Mitre names new president and CEO

Mark Peters, an executive vice president at Battelle Memorial Institute in Charlottesville, has been named the next president and CEO of Mitre, succeeding Jason Providakes effective Sept. 3.

Founded in 1958 with a focus on national security and operating from dual headquarters in McLean as well as Bedford, Massachusetts, Mitre is a not-for-profit research and development company that manages federally funded R&D centers. It has more than 60 sites worldwide, employing 10,000 workers. Mitre’s 200-plus labs develop innovations in applied science and technologies in sectors ranging from artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum computing to maritime and aviation safety.

Mitre is a member of the Coalition for Health AI and participated in the creation of the Blueprint for Trustworthy AI Implementation Guidance and Assurance for Healthcare. It’s also involved in developing tools to identify and mitigate supply chain threats.

Providakes, who joined Mitre more than three decades ago and became its CEO in 2017, plans to retire, according to Thursday’s announcement.

Peters, who will be based in McLean, is currently executive vice president of laboratory management and operations at Battelle, which helps operate eight federally funded research and development centers for the U.S. Departments of Energy and Homeland Security. Prior to joining Battelle, Peters was director of Idaho National Laboratory and president of Battelle Energy Alliance, the Idaho-based multipurpose laboratory focused on nuclear energy, national and homeland security, and energy and environmental science and technology.

Peters also was employed at Argonne National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory, and served two terms as chair of the National Laboratory Directors’ Council, representing 17 DOE national labs. In addition, he was awarded the 2023 Henry DeWolf Smyth Nuclear Statesman Award last year, which recognizes individual service in developing and guiding the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. He earned his doctorate in geophysical science from the University of Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree in geology from Auburn University.