Federal Contractors/Technology: JASON PROVIDAKES

Mitre sprang into action during the pandemic. The not-for-profit organization, which manages federally funded research and development centers, partnered with the Mayo Clinic to create infrastructure to collect, analyze and share pandemic data among 1,000 entities to anticipate disease spread and develop real-time guidance and secure resources. And as the effects of the pandemic created supply chain issues, Mitre convened an alliance to define a vision and plan for government investments in semiconductor research and development, including a proposed National Semiconductor Technology Center.

Providakes, who has a doctorate in electrical engineering from Cornell University, joined Mitre in 1991 as lead scientist. His research helped create a radar system that could use the ionosphere — where the Earth’s atmosphere meets space — to detect planes over the horizon.  After serving in a variety of research and management roles, Providakes became president and CEO in 2017.

Mitre was founded in 1958 and has more than 8,000 employees. In May, Mitre launched the Center for Strategic Competition, which will use analytics and modeling to address shifting global alliances.