The Wash100 Award is a highly anticipated honor that recognizes the top 100 executives across the government contracting, technology and defense industries. Each year, the public is able to engage in determining who deserves to be recognized as the most influential leaders in these sectors. The latest rankings for the 2025 Wash100 Award’s Popular Vote reflect the dynamic and diverse field of professionals shaping national security, government operations and technology innovation.
Scott Edwards, CEO of Summit 7 Systems, currently leads the contest with an impressive 396 votes. Hot on his heels is Toni Townes-Whitley, president of SAIC, with 354 votes.
In third place, Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, garnered 280 votes. The first-time Wash100 Award winner was recently given a role in the newly created Department of Government Efficiency to drive government efficiency.
DeEtte Gray of CACI holds fourth place with 270 votes, a testament to her leadership in the national security and defense technology sector. Kristi Noem, the new Secretary of Homeland Security, rounds out the top five with 252 votes. Similar to Musk, this is the first time Noem has received the prestigious award.
Gen. Charles Brown Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, follows closely with 246 votes. Brown’s leadership in modernizing the U.S. military and advancing strategic defense initiatives underscores his crucial role in national defense.
Other notable figures in the top 10 include Pete Hegseth, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense, with 236 votes, State Secretary Marco Rubio with 235 votes and John Mengucci of CACI with 233 votes.
The Wash100 rankings also feature a diverse range of professionals from private sector giants like Google Cloud, SAP NS2 and Oracle, to key government figures such as CIA Director John Ratcliffe and the Air Force’s Venice Goodwine. As the voting continues, it is clear that the Wash100 Popular Vote not only celebrates the most impactful leaders but also underscores the vital intersection between government, defense, and technology.
With the current top 30 shaping up, it will be exciting to see how the rankings evolve as more votes are cast. So be sure to vote!
