GovCon CEOs Take Center Stage at POC’s Upcoming Leadership Summit
As Potomac Officers Club prepares to host its 2026 GovCon Executive Leadership Summit on Feb. 26, two CEO-driven panels are emerging as defining moments of the event.
Known as the “Davos of GovCon,” the summit is designed as an elite forum where the industry’s top decision-makers gather to debate the most consequential issues shaping government contracting, from AI acceleration and defense tech investment to acquisition reform and emerging priorities like Golden Dome.
At the center of that conversation are two back-to-back CEO panels featuring some of the most influential leaders in the sector, including multiple Wash100 Award winners.
Notably, a significant percentage of summit registrants are sitting CEOs, reinforcing the event’s positioning as a rare peer-level convening for the GovCon C-suite. Don’t miss this opportunity to network with many of the most prominent leaders in the GovCon sector; register now before tickets sell out!
How Are GovCon CEOs Turning Disruption Into Advantage?
At 9:30 a.m., “Leading the Shift: CEOs at the Crossroads of Innovation and Integration” brings together a group of senior leaders navigating technological upheaval, portfolio integration and competitive repositioning.
The discussion will be moderated by Kevin Plexico, senior vice president of information solutions at Deltek, whose market intelligence background positions him to guide a forward-looking, data-informed conversation.
Joining him on stage at the 2026 GovCon Executive Leadership Summit are:
- Tom Vecchiolla, CEO of QinetiQ US and Wash100 Award winner
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Dan Ford, chair and CEO of Capgemini Government Solutions and Wash100 Award winner
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Stephanie Mango, president of CGI Federal and Wash100 Award winner
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Parag Thakker, CEO of OMNI
Vecchiolla leads QinetiQ US at a time when autonomy, advanced engineering and mission-focused innovation are reshaping defense priorities. Ford oversees Capgemini Government Solutions’ federal technology portfolio, with a focus on digital transformation and IT modernization. Mango directs CGI Federal’s strategy across civilian and defense markets, positioning the company at the forefront of enterprise IT, cybersecurity and data-driven services. Thakker guides OMNI’s work supporting federal missions with engineering and digital capabilities.
With Wash100-recognized leadership across much of the panel, the discussion is expected to explore how CEOs are balancing organic growth, M&A, integration strategies and emerging technologies while aligning with shifting federal priorities.
In a market defined by AI disruption, software-defined capabilities and evolving procurement models, the conversation will center on how chief executives are translating innovation into sustainable competitive advantage.
How Are New CEOs Powering the Next Phase of Growth?
At 11:00 a.m., attention turns to leadership transitions and forward momentum in “Panel A: New at the Top: Powering the Next Phase of Growth.”
Moderated by Chris Crowder, executive vice president of GovCon at Unanet, the GovCon Executive Leadership Summit panel features:
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Michael LaRouche, CEO of Serco Inc. and Wash100 Award winner
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Josh Wilson, CEO of LMI and Wash100 Award winner
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Mark Peters, CEO of MITRE and Wash100 Award winner
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Michael Buscher, president of U.S. operations at Heven AeroTech
LaRouche stepped into the CEO role at Serco in September, bringing experience in defense services and international operations to one of the sector’s major players. Wilson became CEO of LMI in January, marking a new chapter for the management consulting and technology advisory firm known for mission-focused analytics and digital solutions. Peters has led MITRE since August 2024, overseeing the not-for-profit organization’s work across defense, cybersecurity and national security missions. Buscher assumed leadership of Heven AeroTech’s U.S. operations in June 2025, guiding expansion in advanced aerospace and defense technologies.
With three Wash100 winners on the stage, the panel will examine what it means to inherit complex portfolios in a rapidly changing policy and technology environment. Topics are expected to include capital deployment, innovation pipelines, culture transformation and customer alignment during leadership transitions.
Why Is This the “Davos of GovCon”?
The CEO panels at the 2026 GovCon Executive Leadership Summit are only part of a broader summit agenda that includes discussions on Golden Dome, acquisition reform, the defense tech investment surge and AI’s accelerating role in government missions. Keynote programming features leaders from OpenAI, Anthropic and Palantir, reflecting the central role of artificial intelligence and advanced software in federal strategy.
What distinguishes the GovCon Executive Leadership Summit, however, is its concentration of senior decision-makers. With a notably large percentage of attendees serving as CEOs, the event offers a rare opportunity for peer-level dialogue, strategic networking and candid exchange among the industry’s top leaders.
For executives seeking insight not just into policy trends but into how fellow CEOs are responding to them, the two featured panels represent the summit’s intellectual core.
On Feb. 26, the GovCon C-suite will not simply be in the audience. It will be on the stage, setting the tone for the year ahead. Register now to make sure your organization is among the industry leaders.
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