Dr. Steven R. Omick
President & CEO, Riverside Research
Dr. Steven R. Omick’s biggest recent achievement has been building a leadership team that is accelerating Riverside Research’s evolution into a more mission-driven organization. Under his leadership, the company’s new chief technology officer, Dr. Kim Sablon, has developed a strategy to open new markets aligned with national priorities, including autonomy and counter-uncrewed aircraft systems readiness — an effort already delivering customer impact.
Riverside Research is driving measurable mission outcomes with fewer handoffs by accelerating prototypes into operational use and strengthening transition efforts to reduce time to field. Leaders across the enterprise are advancing this work. Tim Waltz, vice president of Sensors & Systems, is expanding the company’s intelligence community impact through faster deployment of agentic AI capabilities, while Dr. Robert Denz, vice president of the Open Innovation Center, is rapidly growing Riverside Research’s cybersecurity work across a broad set of Defense Department and intelligence community customers.
Why Watch
In 2026, Omick and his team are focused on building clearer pathways from internal research and development programs to prototypes and operational transitions. Several major research initiatives are positioned as keystones of the organization’s future impact. Riverside Research is also investing in AI-enabled processes and integrated infrastructure to improve speed, quality and consistency across the enterprise, while sharpening competencies in cyber resilience, electromagnetics and applied AI, with particular focus on where those disciplines converge.
“The real story isn’t a single executive; it’s a team that’s moving faster, collaborating better, and delivering measurable mission impact,” Omick said.
Fun fact: Omick built a 13-foot wooden stitch-and-glue kayak by hand. He’s also an avid cyclist and photographer and gravitates toward hands-on projects that reward iteration, improvement and craftsmanship — interests he says make him a better leader.