Today’s mission-driven firms serving federal agencies may differ in size and solutions, but they share one constant: strong financial leadership grounded in mission and customer needs. The most successful companies grow through mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments, efficient operations and seamless integrations, but none of that happens without steady financial direction.
For WashingtonExec’s Top Chief Financial Officers to Watch in 2025, we identified standout leaders whose financial expertise drives performance, growth and innovation. These CFOs have advanced their organizations’ goals, shaped operational strategy and positioned their companies for long-term success. Their focus on profitability, talent retention and sustainable best practices reflects exactly what the GovCon community needs to stay competitive and thrive.
Jeremy Koczan
CFO, SMX
In February 2025, SMX completed its seventh acquisition — and second largest to date — with the addition of cBEYONData. As part of the transaction, SMX also secured a new credit facility and transitioned to publicly rated debt through a large-scale syndicated offering in partnership with PE sponsor OSP and Goldman Sachs. CEO Peter LaMontagne and CFO Jeremy Koczan met with major credit agencies and more than 100 investor groups, resulting in a highly successful, oversubscribed credit facility.
As a top 20 U.S. government contractor, SMX worked closely with the administration since the early stages of cost-reduction and streamlining initiatives. Together with its clients, the company advanced its long-standing focus on outcome-based solutions, delivering measurable results and lasting value. SMX continues to see strong opportunities for companies that drive efficiency and deliver value-added solutions across the U.S. government and other highly regulated industries.
“Jeremy and his team continue to scale in driving positive outcomes as SMX grows,” said Peter LaMontagne, SMX CEO. “In growth mode and in facing challenges Jeremy’s leadership on the executive team has been critical to our success. He’s a great partner to me as CEO.”
Why Watch
For the rest of 2025, Koczan’s team is focused on fully integrating cBEYONData into SMX’s processes, tools and systems. By Jan. 1, 2026, the company will be fully aligned within SMX’s Enterprise Systems and Solutions business, positioning it to continue its strong growth trajectory into 2026 and beyond. The team also is closely managing the evolving market environment tied to DOGE and the U.S. government shutdown.
“My team and I recently discussed the importance of driving our Finance organization to not only adopt AI in their daily work, but to become champions of it,” Koczan said. “As with any major shift, there can be some hesitation toward new technology. When I encountered a bit of resistance, I reminded the team, “We didn’t drive to the office today in a horse and buggy—so let’s not focus on past practices, but instead embrace the future via the efficiency and outcomes that AI can provide.”
Fun fact: Koczan has played music for more than 40 years, starting with piano and later switching to guitar in college. He’s performed for audiences of over 1,000 and worked with a producer whose projects appeared on the History Channel. Music remains a core part of his life and helps him stay balanced outside his financial work.
Dan Muse
CFO, SPA
In 2025, SPA acquired four companies, expanding its capabilities across all domains. The company also purchased its headquarters building in Alexandria and announced a major investment to expand the facility and create new jobs in partnership with the governor of Virginia.
In addition, Dan Muse’s team, working with HR, implemented a new HRIS system to streamline operations and strengthen employee engagement. These milestones position SPA for continued growth and operational excellence.
SPA’s work aligns with the Defense Department’s 17 strategic priority areas, continuing its 50-year role as a trusted partner on critical national security programs. The company helps clients meet mission objectives and drive efficiency through data-driven strategies and innovation. SPA is also applying these same principles internally, giving its leaders reliable, timely data and streamlining systems and processes to strengthen decision-making.
Why Watch
In 2025, Muse’s team is focused on completing integrations from recent acquisitions and building a world-class finance and accounting organization. The goal is to position SPA for sustained growth in 2026 and beyond. By aligning operations and talent with the company’s strategic vision, the team is laying the foundation for continued transformational success.
“I am extremely grateful for the entire SPA team and our partnership with Arlington Capital,” Muse said. “Effectively managing through such a period of organic and inorganic growth takes all parts of the organization working closely together in support of our common goals.”
Fun fact: Muse loves traveling and playing golf as it allows him to unwind while exploring new destinations worldwide. In 2025, he visited South America, Africa, Australia, and Europe. Over the past 20 years, he has played over 200 different courses across five continents.
Travis Johnson
CFO, Amentum
Travis Johnson’s biggest recent achievement was celebrating Amentum’s first anniversary as a newly merged public company, a major milestone after a truly transformational year.
The merger’s goal of creating a resilient global leader in advanced engineering and technology solutions has proven successful, reflected in strong operational and financial performance. The company increased its full-year organic guidance on the third-quarter earnings call and significantly reduced debt through divestitures and improved cash flow. Amentum’s success in its first year is the result of the dedication and hard work of more than 50,000 employees committed to delivering for their customers’ most important missions.
The administration’s push for a smarter, more agile government aligns with Amentum’s strengths in digital modernization, space solutions, cybersecurity and systems integration. The company is well-equipped to support enduring missions while helping government agencies adopt next-generation technologies and processes to streamline operations and improve efficiency.
Why Watch
Johnson said he’s fortunate to be part of an extraordinary, hard-working team that showed collaboration and agility while navigating the complexities of being a newly merged public company in fiscal 2025. The team stayed focused on delivering strategic, growth, operational and financial commitments while successfully executing integration and public company transition initiatives.
Fun fact: After almost 50 seasons, Johnson and his wife still reserve Wednesday nights for watching “Survivor.”
Lisa Pataki
CFO, SES
Lisa Pataki’s biggest achievement was leading the financial integration of SES and Intelsat following the close of the $3.1 billion acquisition in July.
The merger united two global leaders in satellite connectivity and space solutions, with a combined government business exceeding $1 billion. It required relentless focus on operational alignment, realizing synergies and investing strategically in the company’s future multi-orbit satellite and terrestrial network.
Through SES’ integration process, the company is eliminating redundancies and building a more efficient organization and service infrastructure for both commercial and government customers in defense, homeland security, the intelligence community and emergency response.
Why Watch
In 2025, Pataki’s team has focused on building the new organization, continuing the integration of the two companies and transforming financial systems. The team is streamlining processes and enabling seamless service delivery across government and commercial sectors while investing in key capabilities and partnerships to drive future innovation.
“Bringing SES and Intelsat together is more than a financial integration — it’s about building a future-ready organization that can deliver secure, seamless connectivity across the world,” she said. ” I’m incredibly proud of the team’s agility, commitment, and vision as we lay the foundation for the next era of innovation and impact.”
Fun fact: Pataki once considered a career in diplomacy before choosing finance. Living in Spain, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg and the United States gave her a strong global perspective that guides how she manages cross-border integrations and stakeholder alignment. That same mindset drives her passion for SES’s mission to connect underserved regions and empower communities through technology. She also enjoys skiing, hiking and time with her family.
John Schlegel
CFO, IEM
John Schlegel’s biggest recent achievement has been leading a transformational growth phase at IEM built on innovation, disciplined investment and measurable results.
The company launched a new $60 million sector, built a $1 billion pipeline and invested more than $1 million in AI and software to strengthen its competitive edge. By modernizing financial reporting, IEM also reduced decision-critical reporting from 14 days to five, giving leaders faster, smarter insights.
At IEM, efficiency and effectiveness aren’t initiatives; they’re the standard the company holds itself to every day. In disaster recovery and emergency management, time saved isn’t just a financial benefit. It can mean a faster return home, a business reopening and a community regaining stability and normalcy.
IEM delivers cost savings and operational efficiency by bringing interdisciplinary expertise directly to clients. The team includes former federal, state and local emergency managers, policy experts and practitioners who understand government from the inside. That real-world experience allows IEM to streamline processes, anticipate risks and deliver compliant, accelerated solutions.
As federal funding and requirements evolve, so does IEM. Clients trust the company as a single, end-to-end partner—combining innovation, rigor and experience to get it right the first time. That commitment to doing the job well, not just quickly, is what sets IEM apart.
“John has played a critical role in positioning IEM for our next chapter of growth,” said Bryan Koon, president and CEO, IEM International, Inc. “His leadership in modernizing our financial systems, investing in R&D, and standing up a new sector has strengthened our foundation and expanded what’s possible for our company and our clients. IEM is stronger, more agile, and more future-ready because of his vision and execution.”
Why Watch
In 2025, Schlegel’s team focused on sustaining IEM’s growth while accelerating modernization across the company as global challenges and disasters continue to affect communities. The team is implementing systems and tools to strengthen operations, improve efficiency and help employees deliver greater impact. The goal is simple: enable IEM to do more good, faster.
“I have been with IEM nearly seven years and worked with IEM for four years prior to that, and what keeps me here is the people,” Schlegel said. “The culture both within our finance team and across IEM truly reflects our mission and values. I’m fortunate to work alongside some of the most dedicated and talented professionals in the industry as we continue to grow and evolve.”
Fun fact: Schlegel played hockey in college but has since traded the ice for pavement. He recently completed his first half marathon and is training for his first full marathon next year. He jokes that he started running after becoming CFO, and it has become one of his favorite ways to clear his head and reset.
Vik Bansal
Chief of Business Operations and Investments (including functions of CFO), RELI Group
Vik Bansal built his career helping small and midsize companies think and operate like large enterprises. He has worked with multiple organizations, taking several from early-stage growth to more than $100 million in revenue.
As a federal CFO, he helped lead one company through a $430 million sale. At RELI Group, he’s applying that same approach — streamlining operations, establishing the company’s first enterprise-wide budget, and expanding his role beyond finance to oversee M&A, HR, recruiting, pricing and internal IT — to align strategy, growth and efficiency across the business.
Efficiency has always been part of RELI’s DNA. The company focuses on reducing costs and streamlining operations through smarter budgeting, process automation and tighter vendor management. Across its contracts, RELI helps agencies modernize systems, eliminate redundancies and strengthen program integrity to ensure taxpayer dollars are used responsibly. The priorities driving today’s government — operational excellence, accountability and measurable impact — are the same values that have guided RELI’s business for years.
“Vik brings a rare combination of financial discipline and visionary thinking,” said Vishal Tulsian, president and COO at RELI Group. “He has a gift for connecting the dots between numbers and strategy, turning financial insights into actionable plans that strengthen our foundation for growth. Under his leadership, RELI has become more agile, efficient and aligned across functions, positioning us to navigate uncertainty and scale with confidence.”
Why Watch
This year has brought unprecedented uncertainty to the federal contracting space, from cash delays to shifting priorities and growth models. Bansal’s team is focused on running the company efficiently while protecting its long-term vision for sustainable growth. In 2025 and beyond, survival is strategy — staying steady, maintaining trust with partners and banks, and making every decision count toward positioning RELI to thrive when the market stabilizes.
“My motto is simple: don’t be a one-trick pony,” he said. “The more you learn and the more you do, the more valuable you become – to your team, your company and yourself. I love every part of what I do, and I’m fortunate to work with leaders who give me the freedom to turn that passion into results.”
Fun fact: Before his GovCon career, Bansal opened, designed and ran a fast-casual New York-style pizza restaurant while still working full time as a CFO. The experience taught him grit, time management and what it takes to run a business from the ground up. His move into government contracting began when one of his banking clients invited him to join a startup — a leap of faith he never regretted.
Mark Herzing
CFO, BryceTech
BryceTech’s biggest recent achievement was implementing a long-term strategy to scale in the aerospace, biosecurity, and defense markets through focused reinvestment in growth-related functions. That strategy was tested during periods of contract uncertainty, shifts in administration priorities, and reprioritization of federal programs that affected long-standing partnerships, requiring proactive planning, transparent communication, and rapid rebudgeting.
The company navigated these challenges without disruption to client delivery, demonstrating a disciplined approach to fueling sustainable success by reinvesting top-line growth into business development, recruiting and infrastructure automation.
Since BryceTech’s founding in 2017, it has championed partnerships that apply science, technology, and analytics to improve cost efficiency and mission performance across government programs. BryceTech delivered measurable results through initiatives such as automating NASA’s research proposal evaluations, substantially reducing time and labor requirements while also strengthening internal programs that sustain workforce excellence.
Throughout the many changes to the federal marketplace, BryceTech’s retention and benefits programs are fully funded, including industry-leading medical and dental coverage, a $6,000 recruitment bonus, and merit-based cash awards that recognized over 40% of the workforce in 2024, reflecting the company’s belief that investing in people is fundamental to mission continuity and operational efficiency.
“Mark’s impact extends far beyond traditional financial oversight,” said Brycetech CEO Carissa Christensen. “He leads with precision-in-pricing and execution, mentors our emerging leaders, and ensures our capture and contract strategies are financially disciplined and mission-driven. Because of his oversight—from bid modeling to contract fulfilment—BryceTech sustains a win-rate near 60 percent, delivers on all opportunities, and remains a trusted business partner to the federal government.”
Why Watch
Building on the foundation of that strategy, Mark Herzing’s team led the financial planning and pricing efforts that enabled BryceTech to secure $70 million in new Defense Department prime contracts, each with a 1-year base and four option years, and an additional award with the same customer to advance CBRN defense capabilities.
The company also conducted financial modeling that positioned BryceTech to win the $2.5 billion, 10-year Space Force Hemisphere IDIQ, extending the company’s reach into unrestricted competition while protecting its small business strengths. These wins, along with OASIS+ awards in the WOSB and TSB pools, reflect Herzing’s team’s focus on disciplined growth, portfolio diversification, and sustainable expansion in a changing federal marketplace.
“At BryceTech, we empower our people, train our people, and trust our people,” he said. “Our leadership team includes colleagues we have worked alongside for decades and new members who have earned complete trust in just a few short years. Their professionalism, integrity, and shared purpose make BryceTech an enduring force for innovation and mission success across the federal landscape.”
Fun fact: Herzing is a semi-professional tubist who maintains an active “second life” as a musician, arranger, and manager of brass ensembles performing across the D.C. metro area.
Bryant Thrift
CFO, Core4ce
Bryant Thrift has been deeply involved in evaluating key components of Core4ce’s business to support organic growth, with a strong emphasis on leveraging emerging technologies that unlock new, innovative ways to serve our customers.
At the same time, he’s focused on identifying M&A opportunities that align culturally and strategically with the company’s existing market footprint. These efforts are designed to bring exciting new work for employees and open fresh avenues of value for customers.
Why Watch
Core4ce is investing in continuous improvements that streamline its technology landscape, eliminate duplicative systems, and accelerate the company’s ability to deliver real-time, actionable intelligence. By rebaselining its reporting processes and enhancing planning capabilities, Core4ce is positioning its organization to make smarter, faster decisions. Ultimately, these efforts are designed to empower the Operations teams with the tools and insights it needs to achieve successful outcomes.
“As Chief Financial Officer, I oversee a broad array of strategic priorities,” Thrift said. “However, a central focus remains ensuring our teams are equipped with the most effective tools and comprehensive training. This commitment enables them to deliver exceptional results and reinforces our dedication to serving both current and future clients with excellence.”
Fun fact: Thrift is a Christmas movie fanatic.
Grady Lincalis
CFO, Freedom Technology Solutions Group
Grady Lincalis’ biggest recent achievement was enhancing the transparency, accuracy and timeliness of financial reporting to stakeholders across the business. This strengthened trust among the board, executive leadership, and management teams by ensuring decisions are grounded in consistent, reliable data.
As a result, Freedom accelerated strategic decision-making and improved accountability at every level, establishing the foundation for intentional growth.
Freedom is aligning with the current administration’s priorities by focusing on the delivery of impactful outcomes for customers. The company is accomplishing this by developing and leveraging commercial product solutions that accelerate delivery and reduce costs. Freedom is both a developer and integrator of proven commercial platforms, combining its federal mission expertise with adaptable, off-the-shelf technologies to reduce customer risk.
At the same time, Freedom is maintaining strong financial discipline to ensure its solutions deliver measurable ROI through cost efficiency, speed to mission and reduced sustainment burden. Together, these efforts align with the current administration’s priorities by positioning Freedom as a modernization partner that delivers faster and more cost-effective outcomes.
Why Watch
In the year ahead, Lincalis’ team is focused on creating the operational capacity needed to support Freedom’s continued growth. This includes advancing the continuous improvement of financial systems, streamlining processes and enhancing analytics to enable decision-making in support of delivering customer outcomes. At the same time, the team remains committed to maintaining rigorous compliance and governance standards at every stage of growth.
“Freedom’s focus on growth isn’t just about expanding the business – it’s about creating opportunities for our people to grow with it,” Lincalis said. “The most rewarding part of my job is seeing employees seize those opportunities, build new skills, and develop into stronger leaders. Their growth is what truly drives our success.”
Fun fact: In high school, a teacher offered extra credit if Lincalis could memorize and recite the alphabet backwards. He took the teacher up on this offer and earned the extra credit. Today, he remembers nothing from that class, but he can still recite the alphabet backward.
Jim LaMantia
CFO, Capgemini Government Solutions
Over the past year, Capgemini Government Solutions continued to build a strong infrastructure to support commercial innovation for the federal mission, aligning the company’s financial and operational strategy to build momentum. This foundation enables Capgemini Government Solutions to accelerate the adoption of its commercial technologies and drive impact for federal clients, said Jim LaMantia.
The company’s solutions enable agencies to focus resources where they matter most. Scalable, secure delivery reflects its commitment to fiscal responsibility and modernization, providing tools that reduce cost, streamline workflows and empower staff to focus on higher-value work.
Capgemini Government Solutions CEO Dan Ford said:
“Jim has been essential in strengthening our financial foundation to drive innovation and mission impact. His strategic leadership in aligning investment priorities with our growth in AI and commercial solutions has positioned us to deliver lasting value to our federal clients. His ability to balance fiscal discipline with vision has made a measurable difference in our success.”
Why Watch
In 2025, Capgemini Government Solutions company focused on strategic investments in AI and top talent to drive organizational resilience. The company is aligning financial strategy with innovation priorities to ensure resources are deployed effectively and deliver lasting value across the enterprise.
“Finding a person’s hidden talent is the key to their success,” LaMantia said.
Fun fact: LaMantia is really good at cooking on the outdoor griddle and enjoys hosting backyard BBQs with friends and family. It’s a great way to bring everyone together.
Josh Montgomery
CFO, ITC Federal
Since joining ITC Federal, Josh Montgomery has focused on building and scaling the business operations of the company to support growth.
“In just over a year Josh has completely transformed the business operations of ITC,” said Greg Fitzgerald, CEO of ITC Federal. “He’s improved our systems, processes, and people to help us deliver more effectively for our clients and scale the business.”
The company has always viewed operational efficiency as fundamental to its customers’ ability to deliver on their mission. The administration’s focus on reducing costs and improving government efficiency directly aligns with how ITC’s solutions enable agencies to do more with their budgets.
The company’s teams drive this alignment by helping agencies modernize legacy systems and accelerate cloud migration, retiring outdated infrastructure and achieving measurable cost and time savings. ITC Federal also leverages cutting-edge capabilities in automation, AI and data analytics to streamline processes, reduce manual effort and equip agency leaders to make faster, data-driven decisions that support both current and strategic needs.
Internally, ITC Federal applies the same discipline it promotes for customers, using strong financial governance and analytics to improve fiscal performance and reinvest in innovation. As a result, the company continues to deliver customized solutions that are efficient, secure and mission-focused to meet its customers’ needs.
Ultimately, ITC Federal recognizes that efficiency is not just about cutting costs but also about the impact it makes on its customers’ missions.
Why Watch
ITC and Montgomery’s team will be heavily focused on positioning the company for growth, as a national security and law enforcement platform that will include both organic growth and strategic M&A.
“I am honored and grateful for this recognition and the outstanding team that I have at ITC Federal,” he said.
Fun fact: Montgomery spent most of his childhood growing up overseas as a son of a Marine.
Christine Peterson
EVP, CFO & Treasurer, CNA
CNA is in the midst of an enterprisewide modernization, transforming its financial, operational and technological infrastructure to strengthen agility and long-term sustainability. Working alongside the CIO organization, these initiatives already increased efficiency, transparency and financial accuracy across the organization said Christine Peterson.
As always CNA is focused on efficiency and fiscal responsibility. The company has taken actions and implemented systems and process improvements that significantly reduced indirect costs while improving accuracy and transparency. Its modernization of financial and operational platforms ensures that we deliver greater value to our government partners through data driven decision making and efficient resource use.
Why Watch
“Christine is a problem solver, not a problem dweller,” said Katherine McGrady, CNA president and CEO.
In 2025, Peterson’s team focused on executing CNA’s Business Systems Modernization initiative, including a reimplementation of Costpoint and expanded automation through ServiceNow and digital workers. The team is streamlining financial processes, optimizing rate structures, and investing in people development to build a high-performing, scalable finance organization. The goal: to deliver measurable efficiencies that align directly with CNA’s mission and growth strategy.
“Modernization is more than system upgrades, it’s about empowering people with the tools and insights to make smarter, faster decisions,” she said. “I’m proud of how our team has embraced change, strengthened CNA’s financial foundation, and built the agility needed to support the mission for years to come.”
Fun fact: Peterson’s dog and two cats seem to hold standing meetings wherever she is in the house. No matter where she goes, they all gather around her like it’s time for a team huddle.
Pearce Lantzy
CFO, RealmOne
When Pearce Lantzy joined RealmOne, the company’s financial operations were spread across five separate systems, creating silos, inefficiencies and inconsistent reporting. He led the design and integration of a new unified financial system and data lake that connected all five entities within eight months. The result was streamlined processes, measurable cost savings and real-time financial insight that improved decision-making across the organization.
The company’s deep integration across the entire intelligence lifecycle — from collection to analysis and dissemination — uniquely positions it to advance the administration’s priorities in defense and national security. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, including agentic AI, and proven tradecraft, RealmOne work closely with customers and remain agile to deliver efficient intelligence solutions and mission support.
“Pearce is a key architect of our company’s financial and strategic direction, playing a critical role in devising and executing strategies that have strengthened our market position and long-term growth,” said Gary Daigle, CEO of RealmOne. “A true leader in financial operations, Pearce has successfully navigated a complex financial landscape at RealmOne, demonstrating expertise in consolidating and raising capital, cash management, and deal negotiations, which have fueled our company’s expansion. He was key in bringing five businesses together under one cost accounting platform, all while navigating intense M&A activity, integrating a team, and a wave of new business wins.”
Why Watch
The market is shifting toward open, data-driven platforms that let finance teams build their own analytics and extract greater value from existing systems. RealmOne is focused on using real-time data visualization to monitor key performance and program management metrics, with a value proposition centered on both customers and employees. Through a phased approach, the company is integrating data and systems across the organization to strengthen its data model and deliver deeper, program-specific insights.
“Leading from the front is about putting people first—building a culture where our teams feel valued and inspired while delivering mission-critical solutions for national security,” Lantzy said. “We aim to be a workplace where talent wants to grow, innovate, and contribute—because when our people thrive, our customers succeed in their most critical missions.”
Fun fact: Lantzy started his career in logistics and once thought he wanted to manage investments for others before realizing his passion was on the CFO track.
Jill McFarlane
CFO, Redhorse Corp.
Jill McFarlane’s biggest recent achievement was successfully integrating a strategic acquisition while simultaneously executing a full finance modernization, from indirect rate alignment to transitioning Redhorse to a calendarized month-end close and semi-monthly payroll, with zero disruption to contracts, compliance, or employee trust.
She also restructured the company’s insurance and advisory relationships, reducing premiums by 127% while increasing GovCon-specialized support and audit efficiency. These actions materially improved resilience, margin discipline and operational readiness for its next phase of growth.
Redhorse is directly aligned with many important national security priorities and has a long history and expertise in these mission spaces. Today, the company is delivering mission-critical intelligence analytics across counter-threat finance, counter-narcotics and sanctions evasion operations while simultaneously building ISR, predictive maintenance and counter-UAV software solutions that strengthen operational advantage. Its work is purpose-built to drive faster insight generation, improved decision dominance and cost-efficient mission execution.
“Jill has fundamentally elevated how we operate as a company,” said Noah Klemm, CEO of Redhorse. “She brings important discipline to complex integration, compliance, and financial risk functions while maintaining our steadfast “customer mission-first” approach to delivery. She is one of the most strategically forward CFOs I’ve ever worked with.”
Why Watch
In 2025, McFarlane’s organization is heavily focused on enterprise modernization that improves financial agility, regulatory readiness and operational efficiency — not just cost cutting. The team is building finance infrastructure that scales with our growth, accelerates reporting accuracy, and enables smarter cash and rate management in a tightening labor and budget environment. McFarlane’s focus is ensuring Redhorse remains fiscally sharp, integration-ready and structurally advantaged in a market demanding accountability as much as innovation.
“CFO leadership today isn’t just about financial accuracy,” she said. “It’s about building infrastructure that scales trust, speed, and resilience across the enterprise. I’m proud that our finance transformation strengthened both our operational discipline and our ability to support the mission with greater agility and confidence.”
Fun fact: McFarlane discovered her love of Turkish cuisine while traveling and has since turned it into a favorite pastime. She spends weekends experimenting with authentic recipes — from perfecting Adana Kebabs to mastering homemade Lahmacun (Turkish pizza) — and tracking down hard-to-find ingredients in local specialty markets. What began as a travel souvenir has become an ongoing culinary adventure that keeps her curiosity (and spice cabinet) well stocked.
Bob Kwaja
CFO, Two Six Technologies
Bob Kwaja’s biggest recent achievement was leading Two Six through another year of exceptional financial performance while expanding the company’s product portfolio and advancing its strategic focus on scalable technologies.
Through smart capital deployment, he fueled innovation that resulted in 15 new internally funded product launches in 2025. This deliberate investment strategy has strengthened the company’s technology portfolio and positioned Two Six for enduring growth in the national security sector.
“Bob has been a steady and strategic leader through a period of significant growth and transformation at Two Six,” said Joe Logue, CEO of Two Six Technologies. “His financial acumen, sound judgment, and focus on execution have strengthened the company’s foundation and positioned us for long-term performance. He’s a trusted partner and a leader of our ongoing success.”
Two Six is aligning with the administration’s priorities by delivering scalable solutions that accelerate mission impact while reducing cost and complexity for government customers. Through commercial contracting options and rapid deployment technologies, the company enables agencies to bypass lengthy procurement processes and access secure, ready-to-use capabilities faster. By emphasizing innovation, efficiency and measurable outcomes, Two Six streamlines operations, reduces overhead and ensures taxpayer dollars are used effectively to advance critical national security missions.
Why Watch
In 2025, Kwaja’s team is focused on fueling Two Six’s next phase of growth through smart, strategic investment. They are aligning capital and resources with the company’s most critical national security missions and accelerating innovation across its R&D and product portfolio. These efforts are strengthening both Two Six’s financial foundation and its leadership in delivering scalable, mission-focused technologies.
“Two Six’s success is driven by our exceptional team whose talent, discipline, and innovation set us apart,” Kwaja said. “Their commitment to excellence enables us to deliver innovative technologies, strengthen national security, and impact the missions that matter.”
Fun fact: Kwaja is an avid golfer who enjoys the challenge more than relaxation.
Bill Luebke
CFO, Agile Defense
Bill Luebke’s biggest recent achievement was guiding Agile Defense through a pivotal period of transformation following the IntelliBridge acquisition. The integration doubled the size of the company.
Over the past 10 months, Luebke and his team unified the company’s financial systems and strategies to create a stronger, more agile foundation that better supports its people, customers and long-term growth.
“With the acquisition complete, we’ve built the financial and operational foundation to scale with purpose. 2026 will be about unlocking new opportunities — leveraging our combined strength to drive growth, efficiency, and long-term value for our customers and our people,” Luebke said.
Agile Defense also continues to align with federal priorities by focusing on smarter, more efficient ways to deliver mission impact. The company is investing in automation, data-driven decision making, and financial discipline to help customers modernize operations and reduce costs without sacrificing quality. At the same time, Agile Defense recognizes that meaningful efficiency comes from collaboration — working alongside government partners to identify practical, sustainable solutions that balance innovation with fiscal responsibility.
Why Watch
In 2026, Luebke’s team is focused on scaling financial operations to match the pace of the company’s growth and the complexity of the market. Despite a challenging environment, the team continues to unlock new opportunities, strengthen customer partnerships, and drive disciplined, forward-looking financial strategies that keep Agile Defense on a trajectory of sustained success.
“Bill has played a vital role in ensuring our growth is both strategic and sustainable,” said Rick Wagner, CEO of Agile Defense. “His financial acumen and foresight have allowed Agile Defense to reinvest in innovation—empowering our teams to develop transformative solutions that deliver lasting mission impact.”
Fun fact: Both of Luebke’s children graduated from colleges in Oxford — one in Ohio and the other in Mississippi. “It wasn’t planned, but it’s turned into a fun family connection,” Luebke said.
Darla Moon
CFO, Harmonia Holdings Group
Darla Moon believes her biggest achievement is still ahead — and it will happen at Harmonia. The company is poised for smart growth and the finance and pricing team is fueled by core values of excellence, curiosity, collaboration and integrity to redefine what “best in class” looks like.
“Darla’s leadership has been instrumental to Harmonia’s growth and transformation over the last year,” said Damon Griggs, CEO of Harmonia. “Her hands-on, collaborative approach embodies our company’s values and has allowed her to accomplish many significant milestones. Some noteworthy accomplishments include building a high performing finance team, the integration of Harmonia and Maveris, implementing a new financial system, and building a solid foundation for future growth and success. Her vision for financial maturity sets the tone for sustainable growth and organizational excellence.”
Harmonia has also been a supportive partner, helping customers navigate changes and continue to meet mission needs without disruption across critical programs. The company works with agencies to meet the demands of today and for the future; building teams to meet specific agency needs; and leveraging emerging technologies, process improvement and collaboration to achieve mission success.
Why Watch
In 2025–2026, Harmonia’s finance team is focused on four key priorities. First is collaboration: Building a strong, unified team that supports one another, delivers excellence and scales together to meet the needs of the growing organization. Second is transformation: Shifting from simply reporting results to actively shaping them, becoming trusted partners in driving growth and performance. Third is investment: Developing reliable, scalable systems and processes that enable smarter decisions and long-term success. And fourth is innovation: Embracing the power of AI to strengthen Harmonia’s financial and pricing foundation; and enhancing efficiency, insight and the impact of its decisions.
“I’m proud to lead a team driven by excellence and integrity — working together to support Harmonia’s growth and strengthen the business from the inside out,” Moon said.
Fun fact: Moon is a military brat. She was born, grew up and graduated in Germany. “Being a military kid was the best upbringing I could ask for,” she said. “It gave me a deep appreciation for service, adaptability, and a sense of pride in our country.”
Chuck Hicks
CFO, Thomson Reuters Special Services
This year, Chuck Hicks brought his financial and business acumen directly into Thomson Reuters Special Services’ go-to-market strategy, helping shape how the company positions and prices its products — even during a challenging fiscal year.
The company successfully developed and implemented an indirect rate structure fully compliant with FAR and CAS regulations, strengthening TRSS’ foundation for government contracting and audit readiness.
Additionally, they aligned company culture around financial literacy, empowering leaders across the organization to make more informed, value-driven decisions.
“Chuck is a collaborative leader who extends his financial expertise far beyond traditional finance functions,” said Steve Rubley, CEO and interim president of TRSS. “He’s actively involved in product development, business development, and corporate strategy—bringing a level of business acumen that has transformed how we operate. The finance team’s accomplishments this year, from pricing standardization to regulatory compliance, have positioned us for sustainable, strategic growth.”
Why Watch
“2026 will be an inflection point for TRSS,” Hicks said. “We’re focused on expanding our products and solutions to new government agencies to support the administration’s priorities.”
From a finance perspective, the company is pursuing DCAA approval for its Estimating System and Forward Pricing Rates while preparing for additional audits to ensure full regulatory compliance. TRSS is also incorporating AI into financial processes to automate routine tasks, improve forecasting accuracy and enable faster, more strategic decision-making.
“Our finance team isn’t just managing numbers – we’re enabling better business decisions across the entire organization,” Hicks said. “Whether it’s developing compliant rate structures, implementing AI-driven forecasting, or advising on product pricing strategy, we’re positioned to be a strategic partner that drives growth and operational excellence.”
TRSS supports the administration’s national security and defense priorities by using AI to analyze critical mineral supply chains, strengthen energy infrastructure, and ensure regulatory compliance.
In fraud detection, the company built AI-driven analytics that map complex fraud rings and financial linkages, uncovering waste and abuse in high-risk programs faster and more accurately.
By combining proprietary datasets with advanced AI and ML, TRSS delivers scalable solutions that streamline operations and lower costs for government agencies.
Donna M. Wilson
CFO, QinetiQ US
Donna M. Wilson joined QinetiQ in August to architect the financial infrastructure underpinning the company’s next phase of strategic growth. She brings over 30 years of experience in federal contracting and international markets to the role.
Wilson is leading the modernization of QinetiQ’s financial operations through automation and digitization, empowering her team with advanced tools, enhancing transparency and implementing scalable processes that balance rigor with agility. Her focus on foundational excellence ensures QinetiQ can respond swiftly to emerging opportunities across defense and national security markets.
“Donna brings exceptional financial leadership and strategic vision,” said Tom Vecchiolla, president and chief executive of QinetiQ. “Her proven track record of building high-performing teams and modernizing financial systems positions us to enhance operational excellence across our key markets.”
Why Watch
Wilson joins QinetiQ as the defense and national security sector increasingly looks to innovative, mid-tier organizations capable of delivering mission-critical capabilities faster than traditional primes. The current administration’s emphasis on agility and partnership creates a powerful runway for companies like QinetiQ – those that combine technical depth with organizational nimbleness.
“I’m thrilled to join QinetiQ at such a pivotal moment,” Wilson said. “The company has unique strengths in rapidly fielding solutions for customers, and my role is ensuring our financial strategy and infrastructure enable and accelerate that differentiator.”
Her 2025 priorities include consolidating financial systems, deploying automation technologies, and building the infrastructure to support QinetiQ’s strategic initiatives in persistent surveillance, advanced sensors and maritime systems.
Fun fact: Outside the office, Wilson is passionate about historic home preservation, and lives in a restored historic property in Northern Virginia. An avid gardener and self-described “flower fanatic,” she sees a clear parallel between cultivating gardens and building strong organizations — both, she says, “require vision, patience and creating the right conditions for growth.”
Liz Larson
CFO, Siemens Government Technologies
Liz Larson’s team is embracing the opportunity to accelerate its business strategy, anchored in standardizing the data it relies on for critical financial planning across the portfolio. Financial data transparency — something Larson is passionate about — will be key to SGT’s future success.
“Since joining our team less than two years ago, Liz has driven adoption of data standardization processes as one of our strategic foundational enablers, and I’m looking forward to the strides we’ll continue to make through 2026 and beyond,” said John Ustica, CEO of SGT.
Why Watch
Larson’s team has been working closely with SGT’s business and sales leaders to support new avenues of growth through enhanced forecasting, while also deploying creative financial strategies to empower growth avenues for new customer adoption of Siemens technologies.
The Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of software and hardware is also perfectly aligned with current government priorities, and SGT looks forward to securing new opportunities to serve its customers in their critical missions of national consequence.
Fun fact: Over the past five years, Larson traveled across the country competing with the same core group of teammates in an annual long-distance relay, with 12 of them covering a total of 200 miles in about 30 hours.
