Steve has an extensive background in developing highly engineered, cutting-edge networking systems that require a deep understanding of advanced technologies and business drivers. Since November 2015, Steve has been the CEO of GÉANT, overseeing both association and limited operating companies in Amsterdam and Cambridge, as well as the GÉANT Project, currently in its fourth incarnation called “GN4”.  

Before joining GÉANT, Steve was the CEO of REANNZ, the New Zealand NREN.  He joined REANNZ from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) in 2011. As the head of ESnet, he was responsible for providing high-performance networking to thousands of researchers and scientists at more than 40 national laboratories and research institutions. Prior to ESnet, Steve served as Google’s network deployment manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Before being hired by Google, Steve worked for Internet2 as Deputy Operations Officer and was CEO & President of their wholly owned subsidiary, FiberCo. 

​Steve got his start in telecommunications and networking at SBC Global Communications (now AT&T), serving as a Director in network engineering and construction departments, and also in optical networking as an engineer and program manager at Cisco Systems. In addition, Steve served eight years as an Officer and helicopter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps. Steve attended the U.S. Naval Academy, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering and earned an MBA from Boston University.