Top Cloud Executives to Watch in 2025

Blake Nelson

Vice President Cloud and Data Center Practice Leader, Leidos

Blake Nelson recently established the Leidos Cloud and Data Center Practice, focusing on delivering repeatable multi-cloud solutions. These offerings encompass automation, operations, financial management and migration factories, empowering federal customers to achieve cost savings and accelerated value realization.

The focus will be on unlocking the full potential of hyperscale cloud platforms, ensuring seamless integrations across legacy and modern systems while prioritizing security, governance and cost optimization.

Paul Wilkinson, senior vice president, digital modernization practice leader at Leidos, said Nelson’s work drives impact in multiple areas.

“His work empowers organizations to seamlessly integrate modern technologies, unlocking the full potential of the cloud to accelerate mission success,” Wilkinson said.

Why Watch

Nelson’s team is driving innovation in multi-cloud and data center management using AI-powered managed services and operations and repeatable solutions that enhance security, reduce costs and accelerate mission-critical innovation.

Nelson spends his spare time taking his three kids on as many ski and mountain biking adventures as possible — because nothing says “quality bonding” like hurtling down a mountain together!

“Collaborating with customers, Leidos program managers and strategic partners to craft innovative cloud strategies is an incredible opportunity – and innovation, like skiing and mountain biking, is about reading the terrain, embracing the unknown, and finding the fastest line to progress — because the best paths aren’t always paved, they’re carved,” Nelson said.

At work, the team is using AI to enhance automation, predictive analytics and data-driven decision-making, streamlining the management of cloud environments. Plus, they are implementing robust data governance and privacy controls while unlocking the hyperscale cloud’s transformative potential.

“The team is poised to lead the charge, enabling agencies to harness AI-powered cloud ecosystems that drive agility, resilience and mission success,” Nelson said.

Fun fact: Nelson, a West Virginia University alum, serves on the board of directors and is a former president of the WVU Alumni DC Chapter (which means he’s hosted plenty of Mountaineer meetups and likely overused “Let’s go!”). He also advises the WVU Statler School of Engineering’s Lane Department of Computer Science, offering insight, guidance and the occasional bad dad joke.