the battlefield, Simoni and Allen turned their focus toward defense technology.

Allen Control Systems

In 2022, Simoni co-founded Allen Control Systems, serving as its President. The company develops autonomous weapon stations designed to counter small drones at scale using computer vision, artificial intelligence, and precision fire-control systems. ACS’s flagship product, Bullfrog, integrates AI-based tracking with existing weapon platforms to provide a cost-effective alternative to missile-based air defense for short-range drone threats.

Under Simoni’s leadership, ACS has secured contracts and partnerships with U.S. government entities and allied nations, including deployments supporting U.S. and international military forces. The company has also raised venture funding from prominent defense-focused investors.

In 2025, ACS launched Treillis, a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing platform originally developed internally to validate Bullfrog’s tracking and fire-control systems. The platform was later made available to government, industry, and research partners to support broader counter-drone development and validation efforts.

Media and public engagement

Simoni has been featured in national and international media outlets including GQ, Axios, Reuters, and other defense and technology publications. He is a frequent speaker at defense and technology conferences, including events focused on artificial intelligence and national security.

He is also the co-host of The Drone Ultimatum, a podcast covering drone warfare, autonomy, defense innovation, and global security trends. Through the podcast and public commentary, Simoni has advocated for faster defense acquisition cycles, cost-effective counter-drone solutions, and rebuilding domestic manufacturing capacity for unmanned systems.

Views

Simoni is an outspoken critic of reliance on high-cost, low-volume defense systems for countering inexpensive drones. He has argued that modern warfare increasingly favors scalable, attritable, and software-driven systems, and that Western defense institutions must adapt acquisition and manufacturing models accordingly.