Wash100: GCW Reader’s Choice Awardees Announced

Secretary of Defense James Mattis has received the 2018 GCW Readers’ Choice Award for Government Executives after garnering the highest number of votes inExecutive Mosaic‘s 2018 Wash100 list. In addition, Craig Abod, president of Carahsoft, received the 2018 GCW Readers’ Choice Award for GovCon Executives after winning the highest number of votes among his category.

Mattis, who earned 1,007 votes, and Abod, who earned 832 votes out of a total 24,131 tallied by end of day Monday, April 30th, are each previous Wash100 inductees. Mattis was first inducted in 2017 while Abod is a four-time recipient.

“The U.S. GovCon sector boasts the largest pool of talent and ability in the world. To be recognized as a leader among your peers is a rare honor, but to be recognized by your peers as the best of the best in this hyper-competitive arena is rarer still. We at Executive Mosaic couldn’t be more honored to present Secretary Mattis and Craig Abod with these prestigious awards,” said Jim Garrettson, Executive Mosaic’s CEO and founder.

Voter participation has sizably increased from 2017 to 2018. An additional 5,727 votes have been tallied for the top ten popular vote recipients, growing nearly 446.7% percent from 2017’s results.

The Wash100, now in its fifth year, recognizes the premier private and public sector GovCon leaders as hand-picked by Executive Mosaic’s election committee. Individuals selected must have demonstrated superior leadership, innovation, reliability, achievement and vision.

The total top 10 featured a split between GovCon Executives and Government Executives. In addition to Craig Abod, we would like to congratulate our leaders in the polls:

• Sec. James Mattis, U.S. Department of Defense

• Raquel Bono, U.S. Navy, director of the Defense Health Agency

• Chris Marzilli, president of General Dynamics Mission Systems

• Phebe Novakovic, CEO of General Dynamics

• Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart, deputy commander, U.S. Cyber Command

• Xavier Williams, president of AT&T Global Business Public Sector Solutions

• Lawrence Prior, former president and CEO of CSRA, now part of General Dynamics Information Technology

• Amy Gilliland, president of GDIT

• Lt. Gen. Charles Hooper, director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency

Recent M&A Activity

This week we’re recapping recent M&A activity, including:

• Peraton purchasing SGI

• Spirit Aerosystems purchasing Asco Industries’ parent company for $650M

• L3 Technologies selling Vertex Aerospace to American Industrial Partners for $540M

• Veritas Capital finalizing PwC’s public sector arm acquisition

• Boeing buying KLX for $3.2 billion

• KBR completing its acquisition of SGT

On April 23rd, Herndon, Va.-based Peraton announced its acquisition of Strategic Resources International for an undisclosed sum. “The addition of SRI to the Peraton portfolio adds an important complement to our communications offerings through their extensive portfolio of telecommunications assets in the areas of mobile, [internet protocol] transport and [very small aperture terminal],” said Stu Shea, Peraton president and CEO and a 2018 Wash100 recipient.

On May 2nd, Spirit Aerosystems announced its plans to purchase Asco Industries’ Belgium-based parent company, S.R.I.F., in a cash deal valued at approximately $650 million. Tom Gentile, president and CEO, said the acquisition would bolster the Wichita, Kan., company’s fabrication business and expand work on its F-35 aircraft and Airbus A320 and A350 wing programs. Asco CEO Christian Boas will remain with the company.

On May 1st, L3 Technologies announced plans to sell its Vertex Aerospace division to N.Y.-based private equity firm American Industrial Partners, in a cash deal estimated at $540 million. The transaction includes the acquisition of L3’s TCS and Crestview Aerospace business units, which operate under the technology contractor’s aerospace systems segment. Both companies expect the deal to close this summer.

On May 1st, Veritas Capital announced it finalized its acquisition of PwC’s U.S. public sector arm. “We are excited to start this next stage of our growth as a standalone company and committed to completing a smooth transition,” said Scott McIntyre, CEO of the now-former PwC U.S. public sector business and a 2018 Wash100 recipient. Ramzi Musallam, CEO and managing partner of Veritas, is also a2018 Wash100 recipient.

On May 1st, Boeing announced its plan to purchase aviation parts and services provider KLX for approximately $3.2 billion cash in a move to grow its services business. Boeing said it will integrate KLX’s aerospace solutions group with its subsidiary Aviall. Both companies expect to close the transaction in the third quarter of 2018, which is contingent upon the sale and separation of KLX’s energy services group and other customary closing conditions.

On April 25th, KBR announced its completed acquisition of Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, a Greenbelt, Md., government technology and engineering services contractor. KBR intents to keep most of SGT’s current structure and integrate the business into its government services arm, KBRwyle. The combined organization aims to identify new growth opportunities and create synergies across the civil, military and commercial markets.

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