Tang Pham, vice president of defense and homeland at AT&T, has received the 2026 Wash100 Award in recognition of his leadership in advancing outcome-focused government contracting and accelerating the integration of commercial technologies into federal defense and homeland security missions.
Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic and founder of the Wash100 Award, presented the honor to Pham during a visit to the AT&T office on Feb. 19.
Why Did Tang Pham Win the 2026 Wash100 Award?
Pham, a first-time Wash100 winner, is being recognized for ensuring that AT&T continues to be a trusted government partner in delivering secure, intelligent and resilient infrastructure capabilities that meet mission requirements.
In a September 2025 ExecutiveBiz interview, Pham talked about how national security priorities are increasingly driving innovation that later flows into commercial markets, raising the competitive bar across GovCon. He has advocated for agile contracting approaches, including other transaction authority and broad agency announcements, to accelerate deployment timelines and enable outcome-focused collaboration between government and industry.
Under Pham’s leadership, AT&T secured several major contract awards, reinforcing its role as a telecommunications partner to the federal government. In September 2025, the company won a potential $62.5 million Travel Telecommunications Services-V contract from the Defense Information Systems Agency to support the travel mission needs of a DISA field element.
AT&T also continues performance under a 10-year, $146 million contract with the Department of Homeland Security to provide government emergency telecommunications services and wireless priority service. The contract supports reliable, mission-critical communications for federal, state and local partners and includes expanded capabilities aligned with next-generation 5G networks.
In addition, the U.S. Air Force selected AT&T as one of multiple awardees on the potential $12.5 billion Base Infrastructure Modernization contract, which supports the modernization, operation and security of base network infrastructure worldwide through 2034.
“Tang Pham’s Wash100 recognition reflects the outstanding reputation and depth of experience he brings to AT&T and the GovCon community. Having served in long-term, senior leadership roles at both ManTech and Microsoft, Tang has built a track record of success guiding complex organizations through growth, innovation and mission delivery,” Garrettson said.
“His career is marked by a rare breadth of experience across defense, technology and federal services, giving him a nuanced understanding of the GovCon landscape. Tang’s leadership, credibility and industry insight continue to earn the trust of customers and peers alike, setting the stage for lasting impact,” Garrettson added.
In response to the recognition, Pham highlighted the convergence of commercial innovation and federal mission imperatives.
“Having grown professionally alongside the evolution of this industry, I have long been inspired by the leaders who have shaped its direction and are recognized through the Wash100 year after year. Being named among them this year is both humbling and energizing, and I hope it serves as a signal to the next generation that bold ideas and perseverance truly matter. We are at a pivotal moment for our industry—where commercial innovation and mission imperatives are converging—and I am grateful for the recognition as I continue working to redefine what’s possible at that intersection,” Pham said.
Who Is Tang Pham?
As vice president of defense and homeland at AT&T, Pham oversees the company’s strategic engagement with the Department of War and the defense industrial base. With his deep knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation and the government procurement lifecycle, the executive can expertly navigate complex contracting environments and support long-term program execution.
Prior to joining AT&T, Pham served in senior leadership roles at Microsoft, where he was general manager for defense and led the national security group, advancing modernization initiatives for national security customers. He previously spent more than a decade at ManTech as vice president of technology commercialization. Earlier in his career, he founded NOVA AV Systems.
Throughout his career, Pham has been recognized for his leadership excellence by organizations including the Washington Business Journal, AFCEA, the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, and the Northern Virginia Technology Council. His inaugural Wash100 Award reflects a career defined by strategic vision, operational execution and sustained commitment to strengthening federal mission capabilities.
What Is the Wash100 Award?
Founded in 2014 by Garrettson, the Wash100 Award is Executive Mosaic’s annual recognition of the 100 most influential leaders in government contracting and the federal sector.
Honorees are selected through a competitive review process based on leadership, innovation, vision and measurable impact over the past year, as well as their potential to shape the GovCon landscape in the year ahead.
Executive Mosaic congratulates Tang Pham and the AT&T team on this achievement.
Vote for Tang Pham in the 2026 Wash100 popular vote competition by visiting Wash100.com.
