Danielle Cole
Chief People Officer, Agile Defense
Danielle Cole’s biggest recent achievement has been leading the integration of Agile Defense and IntelliBridge, harmonizing HR, benefits, payroll, job structures and performance management into one unified system.
This transformation streamlined operations, contained costs and positioned the company for growth while ensuring employees remained engaged through change. It’s a model for balancing efficiency with a strong employee experience, Cole said.
“I’m very proud of the great work Danielle is doing to position Agile Defense as an employer of choice,” said Rick Wagner, CEO of Agile Defense. “As we continue to win new and exciting work, we’re committed to creating pathways that allow our employees to evolve with the mission.”
Agile Defense is also helping advance federal priorities to reduce cost, streamline operations and improve government efficiency through continuous improvement in people operations — reimagining talent acquisition, modernizing HR systems, and harmonizing benefits to drive both efficiency and equity.
By embedding compliance, data governance and workforce analytics into every process, the company is building a stronger, more agile workforce that directly supports its government customers’ missions with precision, accountability and innovation.
Why Watch
In 2025, Cole and her team are driving workforce transformation by building pathways for internal mobility, reskilling, and career development that align employee growth with evolving customer and mission needs. They are modernizing performance appraisals, equipping managers with new training and employee relations resources, and leveraging workforce analytics to make data-driven decisions. These initiatives are designed to create a more agile, future-ready organization while advancing operational excellence.
“What excites me most is helping people grow — watching someone take on new challenges, build confidence, and discover what they’re capable of,” Cole said. “As Agile Defense continues to grow, so do the opportunities for our people to stretch, succeed, and stay deeply engaged in meaningful work.”
Fun fact: When Cole isn’t leading large-scale people initiatives, she’s focused on her favorite role — mom. Together with her husband and their two energetic children, ages 8 and 13, she’s made travel a family tradition. To date, they’ve visited 14 countries, with many more adventures planned for the years ahead.