The finalists for WashingtonExec’s 2024 Pinnacle Awards were announced Sept. 20, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 21.
Next is Jason Albanese, senior vice president, National Security Growth, at Leidos, and finalist in the Business Development Executive of the Year, Public Company, category. Here, he talks about recent achievements, shares career advice and more.
What key achievements did you have in 2024?
In 2024, we achieved significant growth with over $15 billion in proposal submissions and $7 billion in awards year-to-date, with more than $10 billion in total planned. Our competitive edge was reinforced with a 70%+ win rate on competitive bids, and we strengthened our market position in critical areas such as Space and Cyber, positioning us for continued success in the coming year.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
Our primary focus is to become the most trusted national security company by helping our customers tackle their most complex challenges across DoD, Intelligence, and Homeland Security missions. To achieve this, we’re building a high-performing Growth team that delivers innovative proposals to enhance mission outcomes. We’re also aligning corporate investments in key areas like software development and AI/ML to drive greater impact.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
My best career advice is simple: Don’t be upset by the results you didn’t achieve if you didn’t put in the necessary work. Always surround yourself with people smarter than you — learning from them will push you to grow. And remember, there’s no such thing as losing, only learning, so use every experience as an opportunity to improve and move forward.
Fun Fact: What is something about you that most people do not know about? (Hobbies, passions, etc?)
When not working or coaching my kids’ sports, I compete in triathlons.
