Executive Mosaic‘s 2026 Wash100 Popular Vote Competition has officially concluded, with Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao securing the top spot in a government-favoring year that saw federal leaders dominate the rankings.
Why Did Hung Cao Win The 2026 Wash100 Popular Vote?
Cao, a first-time Wash100 winner, earned 2,412 votes to finish first overall, marking the first time in three years that a government or military leader has won the competition. He was followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio with 1,875 votes and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard with 1,802, rounding out a top three composed entirely of government figures.
“We are thrilled to bestow the 2026 Wash100 Popular Vote honor to Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao. Secretary Cao clearly commands a remarkable amount of respect in government and industry and his win here is a timely reminder of his growing influence and leadership,” said Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic and founder of the Wash100 Award.
“We would also like to congratulate the remaining 99 contestants on a race well run — the support for various federal officials this year was very strong, but many industry names also received considerable support. All 100 of these Wash100 winners are playing an integral role in solving the difficult problems that our country faces every day.
“This year’s popular vote coronation is a fitting capstone for another fantastic, expectations-beating Wash100 season. Thanks to the GovCon community for their dedication and participation.”
Who Was the Top Industry Leader in the 2026 Wash100 Popular Vote?
On the industry side, Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES, emerged as the highest-ranking private-sector executive, finishing sixth overall with 1,215 votes to claim the industry Popular Vote title.
What Does the 2026 Wash100 Top 10 Look Like?
The combined industry and government top 10 reflects the strong showing from government leaders, but the private sector still definitely had a voice.
Below you’ll find the separate top 10s for industry and government.
How Many Votes Were Cast In The 2026 Wash100 Popular Vote?
This year’s competition drew a total of 30,330 votes. The voting period ran from late January through April 30, underscoring sustained engagement from the GovCon community.
How Did Executive Mosaic Ensure Vote Integrity?
To ensure integrity, Executive Mosaic conducted a thorough audit during the final week, removing faulty or duplicate votes and correcting a software malfunction. The final results reflect only verified submissions.
How Do the 2026 Results Compare to Previous Years?
The outcome marks a shift from recent years, when industry executives led the field. DeEtte Gray, president of U.S. operations at CACI International, won the 2025 Popular Vote, while Judi Dotson, a now-retired Booz Allen Hamilton executive, claimed the 2024 title. The last time a government or military official won was back-to-back Department of War wins in 2022 and 2023.
What’s Next for the 2026 Wash100 Award Season?
The conclusion of the popular vote wraps up a major portion of the 2026 Wash100 season. All 100 awardee profiles have now been published, and the competition phase is complete. Garrettson will continue presenting awards in person over the coming months, with ongoing coverage available in the news and blog sections of the Wash100 website.
Readers can also expect additional feature content throughout the year as the Wash100 program continues to spotlight the leaders shaping the GovCon landscape ahead of the 2027 season.
Executive Mosaic thanks all participants for contributing to a record-setting year and helping recognize the most impactful voices across government and industry.
