The new fiscal year brings big expectations. With an administration prioritizing efficiency, AI-driven innovation, and product-focused delivery, the way government and industry work together will matter more than ever. Meeting the moment will require leaders who know how to engage – with intention, humility, and a shared sense of mission.
The 2026 Engage Defense Innovation 150 honorees are those leaders. Nominated and selected by their peers, they are recognized not for their titles, but for how they show up. They make time to listen. They create space for others. They lead by example – building trust, sharing insight, and connecting across boundaries to drive forward real, workable solutions.
These individuals are already shaping how the Department of War and its subagencies deliver on behalf of the people they serve. As we prepare to begin this new fiscal year, they are the leaders others look to for guidance, collaboration, and momentum.
The list of 2026 honorees and the criteria used for their selection are included below. Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations and those volunteers who took part in the review, continuing to elevate those who are #doingitright.
- Rod Aweina, Chief Program Officer, Flatter
- Karthik Balasubramanian, President/Chief Executive Officer, Karthik Consulting
- Young Bang, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army Acquisition, Logistics & Technology and Operating Executive, The Carlyle Group
- Paul Beach, PhD, Deputy Director, Department of Cyberspace Studies — (AFIT/EXC)
- Katie Bilek, Co-Founder & Partner, govmates
- Alexis Bonnell, Partnership Manager for the U.S. National Labs Partnership, OpenAI
- Jim Bonner, President and Chief Strategy Officer, EMKS
- John Boyle, Chief Executive Officer, Lawelawe Defense
- Ernesto Brux, Director, Strategic Initiatives, Foxhole Technology
- Brendan Burke, Vice President, Salesforce and AFCEA Belvoir President
- Wil Caldero, Director of Architecture, Data and Standards, OCIO, Army
- Nicolas Chaillan, Founder, Ask Sage
- Christopher Clark, AI Lead, Deputy Commandant for Information Service Data Office, Marine Corps
- Christie Colaianni, Deputy for Small Business, Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division, Navy
- Ryan Connell, CDAO, Acquisition Execution Director, Department of War
- Taylor Contreras, Co-Founder, Defense Catalyst
- Colin Crosby, Marine Corps Service Data Officer (SDO)/ Deputy DON Chief Data Officer, Navy
- Sean Curry, Chief Operating Officer, Aalis Management Consulting
- Kenny Cushing, Chief Executive Officer, NetCentrics
- Masha Danilova, Deputy Director, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Portfolio
- Erica Dobbs, CEO, Dobbs Defense Solutions
- Mike Dodd, Acting Deputy Director, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
- Scott Doss, Digital Information Officer and AI Lead, Air Force Research Laboratory
- Justin Fanelli, Chief Technology Officer, Navy
- Jaime Fitzgibbon, Founder and CEO, Ren.ai.ssance Insights
- Charles Fitzsimmons, Jr., Division Chief, J6 Enterprise Technology Services (JETS), Defense Logistics Agency
- George Forbes, Director, Digital Operations, CIO & CDO, Operations Enterprise, Envision Executive Sponsor, Air Force
- Aaron Gall, Executive Officer, Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic
- Keith Gibson, Founder / CEO, RUNYARA and CCMA DC President
- Colonel Heath Giesecke, Director, Enterprise Cloud Management Agency (ECMA)
- Jacob Glassman, Senior Technical Advisor, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition
- Michael Gomes, Director of Contracting Operations, Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Army
- Taylor Graue, VP of Defense Services, Skylight
- Darryl Green, CEO, The Green Technology Group
- Richard Green, President & CEO, Ghostwerks
- Zebulon (Ziggy) Griggs, Founder/CEO, Zigabyte
- Sonia Hammons, Acquisition Division Director USSOCOM GSA AAS Defense
- David Hart, Chief Relationship Officer, Macalogic and First Fast Roper & Founder, FastRope
- Jon Hart, Executive Vice President, Chief Growth Officer, Agile Defense
- Scott Heitmann, Air Force DAF Chief Technology Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer
- Linh Hoang, CEO, The Outpost
- Hannah Hunt, Distinguish Technical Fellow, Metrostar, former, Chief Product and Innovation Officer, Army Software Factory, Army
- Andrea Inserra, President, Global Defense Sector, Booz Allen Hamilton
- Angela James, Vice President, Business Enabled Acquisition and Technology, Inc.
- Shawn James, President & CEO, Transformation Systems
- Kevin Jans, President, Skyway Acquisition
- Ryan Jennings, Chief Ventures Officer, Ardent, a member of Mission1st
- Scott Jensen, Chief Executive Officer, National Veteran Small Business Coalition
- Jay Kalath, Founder & CEO at Allied Mission Group (AMG)
- Terry Kalka, DoD Cyber Crime Center (DC3) Director
- Bryon Kroger, Founder & CEO, Rise8
- Jack Long, Deputy to Navy Chief AI Officer, Office of Naval Research
- Aubrey Lavitoria, Command Director, Office of Small Business Programs, Army, Army Futures Command Headquarters ·
- Ellen Loney, COO, Strategic Alliance Business Group LLC (SABG)
- Jackie Lopez, President, Premier Enterprise Solutions
- Daniel Mahan, Deputy for Small Business NSWC Port Hueneme Division, Navy
- Akash Mandavilli, Co-Founder, GovEagle
- Ali Reza Manouchehri, CEO, MetroStar
- Zachary Mantyla, CEO & Founder, Latitude IT Solutions
- Rudy Martinez, Vice President, Intelligent Waves
- Jim Masonbrink, Director, AFRL Small Business Hub at Wright Brothers Institute
- Doug Matty, Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer at United States Department of War
- Chelsea Roberts (Meggitt), CEO, Collaborative Compositions
- Christian Merchant, Enterprise Agility Lead, NIWC Atlantic
- Shubhi Mishra, CEO, Raft
- Aaron Moak, CEO/Founder, PingWind
- Carol Monroe, CEO, RedSky
- Mike Monson, Vice President, ManTech
- Cassie Muffley, Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub Program Director, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
- Dan Naselius, President & CTO, CORAS
- Jim O’Farrell, CEO, Advanced Management Strategies Group (AMSG)
- Dolly Oberoi, Owner/CEO, C2 Technologies, Inc.
- Glenn Parham, Chief Executive Officer, GovBench
- Jason Pickart, Director Integration Planning, Office of the DoD Chief Information Officer
- Julie Perkins, Program Manager for AF CyberWorx at Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation
- Swapna Reddygari, CEO, CAN Softtech
- Tarik Reyes, President, Defense Mission and Health Solutions Sector, Peraton
- Allison Rhen, Sr. Manager, Torch Technologies and President of HASBAT
- Karen Roth, Deputy Director, AFWERX
- Jenna Roueche, SpaceWERX SBIR/STTR Deputy Branch Chief
- Leah Sanders, CEO, D&G Solutions
- Thomas Sasala, Executive Director, Enterprise Cloud Management Agency
- Bela Selvam, CTO (SOCPAC), U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
- Michael Sheedy, Commander Michael Sheedy (ret), President, Andrew Morgan
- Brian Shipley, Director, DON SBIR/STTR Programs at Office of Naval Research
- Andrea Snader, Sector President, Health and DoD
- Shanna Staten, Director, DoD at Diné Development | AFCEA Dayton-Wrigth Chapter President
- Jessica Stillman, Program Manager, Army xTech Program
- Eric Strauss, Chief Growth Officer, Connected Logistics
- Allison Strong, Deputy for Small Business at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division
- Col Nathan Stuckey, Director, AFWERX
- Thomas Sweatman, Vice President, Janes Group Americas
- Tyler Sweatt, Chief Executive Officer, Second Front Systems
- Theresa Terry, Director, Enterprise Program Support, United States Air Force
- Jeremy Toton, Chief Executive Officer, ReefPoint Group
- Liz Tribelli, Chief Strategy Officer, Bart & Associates
- Nicole Tripputi, Senior Federal Acquisition Strategist, Matrix Design Group
- Jack Turner, Chief Executive Officer, Xsite
- Joel Uzarski, Director, NavalX
- David Walz, Deputy Small Business Program, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport, Navy
- Paul Ward, Deputy Director, Army Special Operations Command, OSBP
- Jessica Washburn, CEO & Founder, SmartBids Consulting | Chapter President AFCEA, Huntsville Chapter
- Brittany Wells, Founder & CEO, Modern Government Solutions (MGS)
- RJ Welsh, Vice President of Programs, Red River | Senior VP AFCEA DC
- Sharon Woods, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Accounts, Public Sector, Invisible Technologies
- Brad Worley, Chief, Cyber, Digital, and AI Programs, US Air Force
Congratulations to all of the honorees and thank you to all who participated in the process.
What Sets Engage Leaders Apart?
Nominees were evaluated using a prescribed rubric, with the following six characteristics serving as core evaluation criteria. These qualities reflect what it truly means to lead with purpose, collaboration, and impact in today’s Federal environment:
Open Communication – They share insights-through events, published thought pieces, or open platforms like LinkedIn – because they believe transparency and shared knowledge drive progress.
Mission-Focused Thinking – Their perspective extends beyond organizational walls. They prioritize the needs of the communities they serve, actively seeking feedback and collaboration to drive better outcomes.
Reliable Partnership – They lead with clarity, humility, and accountability. These individuals are trusted partners who understand their role – and the roles of others – and consistently deliver on shared goals.
Community Presence – These leaders are actively involved. Whether at events, in working groups, or through mentorship, they show up, contribute, and help lift the entire ecosystem.
Perspective-Seeking – Engaged leaders welcome input from a wide range of stakeholders – including users, partners, and community voices – to inform more complete, inclusive, and effective solutions.
Innovation-Minded – They challenge the status quo. By championing new technologies, processes, and ideas, they help drive progress and adaptability in an increasingly complex environment.
#engagefedgov
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- Meet the 2024 Federal Health sector Honorees here.
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- Meet the 2023 Engage FedGov Honorees here.
