Former Leidos Executive Jerry Howe Joins Xcelerate Board

Xcelerate Solutions has appointed Jerry Howe to its board of directors, the defense and national security company said Thursday.

Who Is Jerry Howe?

With more than 35 years of experience, Howe is a veteran executive and lawyer specializing in aerospace, defense, homeland security, intelligence and government contracting. He spent nearly nine years at Leidos, retiring in 2024 after serving as executive vice president and general counsel, where he oversaw legal, contracts, corporate governance, ethics and compliance and internal audit functions for the company’s global operations.

Earlier in his career, Howe was a partner at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson and held senior leadership roles at TASC, Intermap Technologies, Olive Group, SRA International and Veridian. He also served as a principal at InSequitur and a partner at Steptoe & Johnson.

What Will Howe’s Responsibilities Be as a Board Member?

In his new role at Xcelerate, Howe will advise company leadership on corporate governance, growth strategy and opportunities within the national security markets. Mark Drever, CEO of Xcelerate, said Howe’s “perspective and leadership will be invaluable” as the company expands its capabilities.

Xcelerate Expands Leadership Team

Howe’s appointment marks the latest in a series of recent leadership updates at Xcelerate Solutions. In March 2026, the company named former CACI International executive Jeffrey Keen as senior vice president of federal civilian programs. A month earlier, Brett Mencin expanded his role to president of enterprise vetting and analysis while continuing to serve as chief security officer.

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