<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0lGh23_0v6Qkn1y00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0lGh23_0v6Qkn1y00" width="1920" height="1080" ><figcaption>Mike Gallagher, seen on Capitol Hill in 2023. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Palantir Technologies has hired former <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/22/house-republicans-mike-gallagher-resign">Rep. Mike Gallagher</a> (R-Wisc.) to run its defense business, charged with identifying contract opportunities and guiding R&amp;D.Why it matters: Gallagher is an outspoken critic of China, and will reinforce the company's pick-a-side mentality.<ul><li>It's Gallagher's first job in the defense sector. He succeeds Doug Philippone, who built the unit and will stay on as an adviser.</li><li>Word of his hiring <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidjeans/2024/03/22/china-hawk-rep-mike-gallagher-is-taking-a-job-at-palantir/">circulated</a> first earlier this year, but the company did not confirm until now. He began work at Palantir in June.</li></ul>Follow the money: Palantir, once backed by the CIA's venture capital arm, is a software specialist that goes toe to toe with the Defense Department's hardware juggernauts.<ul><li>Adding Gallagher could help it strengthen growth in its U.S. government contract bookings, which <a href="https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2024/08/05/palantir-technologies-pltr-q2-2024-earnings-call-t/">recently reached their highest levels</a> since Q2 2022.</li><li>Palantir's stock is up over 250% since 2020.</li></ul>What he's saying: "In Palantir, you have a rare, leading technology company that is unapologetic in its defense of the West and its belief that America is a force for good in this world and worth defending against our enemies," Gallagher tells Axios, adding that <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/17/military-defense-contractors-tech-ai-disrupters">private sector innovation</a> can help prevent World War III.<ul><li>"We need to marry both tech and hardware, bits and bending metal."</li></ul>Behind the scenes: Palantir CEO Alex Karp, who's known Gallagher for years, recently told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/17/style/alex-karp-palantir.html">the New York Times</a> the U.S. will "very likely" fight a sprawling war with China, Russia and Iran, and that scaring "the crap out of your adversaries" is the right move.<ul><li>Gallagher's history hews with Karp's ideologies: He served in the Marine Corps, led the House Select China Committee, helped introduce the <a href="https://www.axios.com/pro/tech-policy/2024/03/05/tiktok-parent-company-under-fire-in-new-bill?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=pro_policy_tech_subs&amp;stream=top">bill to ban</a> TikTok, chaired a cyber-and-innovation subcommittee, said Taiwan should be armed "<a href="https://www.c4isrnet.com/cyber/2023/04/21/bipartisan-bill-would-arm-taiwan-to-the-teeth-with-us-cyber-tech/">to the teeth</a> in the cyber domain," and supported <a href="https://thebadgerproject.org/2024/04/22/see-how-your-u-s-house-rep-voted-on-aid-to-ukraine-israel-gaza-taiwan-and-a-possible-tiktok-ban/">billions in U.S. aid</a> to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.</li></ul></div></body>

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Palantir hires China hawk Mike Gallagher

Palantir Technologies has hired former Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.) to run its defense business, charged with identifying contract opportunities and guiding R&D. Why it matters: Gallagher is an outspoken critic of China, and will reinforce the company's pick-a-side mentality. It's Gallagher's first job in the defense sector. He succeeds Doug...

Palantir hires China hawk Mike Gallagher

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