Cassandra Walker-Leahy
Vice President of Defense Programs, DarkStar Intelligence
Cassandra Walker-Leahy’s most notable recent achievement is completing the intensive Shipley Training and obtaining her Shipley Certified badge and certificate. This certification highlights her dedication to excellence in business development, proposal writing and capture management. It also provides her with advanced skills essential for driving strategic growth and success at DarkStar Intelligence.
“Cassandra has played a pivotal role in DarkStar’s success in the past several years,” said Chelsea Pierson, DarkStar chief operating officer. She consistently embodies DarkStar’s Core4 values of humility, agility, passion and ownership and is always quick to lend a hand when needed. Cassandra has an innate ability to connect with people, making her not only a highly effective manager but an invaluable member of our small headquarters team. Recently, she has taken on a bigger role in leading DarkStar’s business development efforts with the same enthusiasm that she brings to everything she does, which has resulted in several new promising opportunities for the company. I am extremely proud of Cassandra’s accomplishments, and her contributions have undeniably made DarkStar a better company.”
Why Watch
In 2024, Walker-Leahy and her team are focused on expanding their intelligence mission support and intelligence tradecraft training capabilities. They are also innovating in courseware design and development, along with IT and cyber solutions, to offer advanced support to their clients. DarkStar Intelligence aims to deliver exceptional mission support and tradecraft development, while focusing on retaining top talent and achieving maximum customer satisfaction.
The team plans to grow by developing a strong business development strategy to expand its work and enhance its reputation in the intelligence services sector. Its main goals are to focus on important contracts, foster a culture that attracts and retains skilled employees, optimize corporate spending and ensure high customer satisfaction.
Fun fact: Walker-Leahy is an identical twin. She and her sister, both college sports Hall of Fame inductees, joined the Army after their athletic careers. “Despite our shared achievements and the fact that we are 41 years old, I still think I can outrun her!” Walker-Leahy said. Her personal motto reflects her commitment to progress: “Empowering women and fostering diversity are key to driving innovation and success.”