We operate at the front lines of cybersecurity, organizational resilience, and ethical AI governance. Our mission is human-centered by design and resilience-focused by necessity. Whether the threat comes from a bad line of code or a bad day in Washington, AetherForge exists to safeguard systems, strengthen minds, and make sure the lights stay on.
We don’t just defend against failure—we design against it.
AETHERFORGE
Born in the fire of Excel Tech, reforged as AetherForge
A Beginning Forged in Function
Back in the twilight years of dial-up and desktop towers, Excel Technologies was born in Northern Virginia—a company focused on providing high end custom engineering solutions for the intelligence community – bringing continuity, resilience, and the quiet heroics of making systems not break. For decades, Excel served federal missions where failure was not an option. Our roots? Deep in infrastructure, thick with legacy code, and driven by a calm obsession: helping vital systems withstand chaos.
Then came the world we live in now—where AI makes decisions, threats evolve faster than the news cycle, and cybersecurity isn’t a product, it’s a posture.
And we are ready.
We didn’t pivot. We forged.
AetherForge is not a name change. It’s a statement. A transformation. A controlled detonation of the old to shape the new. We carry forward the ironclad credibility of Excel Technologies but alloy it with visionary tech, strategic foresight, and a touch of mysticism—because we’re building for a future that doesn’t exist yet.
Our name reflects this duality:
- Aether, the invisible medium of gods and photons—symbol of unseen networks, digital infrastructure, and cosmic-level possibility.
- Forge, the crucible of transformation—where raw elements are tested, reshaped, and hardened into tools of purpose.
What We Do
We operate at the intersection of:
- Cybersecurity that adapts, predicts, and guards the mission before the breach.
- Organizational Resilience shaped by human science, not just IT specs.
- AI Governance that keeps us from building smarter monsters.
- And yes—trauma-response trained dogs who show up when humans forget how to be human.
Why We Matter
AetherForge doesn’t sell tech.
We design solutions – with survivability at the heart.
We don’t deploy code and call it done.
We work with you until your organization is tempered. Resilient in the face of the next disaster, breach, or internal reckoning.
We didn’t chase a trend. We looked into the coming storm and decided to become the hammer.
To forge resilient futures by securing what matters—people, missions, and the digital realms they depend on.
To become the defining force at the intersection of humanity and technology—where ethics guide innovation, and resilience is engineered into every system.
In a future where every device thinks, every threat adapts, and every system is interwoven, AetherForge aims to be the blueprint. Not just for cyber, but for trust. For governance. For systems that know what to do when things go sideways.
We envision a world where:
We envision a world where:
- AI serves humans, not the other way around.
- Where our sociologists work alongside our Cyber gurus to shape cyber defense.
- Support dogs sit beside servers and strategy decks – and humans navigating the storm.
- Security feels like strength, not surveillance.
We’re not just building secure systems.
We’re building meaningful ones.
For humans.
We’re building meaningful ones.
For humans.
Leadership
Deb Yamanaka
Chief Executive Officer, AetherForge
Deb Yamanaka is the CEO of AetherForge, bringing over 40 years of experience in technology, cybersecurity, and emergency management, emphasizing a human approach to mission resilience. Known for her calm authority and strategic clarity, she advocates for trauma aware operational design and is an emerging voice in AI governance. Deb also leads with a team of trained service dogs, enjoys medieval sword fighting, shooting, and is a sci-fi enthusiast, while also finding purpose in her role as a grandmother.
“When the path vanishes, we build one.”
Amy Norgren Salfi
Chief Growth Officer
Amy has been supporting government clients for more than 35 years as both an analyst, an expert, a program manager, and a growth leader. As the Chief Growth Officer, Amy matches client needs to the AetherForge capabilities, continually honing solutions that will move our clients, and our partners, forward. She manages our GWAC and contracts shop and is personally involved in each teaming agreement. Amy’s reputation is for delighting clients, developing partnerships, and sticking to her promises. Amy has a geeky passion for capture and proposals, and has trained hundreds of people in these capabilities over the years.
"Do the hard things well."
Val Collins
Chief Delivery Officer, AetherForge
Val Collins is the Chief Delivery Officer at AetherForge, bringing over 20 years of experience in intelligence, cybersecurity, and continuity planning. As a Navy veteran, she emphasizes resilience and adaptability in her leadership approach, fostering a culture of curiosity and experimentation. Outside of work, Val enjoys hiking, reading, and recreational shooting, and she values good strategy that allows for both structure and spontaneity.
"In chaos, we don’t panic—we execute.”
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Learn more about our Team members.
Meet the Dogs of AetherForge
AetherForge employs trained support dogs, specifically a unit of Shepskies, to support emotional stability during stressful situations and organizational changes. The dogs, including Honor, Valor, Courage, and Kona, assist with PTSD, crisis response, and morale boosting, emphasizing that resilience is both technical and emotional, making them strategic assets in navigating the challenges of modernization.
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