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 Dan Riggs, chief growth and strategy officer at Diné Development Corp., and a finalist in the CGO or BD Executive of the Year (Annual Revenue Greater than $100M and Less than $500M) category. In this spotlight, he reflects on key achievements, offers advice for those following a similar path, shares current priorities and more.
What key achievements did you have in 2024/2025?
The last year marked a period of transformative growth for Diné Development Corporation and our family of companies. We achieved nearly 50% year-over-year revenue growth, increasing from $111 million in FY23 to $166 million in FY24, with a target of $200 million for FY25. This growth was driven through both organic expansion and an acquisition completed in Q4 2023.
In alignment with our long-term strategy, we completed the final phase of VISION 2025 by restructuring our organization around three core markets: defense, federal civilian, and health IT. This restructuring positions us to better align resources, develop focused strategies, and accelerate market expansion. As part of this transformation, we established Vice Presidents of Growth and Strategy for each market to lead strategic account development, cultivate trusted partnerships, and drive sustained revenue growth.
An additional key milestone was the expansion of our footprint in Dayton, Ohio with the opening of a new 36,000-square-foot facility in Fall 2024, the Navajo Code Talkers Building. Honoring the legacy of the Navajo Code Talkers, the facility underscores DDC’s deepening commitment to the local community and strengthens our support for key Air Force customers through the delivery of cutting-edge technology solutions that empower the warfighter.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
First and foremost, I am committed to advancing DDC’s solution accelerators in IT and engineering with AI as the cornerstone of our strategy. Generative AI represents not only a new tool, but a paradigm shift in how knowledge is generated, decisions are made, and systems are built and scaled. It will fundamentally reshape how the federal government delivers on its mission.
This is more than another technology wave — it’s a foundational leap that redefines the boundaries of innovation, operational intelligence, and mission execution. For DDC, this moment is a call to lead in the federal government’s adoption of AI.
Our “AI First” future is grounded in a strong legacy of mission-aligned solution accelerators, including the MDACA Data Fabric Suite, Simple Data Mesh Architecture (SDMA), and Turnkey Security and Landing Zone Architecture (TKSA/LZA). These platforms have delivered measurable transformation across federal ecosystems. With AI as the catalyst, we are embedding adaptive intelligence into these accelerators, enabling them to evolve in real time to address increasingly complex government needs.
Simultaneously, we are applying AI across our internal operations to drive efficiency, increase precision, reduce costs, and scale best practices across our enterprise. This dual-track approach, transforming both what we deliver and how we operate, will position DDC at the forefront of innovation in the federal landscape.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Sometimes, you need to get uncomfortable to get comfortable, and that often means taking risks. With the rapid rise of AI reshaping how we work, change is inevitable. The best way to navigate this is by embracing a mindset of continuous learning and upskilling. Stepping into the unknown can feel risky, and resistance to change is human nature, but growth rarely happens in your comfort zone.
Throughout your career, you may need to reinvent yourself multiple times: from a technical contributor to a technical change agent, from a manager to a true leader, or from a delivery role into business development. These transitions often require stepping into roles you haven’t done before.
Don’t let fear of the unknown, or comfort with the familiar, hold you back. Reinvention is where growth lives. Lean into the discomfort, take the leap, and trust that with every challenge comes the opportunity to become a stronger, more dynamic version of yourself.