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Government Contractors | Technology 2025: RIDDLE, ADAM

In 2023, Riddle was named chairman and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America and president of its division. He has more than a decade of experience with the British , defense and engineering company.

Before taking on his latest roles, Riddle headed up Rolls-Royce’s global services division. Previously, he was director of strategy and future programs. Before coming to Rolls-Royce, Riddle worked for Boeing in defense operations. He is a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army officer.

In 2024, Rolls-Royce Holdings reported more than $23 billion in underlying revenue, up from $19.75 billion in 2023. The company has 34 U.S. locations across 26 states and over 5,000 employees, while in Canada, it employs nearly 700 people across three provinces.

In July, the company completed the sale of its naval propulsors business to Canada-based Fairbanks Morse Defense, which is also purchasing Rolls-Royce’s naval handling business.

Rolls-Royce announced in July a $75 million investment into its Aiken, South Carolina, engine plant to expand manufacturing. Shortly beforehand, in June, the company announced a $24 million investment to expand operations in Mankato, Minnesota, where it manufactures backup power systems for data centers.

Government Contractors | Technology 2025: RYAN, TERRY

Ryan was named CEO of global risk management firm Constellis Holdings in 2021, having previously served as its lead director.

Before coming to Constellis, Ryan was CEO of Adroit Systems, VT Group and Tenax . He also held senior executive positions at Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), Mercury Systems and ManTech International, as well as in the federal as director of intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance systems for the Office of the Secretary of .

Constellis is a holding company for contracting firms that provide risk management and mission support services to government and commercial clients worldwide. In September 2024, Constellis announced a realignment of its internal business units into two new business divisions.

In February, the company won a contract valued up to $700 million from the U.S. Navy for base operations and life support services for military installations and federal agencies around the globe. In July, Chantilly-based Omniplex World Services Corp., a division of Constellis, laid off 199 workers in Virginia after the end of an Amazon Web Services contract.

Ryan is a former U.S. Marine officer who graduated from Ohio State University and the National Intelligence University.

Government Contractors | Technology 2025: SEGURA, ENRIQUE

A native of Argentina, Segura is the billionaire chairman of ENSE Group, a holding company for multiple subsidiaries that mainly perform work for foreign governments.

A resident of McLean, Segura maintains leadership roles at ENSE’s companies, including Securiport, which designs airport security systems; Harbass, which advises foreign governments on debt renegotiation; and Alex Stewart International, an assayer of metals and minerals and an operational auditor of mines and petroleum operations.

Segura, who has an economics doctorate and an MBA, previously was a World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank official before entering the private sector, where he made his fortune. He also served in several diplomatic assignments beginning in the 1990s.

Known for his philanthropic support of Catholic and Hispanic causes and civic engagement, Segura founded and chairs both The Trust for the Americas and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History board. He also is a member of the Dean’s Executive Board for Harvard Kennedy School.

Segura’s son, Juan Pablo Segura, is the state’s commerce and trade secretary. In 2023, Securiport donated $1 million to the Renew Virginia PAC ahead of the younger Segura’s unsuccessful GOP run for the state Senate.

Government Contractors | Technology 2025: SERAFINI, JOHN

Founded by Serafini in 2015, HawkEye 360 is a geospatial analytics company that collects radio frequency data by satellite to identify and track activity and trends for military, maritime and intelligence clients.

Before launching HawkEye, Serafini was senior vice president of Allied Minds. A former U.S. Army infantry officer, Serafini is a West Point graduate and has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of .

In February, HawkEye announced organizational changes among its top leaders, and the company has added several new officials to its advisory board. In June, HawkEye 360 launched its Cluster 12 group of satellites from New Zealand aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket. India also agreed to pay the company $131 million in May for SeaVision software to counter illegal maritime activity.

Serafini serves on the board of advisers for the National Security Space Association and the board of governors for the Middle East Institute.

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Education 2025: ROBERTSON, GORDON P.

Robertson became chancellor of the private, conservative Christian university in 2023 following the death at age 93 of his famous and controversial father, Pat Robertson, who founded the school in 1977.

Gordon Robertson had succeeded his father in 2007 as president and CEO of Christian Broadcasting Network and host of its flagship weekday news magazine show “The 700 Club.”

Virginia’s second largest private university, Regent offers degrees in more than 150 areas of study to students online and on its 70-acre campus in Virginia Beach. This fall, the school will introduce seven new majors, and last year the university announced a $50 million campaign to build a 31-acre sports complex.

Robertson graduated from Yale University in 1980 and earned his law degree from Washington and Lee University in 1984.

He practiced law in Norfolk for 10 years at Vandeventer Black (now merged with Woods Rogers) before he says a religious epiphany moved him to leave the law and lead CBN’s expansion into Asia. There he founded the Asian Center for Missions and the Philippines chapter of CBN’s humanitarian nonprofit, Operation Blessing.

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Government | Politics | Lobbying 2025: SABATO, LARRY

Virginia’s most notable political pundit, Sabato in 1998 founded the Center for at the University of Virginia, which hosts programs about civic , electoral politics and youth leadership. In 2024, the center broke ground on a $10 million expansion, expected to open in early 2026.

Sabato’s Crystal Ball newsletter makes predictions about electoral races nationwide, including presidential races. The Crystal Ball has maintained a high accuracy rate, although its prediction of a 2016 Hillary Clinton win forced Sabato and staff to admit they “blew it.” In 2024, the prognosticators came to the conclusion that Kamala Harris would edge Donald Trump but noted, “It would not be a surprise if either candidate won.” In January, Sabato was part of a “Jeopardy!” clue during the Tournament of Champions.

A U.Va. graduate and Rhodes Scholar from Norfolk, Sabato serves on the advisory board for U.Va.’s Karsh Institute of Democracy and is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 books and a four-time Emmy winner.

INTERESTING PLACE I’VE TRAVELED: The old Soviet Union in December 1976. There were telltale signs of a society already deteriorating badly under authoritarianism and communism.

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Government Contractors | Technology 2025: WALKER, TOM

Walker launched aerial drone services provider DroneUp in 2016 after spending 17 years as president of software company Web Teks. He also spent nearly 17 years as an officer in the U.S. Navy.

DroneUp partnered with Walmart in 2021 to deliver items by drone, expanding the retailer’s delivery network, but in December 2024, DroneUp and Walmart cut ties, ending operations and Walmart’s investment in the company.

In August 2024, DroneUp received FAA certification allowing it to expand commercial operations, and in January, it announced a partnership with Toronto-based Volatus to streamline drone-based cargo delivery in the U.S.

In 2022, DroneUp announced it would establish a $20.2 million drone research center at Richard Bland College in Petersburg. It has also partnered with Carilion Clinic and Riverside Health System to deliver medications.

Walker has spoken about the need for a system to coordinate unmanned operations after reports of hundreds of incidents between drones and commercial airlines. He was named a Mid-Atlantic Entrepreneur of the Year by EY in 2024.

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2025 Living Legends: HARDEE, CARL L.

In May, Hardee retired as president and CEO of Lawson Cos., the Virginia Beach residential real estate development, construction and management company that focuses on affordable, low-income and market-rate multifamily housing.

He joined Lawson in 1991 as a regional property manager at subsidiary Lawson Realty, then became its president five years later. In 1999, Hardee became the parent company’s vice president and chief operating officer, and in 2016, he was named president and CEO. Aaron Phipps succeeds Hardee as the company’s head. Hardee also serves on TowneBank’s Portsmouth board.

A Gulf War veteran who graduated from Virginia Military Institute, Hardee has spent much of his time outside of work devoted to civic service. He is vice president of Southeast Virginia Community Foundation’s board. In an interview with Multifamily Executive in January, Hardee said he expects to spend more time “serving others and philanthropy,” as well as going on mission trips both locally and possibly abroad.

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2025 Living Legends: MORRIS, NIGEL

In 1994, Morris co-founded Capital One Financial with Richard Fairbank, who remains the credit card giant’s chairman and CEO. Morris served as Capital One’s president and chief operating officer until 2004, when he decided it was time for something new.

In 2007, Morris partnered with Frank Rotman to launch QED Investors, a fintech venture capital platform. Today, the company has invested in more than 250 companies, including 31 unicorns. Investments include Credit Karma, Klarna and SoFi Technologies. QED Investors has about $4 billion under management.

In a June interview, Morris said that Capital One was “the first real fintech,” and with the $35 billion acquisition of Discover, it’s “now the biggest credit card company on the planet.” He advises fintechs to consider working in the consumer lending sector, which continues to be an area of growth.
Morris has been named to Forbes’ annual Midas List, which recognizes the top venture capitalists in the world, for the last five years.

Although Morris grew up in England mostly, he is “at least” half Welsh. In 2023, he became part owner of the Swansea City soccer club in Wales.

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2025 Living Legends: THOMPSON, BRUCE L.

One of Hampton Roads’ most prominent developers and hoteliers, Norfolk native Thompson is best known for developing the Cavalier Resort, which includes the restored historic Cavalier Hotel as well as two new hotels, restaurants and residences on 21 acres at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, a $435 million project.

Thompson opened his first hotel in the early 1980s. Under the name Professional Hospitality Resources (PHR), Thompson’s hotel empire grew. He founded Gold Key as a timeshare company, along with marketing and finance companies to assist with timeshare sales. The privately owned Gold Key | PHR has annual revenues exceeding $140 million and employs more than 2,400 people.

Virginia Business’ 2021 Person of the Year, Thompson has had a long and colorful career, working as a concert promoter and ski trip organizer before entering the hospitality industry. He also has raised money for ALS research in honor of his son, Josh, who died from the disease. Thompson is a member of the Old Dominion University Board of Visitors. He served as state finance chair for friend Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s 2021 campaign; the governor attended Thompson’s 2023 wedding in Italy.

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