From Jim Garrettson, Executive Mosaic President & FounderThe GovCon sector saw a potential re-shaping of its landscape this week with two of the most notable contractors in the defense and space sectors announcing that they would combine forces.
Orbital Sciences and ATK said Tuesdaythat they would undertake one of the sector’s largest transactions in recent memory as Orbital will merge with ATK’s aerospace and defense groups in an estimated $5 billion deal.
Upon the deal’s close, “Orbital ATK” will have close to 13,000 employees across 17 states that will work to help grow the company’s footprints in both U.S. and international markets.
David Thompson, Orbital’s current CEO and future chief executive of the combined company, said the deal was made to create a business that is “strongly positioned to expand into adjacent areas” alongside the space, defense and aviation systems markets.
“Orbital ATK” will be one of two companies that will arise from the deal as ATK will spin off its sporting groupinto an independent company, a move ATK President and CEO Mark DeYoung said is aimed to create “two strong, standalone companies committed to sustained leadership and success in their markets.”
In a similar vein to Orbital and ATK, Exelis said late last year that it would spin off its services business to focus on areas that President and CEO David Melcher believes can help Exelis “remain well-positioned in an evolving global market environment.”
Click here to review these and more stories on the sector’s M&A activity this year on GovCon Wire and continue reading below for the other headline-leading executive activity in GovCon this week.
Jerry Calhoun Appointed Human Capital SVP at The SI Org
Jerry Calhoun has joined Reston, Va.-based The SI Organization as SVP of human capital.
The 35-year government and industry veteran most recently served as SVP of human resources at PAE and also is a former HR SVP at Vangent.
Calhoun told GovCon Wire he joined The SI in part because he believes the company is well-placed to significantly expand its market presence.
He served as COO at two other firms earlier in his career and has also served in director roles at the departments of Labor and Defense.
Robert Carey to Lead Public Sector Cyber Business at CSC
Robert Carey has been appointed a VP and GM at CSC and will lead the Falls Church, Va.-based company’s public sector cybersecurity business.
The 31-year government veteran most recently served as principal deputy chief information officer at the DoD and was CIO for the Department of the Navy earlier in his career.
Samuel Visner, CSC VP and GM for global cybersecurity, said the company hired Carey to lead the company’s cyber work with the U.S. public sector which “has the largest cyber customers in the world.”
Carey worked to build up DoD’s cyber posture and consolidate the department’s IT enterprise in his last federal role.
ManTech will Buy 7Delta in Healthcare IT Push
ManTech International has agreed to acquire technology management company 7Delta for an undisclosed amount.
Fairfax, Va.-based Mantech expects to close the deal in May, when 7Delta will join ManTech’s mission solutions and services group.
George Pedersen, ManTech chairman and CEO, said the purpose of the acquisition is to grow the company’s footprint in the federal healthcare market.
The combined companies plan to work on the VA’s electronic health system with their combined forces.
Gerry Decker Becomes OMNIPLEX Chief Growth Officer
Gerry Decker has been named chief growth officer at OMNIPLEX World Services Corp., where he will be responsible for business development, strategy and marketing in the government services space.
“This is a newly created position for the OMNIPLEX organization and demonstrates our commitment to growing our business through continuing to diversify our capabilities and customer base,” said Mike Santelli, OMNIPLEX president.
Decker has previously held leadership roles at DynCorp International, McNeil Technologies, CSC, AECOM and SRA International.
Sally Wallace Named DRS C4ISR Group President
Sally Wallace has been promoted to president of DRS Technologies’ C4ISR group and will responsible for the intelligence, computing, networking and sensor fusion businesses.
She most recently served as VP of operations for the Finmeccanica subsidiary’s maritime and combat systems businesses.
William Lynn, DRS and Finmeccanica North America CEO, said Wallace has worked in the defense industry for the past 20 years.
Wallace worked as a mechanical engineer at Electric Boat to begin her career and then joined Eaton Corp. as a business manager.
