Top 25 Execs to Watch in 2020: Alion’s Steve Schorer

Appointed Alion Science and Technology Corp. chairman and CEO in May 2017, Steve Schorer proceeds to lead the company through its 3-year transformation that continued at pace in 2019.

That year’s focus was positioning for long-term growth and development of products and franchises in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, big data platforms, cyber analytics, synthetics, C5 software and spectrum dominance, he said.

And the company’s business continued to mature through key contract wins and the continuation of acquisitions. In 2019, Alion divested its Naval Systems Business Unit to Serco and completed the integration of MacAulay-Brown, Inc.

“The divestiture of the Naval Systems Business Unit was a major deleveraging event that positions Alion to invest in high-growth technologies and companies moving forward,” Schorer said.

Also in 2019, Alion won its second transformational ISR program in less than 12 months: a $969 million General Services Administration Oasis Task Order to provide ISR solutions to the United States Africa Command and Combatant Commands with a focus on using Alion’s sensor processing, fusion and intelligence analytics.

“Alion recognizes the need for agility and speed in developing rapid engineering solutions for the defense and intelligence communities,” Schorer said. “Our focus is on how we can develop and optimize our enterprise — our people, our technology, our operations and our culture to ensure that we are providing the best technological solutions to achieve our customers’ mission objectives.”

And as Alion looks to the future under Schorer’s leadership, it continues to invest in its employees and the next generation of engineers and technologists to prepare them for the adoption and deployment of artificial intelligence technology.

“The focus is readiness for AI advancements in Alion’s business and providing solutions that give a tactical edge for its customers,” Schorer added.

Why Watch:

Alion plans to continue to grow through acquisition activities into 2020, with a focus on advanced data analytics and cyber threat awareness, ISR, trusted electronics and AI solutions.

“2020 will be about continued growth of key programs and the winning of additional franchise programs to grow Alion,” Schorer said. “We have several on the horizon across all of business operations.”

Alion will also continue the development of a growing family of products in electronic warfare, weapon and launch electronics, and deployable ISR sensors. And it will continue to invest in its people and culture.

“There is a reason you see images of lions when you come to our offices,” Schorer said. “The people who work here are filled with pride — pride for our customers’ mission and pride in what they do to advance global security solutions.”

See the rest of the 2020 Top 25 Execs to Watch list here.