Kevin R. Wheelock
Vice President of Contracts, Serco
Kevin Wheelock collaborates closely with Serco’s business leadership across multiple competencies, including operations, legal, finance, pricing and procurement.
Leading a large team of contracts professionals with full lifecycle responsibility for agreements at the federal, state and local level and in the international markets, Wheelock and his team shape responses to both pre-award and post-award requirements and interpret and monitor contractual requirements.
Bringing extensive military and corporate experience, Wheelock supports Serco’s vision as the partner of choice to governments globally. Serco has core capabilities that include service design, advisory services, program management, systems integration, engineering, case management and management of facilities and other assets. Major U.S. customers include the military components and Defense Department civilian agencies.
“Serco allows me to work on meaningful and significant programs that impact a better future for both U.S. citizens and the citizens of other nations,” Wheelock said. “I have the opportunity to employ Serco’s vast capabilities to address some of the most urgent and complex challenges facing governments globally. And with every opportunity comes the satisfaction of moving the needle.”
Why Watch
Serco is recognized as a well-managed, high-performing service provider focusing on defense, transportation and citizen services. Serco’s business model is for Serco program managers to assist with customers’ challenges. When the Serco program managers encounter their own cost, schedule or performance issues, Wheelock insists they turn to Serco Contracts for assistance.
“Serco’s government-facing service provider depends upon the Contracts Department for… none other than …service,” he said. “We service the service provider. We set the standard as to how service should be delivered.”
To sustain the corporation’s performance, Wheelock credits his contracts team for solving complex problems using critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and mental toughness. He knows solutions are not found in government regulations or policy manuals. Instead, he insists the contracts organization operate as a knowledge-based entity. The Contracts Department should have the tools to develop solutions or know where to find answers when faced with problems.
“Most importantly, the final solution must adhere to the core principle of leadership, which is doing the right thing,” he said. Wheelock insists that mastering those fundamentals inspires confidence among Serco’s customers and develops the goodwill necessary to thrive in that market space.
“Kevin has been critical to growing our Navy portfolio and effectively employing the available pre-award and post-award remedies to maximize our financial performance,” said Dirk Smith, senior vice president for Corporate Services. “Kevin is a mentor to both our professional contracts staff and our business leaders. The wealth of experience he brings to the Serco team cannot be understated.”
Fun fact: Wheelock has traveled extensively and continues to do so. “Traveling adds to your perspective on life,” he said. “And with additional perspectives in your back pocket, you have more tools to solve complex problems. If you’re solving complex problems, you’re moving the needle. And we want to move the needle.”