Criterion Systems acquires Protas Solutions

Vienna-based Criterion Systems Inc. has acquired Reston-based Protas Solutions Inc., a government contractor providing data science, software engineering and management consulting services to the intelligence community.

Financial terms of the deal were not publicly disclosed.  Protas will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Criterion, a federal contractor specializing in cybersecurity and IT services.

Protas employees joined Criterion’s Intelligence Solutions business unit. Protas CEO William Monas has become a Criterion vice president, responsible for business development for the Intelligence Solutions unit. Protas President and Chief Technology Officer Anthony Monas will also serve as a vice president, responsible for solutions and intellectual capital development.

“This acquisition enables us to expand our DevOps and Agile processes expertise while supporting our emerging competency in data science/analytics,” said Criterion co-founder and Chief Financial Officer Steve Mast, who will serve as president of Criterion’s new subsidiaries. “Criterion now offers a deep bench of expertise in strategic technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) to Criterion’s current and future customers.”

In March, Criterion bought Herndon-based software company Realm Consulting.

“Protas is the second acquisition we have made in the past year to support the growth of our Intelligence Solutions business unit,” Promod Sharma, president and CEO of Criterion said in a statement. “They join Realm Consulting, enabling us to deliver a broad range of innovative IT solutions to the intelligence community.”

The McLean Group advised Protas on the sale.