Amentum CEO John Heller Wins 10th Wash100 Award for Driving Growth in Nuclear, Digital & Space
Executive Mosaic is proud to announce the selection of Amentum CEO John Heller as a 2026 Wash100 Award winner, marking his 10th time being recognized for his significant contributions to the government contracting industry.
Heller earned his latest Wash100 Award for steering the company toward growth in global nuclear energy, digital infrastructure and space systems, while delivering resilient performance in its first full year as a public company and advancing transatlantic growth efforts in the UK.
Show your support for John Heller by voting for him in the 2026 Wash100 Award Popular Vote Competition! Make sure he’s chosen as one of the favorite GovCon industry leaders this year.
“John’s selection as a 2026 Wash100 Award winner—his 10th career honor and fourth consecutive recognition—is an incredible milestone and a powerful reflection of the exceptional leadership he continues to bring to Amentum and the broader GovCon community. In 2025, under his vision, Amentum landed major long-term awards, including the Space Force range contract, a significant U.K. nuclear remediation agreement and a major NASA award,” said Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic and founder of the Wash100 Award.
“These standout achievements underscore the company’s expanding role in some of the nation’s most important space, energy and advanced engineering missions. John’s energy, strategic innovation and steadfast commitment to excellence truly embody the very highest standard of the Wash100,” Garrettson continued.
“Receiving a Wash100 Award for the tenth year is an incredible honor and a testament to the journey I’ve been fortunate to share with remarkable leaders and collaborators,” Heller shared with Executive Mosaic. “Over the years, I’ve worked alongside some of the brightest minds and most inspiring teams, whose strategic insights and dedication have pushed me to excel as a leader. This recognition is not just mine—it belongs to the entire Amentum community, whose unwavering passion and commitment to our customers make everything we achieve possible.”
Who Is John Heller?
Aside from his role as CEO, Heller is also a member of Amentum’s board. He leads the company’s global strategy and operations across a workforce of roughly 53,000 employees spanning about 80 countries.
A seasoned executive in the government services and contracting space, Heller previously served as CEO and president of PAE, guiding the company through strategic growth and a public listing. His career also includes senior leadership roles at Engility, Harris and Netco, along with early experience as a U.S. Army logistics officer and a management consultant at Deloitte. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, Heller remains active in industry and academic leadership circles. Aside from his multiple Wash100 recognitions, Heller has received awards from various organizations, including the CEO of the Year honor from the Association for Corporate Growth.
Don’t forget to vote for John Heller in the 2026 Wash100 Award Popular Vote Competition!
Why Did John Heller Win the 2026 Wash100 Award?
Heller’s selection for the 2026 Wash100 Award reflects his broader contributions to the government contracting industry, driven by his leadership in expanding Amentum’s role across defense, space, IT, and nuclear missions. As CEO, Heller has helped shape how complex federal programs are executed by advancing integrated capabilities, scaling technical expertise and guiding the company through its transition as a newly public organization. In doing so, he has contributed to the evolution of industry standards for mission execution, particularly in defense modernization, space operations and nuclear services.
Major Defense, Space and IT Awards
That industry impact is evident in the scope and strategic importance of contracts awarded under Heller’s leadership. In April 2025, Amentum secured a $247.6 million global counter-threat finance contract from the Department of War.
In October, Amentum landed a $995 million Air Force contract to provide maintenance support for the MQ-9 Reaper fleet, and in December expanded its digital footprint with a $120 million Z-series chipset processor capacity services contract from the Defense Information Systems Agency.
Momentum continued into 2026, as Amentum received expanded ceiling authority under the Navy’s WEXMAC TITUS program and secured a $656.4 million base operations support contract at Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia. Collectively, the awards highlight Amentum’s expanding role across space, defense, cyber and global operations—key factors behind Heller’s selection for the 2026 Wash100 Award.
Strengthening Global Nuclear Capabilities
Beyond defense and space, Heller has also played a key role in advancing industry capacity within the nuclear sector. In 2025, Amentum advanced a major expansion strategy on both sides of the Atlantic, reinforcing its role in the global nuclear energy market. In May, the company opened a Nuclear Center of Excellence in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, designed to serve as a central hub for nuclear engineering, operations and technical expertise, while supporting both large- and small-scale nuclear power projects.
The facility is focused on advancing complex nuclear systems through the use of artificial intelligence, automation, safety and cybersecurity capabilities, and is intended to strengthen collaboration with government and industry partners to modernize nuclear infrastructure and support U.S. energy and national security priorities.
In September, Amentum announced plans to create up to 3,000 jobs across the UK over four years, aligning with growing British investment in nuclear power and defense and the UK-U.S. Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy. The company is expanding its workforce and capabilities to support reactor development, fusion research and defense-related nuclear programs, while increasing collaboration between the two nations to meet long-term energy demand, accelerate innovation and support shared government objectives.
What Is Amentum?
Amentum is a government services contractor headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, providing advanced engineering, technical, and operational support to federal agencies, including the Department of War, the intelligence community and civilian agencies. The company operates across defense, energy, environmental, space, and infrastructure programs, addressing complex challenges in science, security, and sustainability.
Executive Mosaic congratulates Heller and the rest of the Amentum team for winning the 2026 Wash100 Award.
Go to Wash100.com to vote for John Heller in the 2026 Wash100 Popular Vote Competition!