A Note From Our President & Founder Jim Garrettson
As the summer comes to a close, let’s take a quick look at the public-to-private sector executive moves over the past few months. A number of high ranking public sector officials have moved into the private sector, with many taking positions on company boards. Please join me in congratulating these outstanding individuals.
On September 5th, Leidos announced that William Bender had joined as senior vicepresident for strategic accounts and government relations. Bender, formerly chief information officer of the U.S. Air Force, will be responsible for strengthening Leidos’ customer relationships and driving organic growth strategies in this new role. “William is an accomplished and highly respected military leader with extensive expertise in information technology, cybersecurity and government services,†said Gerry Fasano, an executive vice president and chief of business development and strategy at Leidos.
At the tail-end of August, Wendy Masiello, former director of the Defense Contract Management Agency and retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant general, joined the board of directors at KBR. Masiellowill serve on the board’s audit and environment, health, safety, security and social responsibility committees. Masiello, a 2016 recipient of Executive Mosaic’s Wash100, previously served as a deputy assistant secretary for contracting at the Air Force’s office of the assistant secretary for acquisition before she joined DCMA.
Another late August public sector executive move was Katrina McFarland joining the TransUnion government advisory board. McFarland will provide insights to the leadership team as TransUnion gears up to meet the requirements of working with the public sector. McFarland served as a principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense and defense undersecretary of acquisition, technology and logistics on all procurement-related matters across the Pentagon.
On August 14th Raytheon announced that Robert Work, former deputy secretary at the Department of Defense and a 27-year USMC veteran, had been elected to its board of directors. Work held the DoD’s no. 2 civilian position from May 2014 until July 2017 and previously served as the undersecretary of the Navy from 2009 to 2013. He also led the Center for a New American Security in Washington as CEO for one year before he rejoined DoD as deputy defense secretary. Between 2002 and 2009, the retired Marine Corps colonel also held the roles of senior fellow for maritime affairs and vice president for strategic studies at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.
Greg Touhill, the first-ever federal chief information security officer, joined information technology infrastructure company Cyxtera Technologies on July 11th. Touhill will be responsible for leading Cyxtera Federal Group’s data center and cybersecurity services delivered to the federal government market. CFG, according to Cyxtera CEO Manuel Medina, will work to address the security requirements of federal agencies through its IT infrastructure service portfolio and investments. Touhill will be leading the new Cyxtera Federal Group, which will be based in Washington, D.C.
On July 3rd Leidos announced that Frank Kendall would be joining the company’s board of directors. Kendall, former undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics at the Department ofDefense, will bring his extensive national security, acquisition, engineering and military experience to the Leidos board where he will contribute to corporate management. But this wasn’t the only move Kendall made over this summer, in early June Kendall returned toaerospace and defense advisory firm Renaissance Strategic Advisors as an executive in residence. Kendall had last worked as managing partner for RSAdvisors for two years prior to taking a position with the DoD in 2010.
At the beginning of June, it was announced the former secretary of the U.S. Air Force, Deborah Lee James, would be joining Bain & Company as a special advisor at the company’s Washington, D.C. office. James will advise aerospace, defense and government services customers and work to establish stronger relationships with “high-potential†individuals and companies. James worked at SAIC for more than 10 years in leadership roles such as president of the technical and engineering sector; executive vice president for communications and government affairs; and director of homeland security.
Another early June move was former New Hampshire senator, Kelly Ayotte, joining BAE Systems’ U.S. subsidiary’s board of directors. Ayotte will be serving a three-year term on the board. During her time in the Senate, Ayotte served as chairperson of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s readiness and management support panel, chaired the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportations panel on aviation operations, safety and security. Ayotte is currently a distinguished visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics and Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
THIS WEEK’S TOP NEWS STORIES
Weekly Contract Awards This week’s top GovCon contract awards. CSRA, Boeing, IBM, Northrop Grumman, BAE, Citibank, U.S. Bank, General Electric and many others.
Jacobs Buys Blue Canopy to Further Digital Tech Strategy; Darren Kraabel Comments Jacobs Engineering Group has purchased Reston, Virginia-based information technology services provider Blue Canopy for an undisclosed sum in a strategy to expand the former’s digital platforms offered under a connected enterprise framework.
Stephanie Hill Named Lockheed Corporate Strategy, Business Devt SVP; Marillyn Hewson Comments
Stephanie Hill, vice president and general manager of cyber, ships and advanced technologies at Lockheed Martin, has been named senior VP for corporate strategy and business development at the Bethesda, Maryland-based aerospace and defense contractor in a move that takes effect Sept. 11.
DHS Taps 4 Firms to Develop Concrete Border Wall Prototypes
The Department of Homeland Security has awarded four companies separate contracts worth up to $500,000 each to develop prototypes of a proposed border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.
Troy Lahr Named CFO of Boeing’s Autonomous Systems Business
Troy Lahr, vice president of investor relations at Boeing, has been appointed as chief financial officer of the aerospace and defense contractor’s autonomous systems business in a move that takes effect Sept. 22.
India Plans Single-Engine Fighter Aircraft RFI for Lockheed, Saab
India is expected to release a request for information to Saaband Lockheed Martin this month for the production of single-engine fighter aircraft in partnership with a domestic private company as part of the Make in India program.
HR Vet Jeff Pon to Be Nominated as OPM Director
Jeff T.H. Pon, chief human resources and strategy officer at the Society for Human Resource Management, will be nominated to fill the director position at the Office of Personnel Management.
Eight companies have won spots on a five-year, $701 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract from the U.S. Navy to repair, maintain and modernize non-nuclear surface ships homeported in Mayport, Florida. The contractors will conduct continuous maintenance emergent maintenance of the ship and provide short-term support to the Chief of Naval Operations, the Department of Defense said Wednesday.
The U.S. Air Force has begun seeking proposals for a potential $5.7 billion follow-on multiple-award contract to provide combat air forces contracted air support services to help protect U.S. assets against advanced airborne threats. CAF CAS II seeks to procure non-personal services for realistic advanced adversary air threats and close air support threats to support
Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) has secured a potential $167.1 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy to supply four lot 6 full-rate production Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar systems. Marine Corps Systems Command is the contracting activity and will obligate the full contract amount using the U.S. Air Force’s other procurement funds for fiscal year 2024,
