- Winners of the 2026 Wash100 Award include leaders who play key roles in strengthening the cybersecurity of the nation’s most critical systems
- The Wash100 Award is conferred annually to government and GovCon leaders advancing federal missions
- Engage with the top cybersecurity experts from government and industry at the 2026 Cyber Summit
In 2026, the cyber domain is more contested than ever as adversaries deploy increasingly sophisticated attacks targeting the nation’s most critical systems. To combat evolving cyberthreats, the winners of this year’s Wash100 Award are delivering the visionary leadership and cutting-edge innovation needed to fortify digital frontlines and strengthen the resilience of vital federal and military networks.
These individuals are introducing advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and automation, and spearheading zero trust implementation in government. Find out how they are helping secure the nation below.
The Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21 will convene the innovators and decision-makers ensuring that critical systems are shielded from cyberattacks. Leaders from the Department of War, the Office of Management and Budget, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Department of Education, the FBI, and other agencies will be present at the event. Sign up today to learn more about the cyber technologies and initiatives within government and industry.
What Is the Wash100 Award?
The Wash100 Award honors the 100 most influential leaders in government and the government contracting sector. Established in 2014 by Executive Mosaic CEO Jim Garrettson, the annual recognition celebrates honorees who have made measurable contributions to the sector and who are poised to continue advancing federal missions in the years to come.
Who Are the 2026 Wash100 Winners From the Cyber Sector?
Gen. Joshua Rudd
U.S. Cyber Command, National Security Agency
2026
Rudd secured his first Wash100 shortly after he was confirmed by the Senate as commander of the U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency. In the dual-hatted role, he is responsible for protecting U.S. government and military networks against hostile cyber actors, leading cyber operations, and delivering foreign signals intelligence to defense and policy leaders.
During his confirmation hearing, Rudd told lawmakers that one of his priorities as head of CYBERCOM and NSA is to introduce AI, machine learning and automation into cyber operations. He explained that advanced technologies enable cyber personnel to analyze data and spot and deter adversary activity, ultimately strengthening the defense of critical national systems.
Rudd was also instrumental in the U.S. defense strategy in the Indo-Pacific. Before he joined CYBERCOM and NSA, he held leadership roles at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, where he oversaw operations, strategic planning, and coordination across joint forces and allied partners.
Rudd also served as commander of the Special Operations Command Pacific and deputy commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division earlier in his military career.
Matthew Tait
2023–2026
Tait, president and CEO of MANTECH, won his fourth consecutive Wash100 Award in recognition of his leadership in driving the company’s strategic growth and securing major government contracts to provide cybersecurity services to various agencies.
Under Tait’s leadership, MANTECH won a potential $910 million task order from the General Services Administration to support the U.S. Southern Command with enterprise cyber operations, network architecture and IT infrastructure services. The company also landed a potential $199 million contract from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support the NOAA Cyber Security Center.
Tait also guided MANTECH’s expansion in cloud and artificial intelligence technologies through partnerships with Google Cloud and Oracle. The company adopted Google Cloud AI offerings, including Vertex AI and Gemini models, within a controlled unclassified information environment to support AI-enabled data analysis and automation for government customers.
Find out how companies like MANTECH are helping secure government systems at the 2026 Cyber Summit. MANTECH is one of the event’s platinum sponsors. Company executives Timothy Schaad and Christopher Cleary will also take the stage at the summit to share insights into automation and zero trust. Register today to secure your spot!
David Wajsgras
2015–2020, 2023, 2025, 2026
Wajsgras has appeared on the Wash100 list a total of nine times. His latest win recognizes his role in guiding Intelsat’s strategic transformation and advancing secure cross-domain and zero trust capabilities at cybersecurity company Everfox, formerly known as Forcepoint Federal.
The longtime GovCon executive was appointed chairman and CEO of Everfox in January. Under his leadership, the company’s Trusted Thin Client for Azure cloud environments earned Microsoft approval as a cross-domain offering for Azure Government and commercial cloud environments.
Before Everfox, Wajsgras oversaw the completion of SES’s acquisition of Intelsat, helping establish a global satellite communications provider with approximately 120 satellites across two orbits.
Before Intelsat and Everfox, Wajsgras spent nearly 15 years at Raytheon, where he served as president of the intelligence, information and services business and as senior vice president and chief financial officer.
Dan Ford
Capgemini Government Solutions
2025, 2026
Ford, CEO of Capgemini Government Solutions, has won the Wash100 Award for two consecutive years, demonstrating his continued impact in driving technology innovation and digital transformation in the federal landscape.
Ford is a CGS veteran with over two decades of experience holding leadership roles within the company. He was appointed CEO in 2024 and has been instrumental in positioning CGS as a trusted government partner supporting civilian, health, national security and defense agency missions.
CGS, Capgemini’s U.S. federal business, offers cybersecurity services that align with government requirements and strengthen resilience against emerging threats. Capgemini operates Cyber Defense Centers around the world that provide future-focused capabilities, including zero trust and generative AI security.
The company was recognized in the ISG Provider Lens Cybersecurity – Services and Solutions 2025 report and Avasant’s Cybersecurity Services 2025 RadarView for delivering AI-powered cybersecurity services to customers.
CGS is a platinum sponsor of the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit, which will convene industry and government leaders to discuss the biggest trends and most pressing challenges in cybersecurity. CGS executive Sam Hussain, the company’s head of the U.S. defense sector, will join other GovCon execs in the From Automated to Autonomous, Leveraging AI to Evolve Your SOC panel. Sign up today!
Brandon Daniels
2026
Daniels, CEO of Exiger, is a first-time Wash100 winner in 2026, recognized for advancing the operational resilience of national security missions. Through the company’s 1Exiger, an AI-powered risk intelligence platform, agencies can identify vulnerabilities and mitigate risks within global supply chain networks.
In 2025, the U.S. Army awarded Exiger a multi-million-dollar contract to implement 1Exiger to support sustainment at the Army Materiel Command. In the same year, the company also won a contract with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and a spot in a GSA blanket purchase agreement to deploy its AI-powered supply chain tools.
Daniels joined Exiger in 2022 as managing director and president of the company’s analytics division. He became CEO of the supply chain security company in 2022.
Before Exiger, the executive led technology rollouts intended to drive growth as the president of Clutch Group. His career also includes senior leadership positions throughout his over 3 years at CPA Global.
Join Daniels, one of the distinguished speakers, at the 2026 Army Summit on June 18. He will moderate a fireside chat with Marc Andersen, assistant secretary of the Army for financial management and comptroller, at the event. Get your tickets here.
Kirsten Davies
Department of War
2026
Davies was conferred the 2026 Wash100 Award for her leadership in advancing key defense priorities, including strengthening the Pentagon’s cybersecurity and modernizing legacy systems.
As chief information officer at the Pentagon, the official oversees all aspects of the defense information enterprise, including cybersecurity. Since her nomination and subsequent confirmation as DOW CIO in 2025, Davies has advocated for the integration of cybersecurity at every level of the IT integration, starting with planning and through operations.
Before joining DOW, Davies was a renowned cybersecurity expert in the private sector. She held cyber and technology leadership positions at Unilever, The Estee Lauder Companies, Barclays Africa Group, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Siemens.
Davies delivered a keynote address at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit. Hear from other government CIOs, including the Pentagon’s Aaron Bishop, at the 2026 Cyber Summit, which will explore the growing cyberthreat to American systems amid heightened geopolitical tensions. Secure your tickets here.
