Mike Loomis, president and CEO of Nokia Federal Solutions, has received his second Wash100 Award, recognizing his leadership in forging high-impact industry collaborations, securing key contract wins and positioning the company at the forefront of advanced wireless connectivity for federal missions.
The 2026 Wash100 Award was presented to Loomis by Jim Garrettson, Executive Mosaic CEO and founder of the Wash100 Award, at the 4×24 DHS/Civilian Group Dinner.
Why Did Mike Loomis Win the 2026 Wash100 Award?
Loomis earned the award for driving strategic industry partnerships and accelerating the integration of next-generation wireless technologies into defense and civilian missions.
Garrettson said Loomis’ second consecutive recognition underscores the consistency of his leadership and his expanding role in shaping innovation across federal contracting. The Executive Mosaic CEO highlighted the Nokia Federal Solutions executive’s ability to advance secure, resilient communications and next-generation networking capabilities that directly support defense modernization.
Under Loomis’ leadership, the company has pursued collaborative efforts designed to demonstrate the operational value of 5G and advanced connectivity technologies.
In May 2025, the company delivered its Banshee tactical private wireless technology to the U.S. Marine Corps, enabling experimentation with scalable, secure wireless communications in demanding combat environments.
Nokia Federal Solutions is also participating in the Department of War-funded Advanced Spectrum Coexistence Demonstration, supported by the National Spectrum Consortium. The initiative focuses on facilitating real-time spectrum sharing between 5G technologies and government spectrum-dependent systems to enhance interoperability and build confidence in coexistence technologies.
Another collaboration involves integrating Nokia’s 5G technologies and Verizon’s network management services into Lockheed Martin’s 5G.MIL hybrid base station, demonstrating commercial 5G interoperability with military communication networks.
In January, Nokia Federal Solutions, alongside Skydweller Aero and Tangram Flex, received a contract from the Air Force to demonstrate a rapid-deployment airborne private network — often described as a “flying 5G cell tower.” The effort aims to deliver resilient, low-latency connectivity in contested or remote environments.
Who Is Mike Loomis?
Mike Loomis brings more than 25 years of telecommunications and technology experience to the government contracting sector.
He has led Nokia Federal Solutions since its establishment in 2024, guiding the organization’s mission to accelerate the deployment of Nokia’s advanced technologies across federal agencies.
Loomis began his career in 1994 as a product engineer at Solectron and later served in a managerial role in customer service operations at Bay Networks before joining Nortel in 1999. He went on to hold director-level positions at Nortel and Alcatel-Lucent, and later joined Nuage Networks from Nokia as a vice president in 2012.
Prior to his industry career, Loomis served in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division during Desert Storm, an experience that shaped his continued focus on mission-driven work supporting national security.
In a 2022 Executive Spotlight interview, Loomis reflected on the sense of duty that continues to guide his leadership, noting that contributing to the mission has remained a core motivation throughout his career.
Beyond contract execution and partnerships, Loomis has also helped inspire Nokia’s investment in research and development. In November 2025, Nokia announced a $3.5 billion investment in artificial intelligence and next-generation connectivity, along with an additional $500 million in R&D capital expenditures and manufacturing expansion.
What Is the Wash100 Award?
The Wash100 Award is Executive Mosaic’s annual recognition of the 100 most influential leaders across government and the government contracting industry.
Each year, the award honors executives and officials who demonstrate leadership, strategic vision, innovation and measurable impact on federal missions. Wash100 recipients are selected based on their achievements over the past year and their anticipated influence in shaping the future of GovCon and national security.
Now a widely recognized honor within the federal marketplace, the Wash100 Award highlights leaders who are advancing modernization, collaboration and mission success across the public and private sectors.
Loomis’ second Wash100 recognition reflects the growing importance of commercial connectivity, spectrum innovation and collaborative ecosystems in federal missions. As government agencies increasingly rely on secure 5G and advanced wireless solutions, his leadership at Nokia Federal Solutions continues to position the company as a key player in bridging commercial technology and national security requirements.
Executive Mosaic congratulates Mike Loomis on earning his second Wash100 Award.
Vote for Mike Loomis as one of your favorite government industry leaders in the 2026 Wash100 Award popular vote competition.
