WashingtonExec on June 4 unveiled the winners of the 2025 Chief Officer Awards, its premier recognition of the executives shaping the future of government contracting. This year, we combined two signature ceremonies into one can’t-miss event celebrating bold, innovative leaders across government and industry.
The event took place at The Hilton in McLean, Virginia, where over 500 attendees came together for a memorable in-person luncheon.
Along with the government and industry winners, Renato “Renny” DiPentima, former president, CEO and board director of SRA International, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes DiPentima for his strong reputation for integrity and performance, and his significance in shaping the federal IT and contracting landscape.
WashingtonExec also launched its premier Public Service Awards this year, recognizing five federal leaders whose careers reflect what public service is really about: showing up, sticking with the mission and doing the hard work — year after year.
WashingtonExec extends its gratitude to its platinum sponsor; Govplace, to its silver sponsors, KippsDeSanto & Co. and Morgan Stanley; and to its many table sponsors for their generous support.
This year’s awards received a record level of interest and excitement. We look forward to next year!
Below are all the winners and the categories:
Private & Public Company
Artificial Intelligence Executive of the Year
- Daniel Keller, ECS
Private Company
CEO of the Year
Annual Revenue Greater than $100M and Less than $500M
- Rick Wagner, Agile Defense
Public Company
CEO of the Year
Annual Revenue Greater than $100M and Less than $500M
- John Ustica, Siemens Government Technologies
Private & Public Company
CEO of the Year
Annual Revenue Greater than $500M
- Bill Ballhaus, Mercury Systems
CEO of the Year
Annual Revenue Less than $100M
- Jonathan Evans, B&A
CFO of the Year
Annual Revenue Greater than $100M and Less than $500M
- Pamela Rothka, Empower AI
Private & Public
CFO of the Year
Annual Revenue Greater than $500M
- Travis Johnson, Amentum
Private
CFO of the Year
Annual Revenue Less than $100M
- JD Kuhn, Auria
Private
CGO or BD Executive of the Year
Annual Revenue Greater than $100M and Less than $500M
- Pat Collins, Auria
Private & Public
CGO or BD Executive of the Year
Annual Revenue Greater than $500M
- Dave Hearding, Systems Planning & Analysis
Private
CGO or BD Executive of the Year
Annual Revenue Less than $100M
- Jeffrey Mujsce, BryceTech
Private & Public
CHRO or HR Executive of the Year
- Julie Anna Barker, ManTech International
Private & Public
CMO or Marketing Executive of the Year
- Stephanie Haynes, MetroStar
Private
CTO of the Year
- Jennifer Sample, Ph.D., Empower AI
Public
CTO of the Year
- Bob Ritchie, Science Applications International Corporation
Private
Cybersecurity Executive of the Year
- Patti Chanthaphone, Tyto Athene
Public
Cybersecurity Executive of the Year
- Eric Trexler, Palo Alto Networks
Private & Public
DoD Executive of the Year
- Josh Jackson, Science Applications International Corporation
Private & Public
Executive Assistant (EA) of the Year
- Ashley Crouse, Amivero
- Nicole Alley, MORI Associates
Private & Public
General Counsel and / or Compliance Executive of the Year
- Michelle Bryan, Intelsat
Private & Public
Healthcare Executive of the Year
- Meaghan Carter, Gunnison
Public Service Awardees
- Gregory Barbaccia, Federal Chief Information Officer, Office of Management and Budget
- Katie Arrington, Acting Chief Information Officer, Department of Defense
- Michael Kratsios, Assistant to the President for Science & Technology and 13th Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy
- Melinda Rogers, Chief Information Officer, Department of Justice
- David Shive, Chief Information Officer, General Services Administration