Sentinel Blue CEO Andy Sauer named NVTC Tech100 Rising Star

The Northern Virginia Technology Council named Sentinel Blue co-founder and CEO Andy Sauer a 2026 Tech100 Rising Star, recognizing his work in cybersecurity and the CMMC ecosystem. Sauer will be honored at the Tech100 Celebration on Dec. 15 in McLean, Virginia.

Why it matters: - Sauer’s recognition spotlights leaders building cybersecurity tools and compliance support for small and midsize defense contractors. - Sentinel Blue works with companies in the Defense Industrial Base that handle sensitive information and support U.S. military supply chains. - The honor also underscores the growing importance of CMMC readiness in federal contracting.

What happened: - The Northern Virginia Technology Council named Sentinel Blue Co-Founder and CEO Andy Sauer a 2026 Tech100 Rising Star honoree. - NVTC selected Sauer as one of 10 Rising Stars recognized for emerging leadership and future impact in technology. - NVTC will honor Sauer and other recipients at the 2026 Tech100 Celebration on Dec. 15 at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner.

The details: - The annual Tech100 Awards recognize companies, executives and rising stars driving innovation across the National Capital Region. - This year’s theme is “Innovation in Full Bloom.” - NVTC President and CEO Jennifer Taylor said the honorees are pushing boundaries, creating new opportunities and strengthening Northern Virginia’s position as a global technology hub. - Sauer co-founded Sentinel Blue in 2019 to serve small and midsize contractors in the Defense Industrial Base. - Sentinel Blue says Sauer has grown the company without outside investment over seven years. - Sentinel Blue is one of few firms that is both a managed security service provider and an authorized CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization, or C3PAO. - Sauer said the recognition belongs to the Sentinel Blue team and its work protecting small businesses that national security depends on. - Chief Technology Officer Ben Wheat said Sauer is involved in the details with engineers and assessors and focuses on client security decisions.

Between the lines: - Sauer’s profile reflects a blend of technical leadership, compliance expertise and public advocacy in a niche cybersecurity market. - His role in the CMMC ecosystem gives Sentinel Blue visibility as federal contractors face tighter security and assessment requirements. - Sauer also appears to be building influence beyond the company through industry speaking, media presence and nonprofit support. - In 2025, AFCEA International named Sauer to its 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders class.

What's next: - Sauer will be recognized with the other Tech100 honorees at the Dec. 15 ceremony in McLean. - Sauer is expected to continue speaking at industry events, including CMMC Day, AFCEA and The Cyber Guild’s Uniting Women in Cyber. - Sauer also hosts The Watchers, a podcast featuring national security leaders including Gen. David Petraeus and CrowdStrike co-founder Dmitri Alperovitch. - Sauer continues to support AFCEA International’s Emerging Leader Program, The Cyber Guild and other industry organizations. - Sauer has also served as a volunteer paramedic for two decades.

The bottom line: - NVTC’s honor puts a regional spotlight on a cybersecurity executive focused on helping defense contractors meet tougher security standards while building one of the few firms that can both manage security and perform CMMC assessments.