Federal Contractors/Technology: ROY AZEVEDO

When Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a subsidiary of Fortune 500 defense giant Raytheon Technologies Corp., acquired Colorado-based space electronics firm SEAKR Engineering for an undisclosed sum in late 2021, Azevedo spoke about the race to control space. “Today’s growing space market demands greater innovation, technological expertise and ability to deliver to a higher space standard faster,” he said.

Azevedo’s business unit primarily serves the U.S. Department of Defense; much of that work is classified. He’s been with Raytheon for more than three decades, starting off as an electrical engineer and in program management. He led his unit through Raytheon’s merger with United Technologies in 2020, creating the world’s second largest defense and aerospace company.

Raytheon is moving its global headquarters from Massachusetts to Arlington in the third quarter of this year, in a building near the intelligence and space business. CEO Gregory Hayes isn’t moving to Virginia, so Azevedo remains Raytheon’s top-ranked executive based in the commonwealth.

A Northeastern University graduate, Azevedo sits on the boards of directors for Raytheon’s businesses in Australia, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom as well as the nonprofit Space Foundation. His unit reported $15 billion in revenue in fiscal 2021.