Serco appoints defense VP as new CEO

Herndon-based federal contractor Serco Inc. (a subsidiary of United Kingdom-based Serco Group plc) on Tuesday announced that defense executive Tom Watson will be promoted to CEO, effective Sept. 1.

Watson will replace David Dacquino, who is retiring as chief executive but will remain as chairman of the company’s board of directors in North America. Dacquino joined Serco in 2015 and has been at its helm since 2017.

“I am grateful to have spent more than seven years with Serco, and I am deeply honored to have had the opportunity to lead this team for the last five,” Dacquino said in a statement. “Today, I am excited for Tom and for Serco. Tom is ready for this role; he is a proven leader with tremendous passion. I am confident in his ability to continue guiding the organization, to drive innovation and to shape our collaborative and inclusive culture.”

Watson joined the company in April 2018 and is being promoted from senior vice president responsible for Serco’s North American defense business. Before joining Serco, Watson was senior vice president and general manager of SAIC’s Navy and Marine Corp. Customer Group. Prior to Serco, he worked for Resource Consultants Inc., which was acquired by Serco in 2005, and served six years active duty in the Navy. He earned his MBA from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in information technology from National University.

“I am humbled and excited by this opportunity,” Watson said in a statement. “Serco is an incredible company, and it is an honor to lead and work alongside the amazing people we have here.  I look forward to building on the great foundation and positive growth we have established over the past few years. I thank Dave for his leadership, friendship, counsel and collaboration over the years, and I congratulate him on his exceptional career at Serco and well-earned retirement.”

In May 2021, Serco acquired Whitney, Bradley & Brown, a Reston-based federal tech contractor, for $295 million.

Serco Inc. has about 8,000 U.S. employees in defense, citizen services and transportation.