Kevin Kelly, chairman and CEO of Arcfield, is the new chair of WashingtonExec’s Leadership Council for 2026.
As chair, Kelly will lead discussions on topics spanning from the M&A market to acquisition reform and the Golden Dome, building on the best practices and valuable lessons he has observed during his years as a member, he tells WashingtonExec. Below, he shares insights on his experience, his goals as chair and the importance of connecting industry leaders with government officials.
What are some of the focus areas/hot topics you want to discuss with the leadership council this year?
The hottest topics facing the leadership of GovCon companies this year are:
- Golden Dome
- Acquisition reform
- The changing M&A market – deal flow, corporate valuations, the rebirth of IPOs
- The cost and operational impacts of CMMC on our market
- Managing a business amidst changing administration priorities
How will your personal and career experience and expertise within the GovCon and C-suite community help lead the council in discussions on trending leadership-related topics?
Entering my 14th year as a GovCon CEO, I bring extensive leadership experience across both public and private sectors. Throughout my career, I’ve strategically directed investments in growth initiatives, innovation programs, infrastructure development, and operational excellence for diverse business models including products, services and hybrid enterprises.
My comprehensive experience provides me a multifaceted perspective that I will leverage to enhance the council’s industry engagement efforts and foster collaborative activities that deliver meaningful results. I’m committed to building productive partnerships between government and industry stakeholders while addressing the complex challenges facing our sector today.
What does it mean for you to be chair of this council?
As chairman of the council, I envision my role in three essential dimensions:
Strategic Interface: I will serve as the principal liaison between council members and key industry/government leadership. My focus will be on understanding our members’ strategic interests and securing engagement with government leaders who can directly address those priorities, creating meaningful dialogue and productive outcomes.
Collective Advocacy: I commit to being a powerful advocate for our industry’s collective needs when engaging with government leadership. By consolidating our concerns and recommendations, we can amplify our influence and speak with a unified, authoritative voice that drives positive change in the government-industry relationship.
Dynamic Facilitation: During council dinner engagements, I will serve as a thoughtful facilitator who ensures conversations remain substantive, relevant and valuable. I will create an environment where diverse perspectives are heard, challenging questions are addressed, and discussions yield actionable insights that benefit all participants.
Through these complementary functions, I aim to enhance the council’s effectiveness, elevate our industry’s profile, and strengthen our collaborative relationships with government partners.
Do you feel there is great value in connecting industry executives with government officials to discuss topics facing the GovCon community? If so, why?
In the absence of open, honest, and collaborative dialogue with our government counterparts, GovCon leadership is often left to rely on individual interpretations—susceptible to bias or speculative analysis. The discussions we foster with government leaders, conducted under Chatham House Rules, offer a more transparent and accurate perspective on the priorities and imperatives of the missions we support. This exchange of insights significantly enhances our collective ability to align industry efforts with government needs, ultimately driving greater efficiency, effectiveness, and impact in the work we do as industry leaders.
Do you have any unique plans yet for the council?
At this time, I don’t have any groundbreaking changes planned for the council, but I do aim to build on the best practices and valuable lessons I’ve observed during my years as a member. Over the years, I’ve seen council leadership implement various tools and strategies to enhance the quality and effectiveness of our meetings. One approach I’d like to see revived is soliciting priorities from each council member, ensuring our discussions with industry leadership are aligned with the collective needs and interests of the group.
Another tool I’d like to incorporate is gathering questions or suggested discussion topics from council members ahead of our meetings with government counterparts. This would allow us to give those counterparts adequate time to prepare, leading to more productive and informed conversations. Beyond these refinements, I plan to lean on the proven strategies and best practices I’ve employed and observed as an industry leader to foster meaningful dialogue and collaboration.
What do you hope to accomplish as chair of this council, and what do you hope councilmembers get out of your leadership?
The goals I envision for the council are straightforward yet significant. My primary objective is to ensure each meeting delivers relevant high-value content that maximizes the return on time investment for all council members.
Understanding that we all manage demanding schedules with competing priorities, I am committed to efficiency in our council engagements. This focus on purposeful, streamlined interactions has been a hallmark of successful leadership throughout my tenure with the council, and I intend to preserve and enhance this approach.
In addition to fostering productive discussions with our government counterparts, a key benefit of our participation in the council is the opportunity to build deeper relationships with one another. By strengthening these connections, we can collaborate more effectively as an industry, enabling us to deliver more comprehensive and innovative solutions to the complex challenges faced by our mission partners.
By prioritizing substantive dialogue, meaningful collaboration and actionable outcomes, we can create a council experience that not only respects the professional demands on each member but also amplifies our collective impact.