Federal Contractors | Technology 2024: THOMAS A. BELL

Formerly chairman and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America, Bell became CEO of Fortune 500 defense, aerospace and information technology firm Leidos in May 2023, replacing the retiring Roger Krone.

So far, he’s presided over some big wins, including an $823 million task order announced in late July from the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to provide services for the Defense Enclave Services’ Department of Defense Network program. Earlier that month, Leidos announced that it won a potential $476 million contract to continue providing cargo mission engineering and integration services for NASA’s International Space Station and Artemis lunar missions.

Bell started his career at Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin), then joined McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), where he was a senior vice president and strategy lead for Boeing Defense and Space. Bell had led defense contractor Rolls-Royce North America since 2018.

Leidos reported $15.4 billion in annual revenue in fiscal 2023 and employs 47,000 employees worldwide. In November 2023, Leidos announced a C-suite shakeup and reorganization.

Bell holds a bachelor’s degree in business and sociology from Louisiana State University and an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology. He serves on the Aerospace Industries Association’s executive committee.