LtGen Michael S.
Cederholm, USMC (Ret.)
LtGen Michael S. Cederholm, USMC (Ret.)
Chief Executive Officer
Blue Yonder Defense Solutions (BYDS)
Michael S. Cederholm is the Chief Executive Officer of Blue Yonder Defense Solutions (BYDS), leading the defense and government arm of the world’s foremost AI-enabled supply-chain technology company. A retired United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General, he brings more than 36 years of senior leadership experience translating strategic intent into disciplined execution across complex, mission-critical global operations. Mr. Cederholm assumed leadership of BYDS at a pivotal moment as global competition, contested logistics, and supply-chain disruption have elevated logistics from a supporting function to a decisive instrument of national power. BYDS is accelerating the application of proven commercial AI to defense-grade missions delivering decision advantage at scale for U.S. forces, allied and partner nations, the Defense Industrial Base, and humanitarian organizations worldwide.
Most recently, Mr. Cederholm had the privilege of serving as the Commanding General of I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), the Marine Corps’ largest operational formation, where he led more than 44,500 Marines and Sailors across complex, multinational operations. Previously, as Deputy Commandant for Aviation, he exercised CEO-equivalent responsibility for a $16B annual enterprise and architected Project Eagle, a 15-year, $240B modernization strategy designed to restore readiness, integrate advanced technologies, and institutionalize data- and AI-enabled decision-making across the aviation enterprise. Across his career, Mr. Cederholm commanded at every level of Marine aviation and joint operations, including I MEF, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Aircraft Group 31, and VMFA 212. He served in multiple senior Joint Staff leadership roles, deploying in support of Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom, where he co-led coalition kill-box interdiction and close-air-support operations and authored the Urban CAS Concept of Operations.
More recently, he deployed from the Arctic to Eastern Europe as Commanding General of Task Force Baltic Watchtower, contributing to NATO’s immediate response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A graduate and former instructor at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), Mr. Cederholm has flown every operational aircraft type in the Marine Corps inventory, including the F-35B, CH-53K, and VH-92. He is a graduate of the National War College, where he earned a Master of Science in National Security Strategy and received the Marine Corps Association’s Colonel Richard A. Christie Award for Excellence in Writing. He is also a Fellow of MIT’s Seminar XXI and attended MIT’s AI for National Security Leaders Class. Mr. Cederholm holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Wesleyan University. He is married to Rebecca Cederholm, and together they have five incredible children and four precious grandchildren.
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