Executive Mosaic Names Ultra I&C CEO Jon Rucker as 2025 Wash100 Award Winner
Jon Rucker, CEO of Ultra Intelligence & Communications, has won the 2025 Wash100 Award for driving company growth through securing important government contracts and strengthening Ultra I&C’s presence in the govcon landscape. This marks Rucker’s second consecutive year as a Wash100 winner.
Is Rucker your favorite Wash100 Award winner? You have until April 30 to cast your 10 votes on Wash100.com.
Founded by Executive Mosaic CEO Jim Garrettson, the Wash100 Award is handed annually to executives of consequence within the government and GovCon landscape. It is a recognition of the positive impact that executives heralded over the past years while anticipating their future contributions within their respective organizations.
Commenting on Rucker’s win, Garrettson said, “Jon, now a three-time Wash100 winner, is an easily-recognized GovCon industry CEO with nearly two decades at Lockheed Martin and leadership roles at CACI and SAIC before taking the helm at Ultra Intelligence & Communications a couple of years ago.”
He added, “Under his guidance, Ultra I&C has secured major contracts across all service branches (Army, Navy, Air Force and beyond) while forging key partnerships like its recent collaboration with Hanwha. The company continues to push the envelope in AI and machine learning, C2I, cyber encryption, tactical SATCOM and advanced network security—cementing its role as a trusted partner in defense technology.”
Ultra I&C Wins Major Defense Contracts
Ultra I&C is providing critical technology and services to the U.S. military through major contracts won.
In September, the company secured two defense contracts: one from the Air Force and the other from the Marine Corps.
Under the Air Force contract, Ultra I&C is tasked to provide engineering, repair, help desk and software services in support of the Joint Air Defense Systems Integrator, or ADSI, program. The ADSI serves as the Command and Control gateway for the U.S. and its allies.
The company is also supporting the Marine Corps’ Common Aviation Command and Control System. Under the contract awarded in September, Ultra I&C will provide its ADSI solution to ensure interoperability with the CAC2S and enhance the system’s mission functionality.
The Austin, Texas-headquartered firm has been working with the Marine Corps on the CAC2S since 2019.
Ultra I&C is also delivering rekey and remote management system updates to the Air Force’s fielded communications security devices. The company booked a $31.9 million other transaction authority agreement in July for the development of an encryptor that can establish secure network distribution of commands and keys to various communication security devices and integrate key management infrastructure protocols and security requirements.
Ultra I&C Advancing US, Allies Capabilities
In its pursuit of delivering mission-critical capabilities, the company continues to develop advanced technologies that seek to meet the complex requirements of the modern battlefield.
Among Ultra I&C’s many achievements in the past year are demonstrations of its innovative capabilities, including the ADSI and the Orion multi-mission tactical line-of-sight radios.
In one demo, the company deployed its ADSI during the Coalition Warrior Interoperability Exploration, Experimentation, Examination Exercise held in Poland. The event, led by NATO, assessed the technology on combined joint all-domain command and control within a coalition setting.
Ultra I&C also received a high assurance certification from the National Security Agency for the Reprogrammable Single Chip Universal Encryptor, or RESCUE, which is designed to provide cryptographic services for secure communications.
Working With Industry Leaders to Achieve Company Goals
In October, Ultra I&C announced a partnership with Hanwha Defense USA to jointly develop an integrated command and control system for the Five Eyes alliance. The companies will combine Ultra I&C’s ADSI and Hanwha’s K239 Chunmoo rocket launcher, which could strengthen global defense.
In addition to partnerships, Ultra I&C team recruited defense industry leaders Stan Newberry and Pat Sullivan to its board of directors.
Newberry is a former Air Force servicemember who led the global cyberspace integration center and requirement activities for the Air Combat Command. He also oversaw development, operations and technology activities at NASA.
Meanwhile, Sullivan served as executive director of Naval Information Warfare Systems Command. He also held leadership roles at the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific and the Navy’s Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence.
On Newberry and Sullivan’s election to the Ultra I&C board, Rucker commented that the defense leaders will drive long-term transformational growth.
Rucker’s vision for long-term, sustainable growth at Ultra I&C has already led to major contracts booked and new capabilities developed to meet the requirements of U.S. defense missions. His and the company’s achievements make them deserving of the 2025 Wash100 Award.
Don’t forget to support Rucker in the Wash100 Award popular vote competition on Wash100.com!