Leaders of the pack

You will find an interesting juxtaposition of stories on the front page. For our main story, Senior Editor Nick Wakeman spoke with Robert Beyster, founder of Science Applications International Corp., Charles Rossotti, founder of American Management Systems Inc., and other Titans of the industry to get their take on developments in the federal market. Although no longer with their original businesses, these pioneers remain heavily involved in the industry, advising newcomers and helping companies plot their strategies for growth.Also on the front page is a teaser to an inside story about women in the federal IT industry. It's no secret that men dominate leadership positions at federal IT companies, but many women executives say they are encountering fewer barriers to promotion. They expect to see even more women join their ranks as they reap the benefits of progress that started a couple of decades ago.When Wakeman set out to identify the Titans of the government IT market, he asked executives to name the people who helped build the industry. All those named were men. Staff Writer Roseanne Gerin's story on women in technology suggests that, if trends continue, women executives will eventually be counted among the Titans.But how soon will that be?