- DSA has unveiled changes to its C-suite
- A new finance chief will take office in November
- The company will stand up separate intelligence and CIP units in 2027
Mike Donovan, a Data Systems Analysts executive with more than 20 years at the company, has been named chief operating officer-elect and will step into the COO role on Jan. 1.
DSA said Monday Donovan will take over from Kathleen Kirk, who will retire in March after more than three decades at DSA and will stay on until then to help with the transition.
As part of the leadership changes, Mike Emerle, DSA’s vice president of finance and accounting and treasurer, will become chief financial officer on Nov. 1.
Who Is Mike Donovan?
Donovan is a DSA executive with more than two decades at the company. He most recently served as senior VP of the intelligence and critical infrastructure protection, or CIP, business unit. In that role, he oversaw intelligence community programs focused on cloud and platform engineering, infrastructure modernization, DevSecOps, systems integration and cybersecurity, as well as CIP work for federal, state and commercial clients.
He joined DSA in 2001 as a systems engineer and later served as program manager, program director, senior director and vice president. Before DSA, he helped develop knowledge management tools for the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization and supported state and local governments in deploying collaboration software.
Who Is Mike Emerle?
Emerle is a finance executive who directs DSA’s finance functions, including accounting, pricing, payroll, cash management, financial planning and audits, according to his company bio.
He joined DSA in 2014 from Lockheed Martin and brings more than 15 years of finance and accounting experience in the government services sector, with a background in financial systems integration, financial planning and analysis, and mergers and acquisitions. He is a certified public accountant.
DSA tied the CFO appointment to Emerle’s track record at the company and to its emphasis on financial leadership as it advances its strategic priorities.
How Is DSA Realigning Its Business Units?
Beginning Jan. 1, DSA will divide its combined intelligence and CIP organization into two separate business units. Chris Guyton will head the intelligence unit, and Eoin O’Driscoll will lead the CIP unit.
Both unit leaders will report to Donovan once he becomes COO. According to the company, the new setup is intended to give each unit sharper alignment with its own customers, markets and growth opportunities.
What Did DSA CEO John Foley Say About the Leadership Changes?
John Foley, chairman and CEO of DSA, credited Kirk with leaving a lasting mark on the company’s customers and workforce.
“We are deeply grateful for everything Kathleen has contributed to the company. Just as importantly, her continued involvement gives us the opportunity to make this transition thoughtfully and maintain our strong focus on customer success,” said Foley, who took the helm of DSA in January.
He added that the appointments reflect the bench of leaders DSA has developed internally.
“As a 100 percent employee-owned company, we take a long-term view of our customers, our employees, and our business. Mike Donovan, Mike Emerle, Chris Guyton, and Eoin O’Driscoll know our customers, understand our culture, and share our commitment to mission success,” Foley noted.
What Is DSA?
DSA is a Trevose, Pennsylvania-based technology company that is fully owned by its employees. It offers digital modernization services, intelligent platforms and mission-critical solutions to government and commercial clients.
Founded in 1963, the company holds the following credentials: CMMC Level 2 C3PAO certification, ISO 9001:2015 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 registrations, and a CMMI Maturity Level 3 appraisal for services and development.
In May, DSA secured a five-year, $193 million Army task order to support cloud modernization and digital transformation efforts across the Defense Intelligence Enterprise.
