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Recent Articles from Virginia Business
Government Contractors | Technology 2025: BRADY, CHRIS
Brady has led General Dynamics Missions Systems, a business unit of the Reston-based Fortune 100 aerospace and defense contractor General Dynamics, since 2019, after serving as vice president of engineering. He oversees more than 12,000 workers across more than 75 facilities worldwide. GDMS manufactures and integrates intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, communications systems an[...]
Government Contractors | Technology 2025: TOWNES-WHITLEY, TONI
In 2023, Townes-Whitley took the reins of federal contractor SAIC, becoming one of only two Black women who currently lead Fortune 500 companies as CEOs. SAIC, which has about 24,000 employees, reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $7.48 billion, an increase from $7.44 billion from fiscal 2023. In June, SAIC received a $928 million U.S. Air […]
Government Contractors | Technology 2025: WILKINSON, KARI
In January, Wilkinson took over leadership of Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of HII and the state’s largest industrial employer, with more than 26,000 workers. She succeeds Jennifer Boykin, who retired. Wilkinson spent three decades at HII’s Mississippi-based Ingalls Shipbuilding, becoming its president in 2021. She oversaw 11,000 workers who design, build and maintain amphibiou[...]
Health Care 2025: PESICKA, EDWARD A.
Pesicka became CEO of Fortune 500 health care logistics and supply company Owens & Minor in 2019. In 2023, he announced a five-year strategic plan for the company to increase profits and reduce costs. Owens & Minor reported $10.7 billion in fiscal 2024 revenue, up from $10.3 billion in 2023. The company has been engaged […]
Government Contractors | Technology 2025: LYNN III, WILLIAM J. ‘BILL’
Following the completion of an all-stock merger in 2022 with Israel-based radar company Rada Electronic Industries, defense contractor Leonardo DRS went public, with Lynn ringing the closing bell at the Nasdaq. Leonardo DRS’ parent company, Italian defense contractor Leonardo SpA, retains 80.5% ownership of the company. Lynn has led Leonardo DRS since 2012. He served […]
Government Contractors | Technology 2025: WARDEN, KATHY
After previously serving as its president and chief operating officer, in 2019 Warden was named CEO of Northrop Grumman, one of the world’s largest aerospace and defense companies. No. 68 on Fortune’s 2025 list of the world’s 100 Most Powerful Women, Warden worked for General Dynamics and Veridian before joining Northrop Grumman in 2008. Ranked […]
Education 2025: COSTIN, MAJ. GEN. DONDI E. (U.S. AIR FORCE, RET.)
Costin, a retired 32-year Air Force veteran who went on to serve five years as president of Charleston Southern University, became president of Liberty in 2023 during a time of turmoil. The private evangelical university was rocked by the 2020 ouster of former President and Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr., the late founder’s son, and in […]
Education 2025: KRESS, ANNE M.
After starting her post-secondary education career as a faculty member teaching English, Kress now presides over Virginia’s largest community college — and one of the nation’s largest — with more than 70,000 students across six campuses, including NOVA’s Medical Education Campus in Springfield. This year, NOVA opened its new data center operations training center in […[...]
Government Contractors | Technology 2025: RHYU, JAMES J.
Rhyu joined for-profit education tech company Stride in 2013 and has served as its CEO since 2021. Founded in 2000 as K12, Stride offers career-learning services for middle and high school curricula, programs for businesses and the military, and professional skills training in health care and technology for adult learners. Stride reported just over $2 […]
Education 2025: MCDONNELL, KARL
Focused primarily on online learning for working adults, Strategic Education was formed in 2018 through the $2 billion merger of Strayer Education and Capella Education. Year-over-year revenue for Strategic Education increased nearly 5% in the first quarter of this year. McDonnell previously served as president and CEO of Strayer, which he joined in 2006. He […]
