The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Chief Officer Awards were announced April 8, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person June 4.
Next is Sean Love, vice president of growth for Peraton’s Defense Mission and Health Solutions sector, and finalist in the Business Development Executive of the Year category. In this spotlight, he offers advice for those following a similar path, shares current priorities and more.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
In 2025, the team and I are really driving home impact – direct, measurable, and mission-critical. We have the privilege of enabling our customers on strategic defense initiatives, securing the health of our nation, and helping the government combat fraud, waste, and abuse. When we protect the integrity of the systems supporting those initiatives, we protect the people who rely on them—our troops, our allies, and our citizens.
We’re positioning Peraton to be a decisive force in the evolving threat landscape. For defense, that means preparing for the next level of warfare. On the health front, we are focused on addressing systemic inefficiencies and gaps in fraud detection—issues that aren’t going away without proactive change.
The Peraton Defense Mission & Health Solutions (DMHS) Sector isn’t built to maintain the status quo; we’re built to evolve. We’re building a growth engine through DMHS that will help position Peraton, and the nation, to proactively meet the threats on the horizon. We’re not waiting for the future to arrive—we’re leaning into it.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Even if you think you know what your career path looks like, always be ready and open to change. Like most leaders, my career path has been a lattice not a ladder, and I learned something from each role that I still use to this day. From personal experience, I’d say take on a lateral role and say ‘yes’ to extra work if it can expand your skill set or help you grow. Stepping up and taking on new challenges is the only way to truly identify all of your strengths and understand where you can add value across the organization.
Continuing that piece of advice, get out of your comfort zone. If you’re not a little afraid of the next challenge, it’s not the right next step. While in pursuit, surround yourself with people who complement your strengths and can fill in any gaps you may have. I know where I’m strong — and I know where I’m not. I build teams to balance out those dynamics. For leaders, always seek to hire people who are better than you then give them the room to run. That’s how we win together.
Finally, just be kind. That’s not fluff — it’s strategic. Relationships drive everything and you never know where people will end up.
Fun Fact: What is something about you that most people do not know?
Ironically, I never envisioned that I would be in growth. I stumbled into it when someone asked me to temporarily fill in for their BD lead. I never intended to work in growth and had a pretty negative view of BD being too “salesy.” Once I was asked to step in, I quickly realized it wasn’t about selling — it was about problem solving. That’s when it clicked for me, and I truly found my passion. I now have the honor to work across teams and agencies to solve some of the most critical needs in government. That’s not a job — it’s a privilege. We’re not here to push paperwork, we’re here to make a difference. At Peraton, we are one team with one fight. The best part is I get to do that every day with a team I trust and a mission I believe in.