Ari Shapira

Since August of 2021, Ari C Shapira has served in several executive leadership roles at Valence Vector Labs. As Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Shapira leads efforts to provide cutting-edge technical and forensic solutions to our customers in a manner that ensures excellence and maximized outcomes.

In July 2021, Mr. Shapira retired from US government service as Deputy Director, of the Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC) where he proudly led a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency team dedicated to the exploitation of IEDs collected from around the world. Prior to this appointment, Mr., Shapira held positions of increasing responsibility to include Special Agent in Charge, Division Chief, and Foreign Country Attaché. Mr. Shapira was a member of the US government’s Senior Executive Service (SES). As a Special Agent, Mr. Shapira conducted violent crime investigations in the US and Latin America while assigned to field offices in Puerto Rico and Mexico. Mr. Shapira was the recipient of ATF’s Distinguished Service Award and The US Department of Justice 2007 Award for Law Enforcement Excellence. Mr. Shapira was trained and served as a Special Agent Certified Explosives Specialist (SACES).

Prior to Federal Service, Mr. Shapira served with the New York City Police Department, initially as a patrol officer, and ultimately in undercover and investigative assignments that led to promotion to Detective Investigator. Mr. Shapira was assigned to the Organized Crime Control Bureau’s Narcotics Division, Major Case Squad.

An aviation enthusiast, Mr. Shapira is a private pilot as well as a part 107 drone pilot. Mr. Shapira has a Master's degree in Strategic Intelligence from American Military University and a BS from Cornell University.