Not everyone starts their GovCon career writing code — or lifting weights. But for AMERICAN SYSTEMS CIO and CTO Srinivas Rautwar, both disciplines shaped the leader he is today.
What began as a fascination with mechanical engineering turned into a 25-year career leading enterprise modernization, cybersecurity, and AI initiatives across IBM, PwC, Cognizant and now AMERICAN SYSTEMS.
In this Q&A, Rautwar talks about why IT is where “strategy and execution meet,” how fitness fuels his leadership, and what it takes to balance innovation with compliance in a high-stakes federal landscape.
Can you provide a brief overview of your professional background and career progression?
My career began in mechanical engineering, but I was drawn to Information Technology because it allowed me to solve complex problems at enterprise scale. I spent my early years designing applications and writing code, which gave me a strong technical foundation and a perspective that has been invaluable throughout my leadership journey.
Over the last 25+ years, I’ve held senior roles at IBM, PwC, and Cognizant, gaining experience in IT operations, process improvement, and enterprise transformations. Since joining AMERICAN SYSTEMS in 2007, I’ve led IT operations, strengthened cybersecurity, and advanced enterprise modernization initiatives. In recent years, my work has been centered on modernizing infrastructure, expanding advanced data analytics, and adopting AI/ML — including Generative AI — responsibly, supported by strong IT governance, risk, and compliance practices. That journey prepared me to step into the CIO & CTO roles in 2025.
Why was this the path you chose, and how influential was it to your career?
I chose this path because Information Technology is where strategy and execution meet. It allows you to take complex problems and translate them into solutions that have real impact. Early in my career, I realized IT is not just a support function — it’s a driver of innovation, security, and business growth. That insight has influenced my entire career and continues to shape how I lead today: with a focus on security, enterprise modernization, advanced data analytics, and AI/ML — including Generative AI — all underpinned by strong governance practices to ensure technology directly enables mission success.
Do you have a personal connection to the current mission you support?
Yes. Having worked in federal contracting for nearly two decades, I feel a deep personal connection to the mission. The systems and solutions we deliver directly support the people safeguarding our nation, and that makes every decision in IT meaningful. At AMERICAN SYSTEMS, I view information technology not just as infrastructure but as a force multiplier for mission success. That perspective makes the work both personal and purposeful, and it drives my commitment to lead with security, reliability, and innovation at the core.
What are your current top priorities and responsibilities? How do these relate to your company’s overall mission/growth strategy?
My top priorities are to keep security and compliance at the forefront, drive infrastructure modernization to improve agility and efficiency, expand advanced data analytics for smarter decision-making, and adopt AI/ML — including Generative AI — responsibly to create measurable mission impact. Equally important is strengthening IT governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) so innovation remains secure and sustainable. These priorities directly support AMERICAN SYSTEMS’ mission and growth strategy by ensuring we remain secure, efficient, and competitive.
Where do you and your team see growth opportunities, or what do you anticipate to be your customers’ top pain points?
We see major growth opportunities in applying AI/ML, automation, and analytics to deliver faster, smarter mission outcomes. At the same time, our federal customers continue to face pressing challenges: cybersecurity threats, increasing compliance requirements (CMMC, NIST, DFARS), and legacy systems. Helping them modernize securely, improve resilience, and unlock the value of data is where we can provide the most impact and reinforce our role as a trusted partner.
How are you and your team planning to address/prepare for these opportunities?
We are preparing with a security-first and compliance-first strategy. That includes modernizing infrastructure to strengthen resilience, expanding cloud adoption and automation for agility,
and advancing AI/ML — including Generative AI — and data analytics to improve mission outcomes. At the same time, we are reinforcing IT GRC practices so that innovation is aligned with federal standards. Just as important, we are deepening collaboration with our business offices to ensure IT priorities stay tightly connected to business priorities. This approach allows us to innovate responsibly while ensuring mission assurance.
How important is mentorship & networking in GovCon? Were they influential to your career?
Mentorship and networking are critical in GovCon, where trust and relationships often drive success as much as capability. I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who shaped my leadership style and networks that created opportunities throughout my career. Those experiences reinforced the importance of paying it forward which is why I actively mentor emerging IT leaders and encourage them to pair technical depth with business perspective. Building strong professional connections and sharing knowledge has been a constant driver of growth for me and for the teams I’ve led.
What is something most people don’t know about you personally?
Most people don’t know that I’m a lifelong fitness enthusiast. I strength train regularly, play pickleball, and focus on overall wellness. I believe the discipline that comes from fitness translates directly into leadership — helping me bring energy, focus, and resilience to my role every day.