The Top 100 companies embrace change as a key to survival

A look at the 2009 Top 100 list reveals a lot of familiar names. In fact, the top 20 companies are the same group as last year, with just a few adjustments.

Lockheed Martin Corp. is No. 1 for the 15th straight year, with nearly $15 billion in prime contracts for government technology services.

And once again, Boeing Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp. round out the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively.

The 16th annual Washington Technology Top 100 was compiled with the help of market research firm Eagle Eye Publishers, which analyzed reports in the Federal Procurement Data System to create the rankings.

The 2009 list has only 12 new companies. Some regulars, such as EDS Corp. and SI International, gave up their spots after being acquired by other Top 100 companies — in those cases, Hewlett-Packard Co. at No. 12 and Serco Inc. at No. 28, respectively.

But just because a lot of companies on this year’s list are the same, don’t think that the rankings are stagnant. Change is a constant factor for these companies.

With a new administration, a stimulus package with billions of dollars of new spending and shifting government priorities, the current environment offers no shortage of challenges to fuel changes by the top companies in the market.

As you read the profiles of the Top 20 companies, you’ll find leading executives talking about restructuring operations to keep their businesses in line with government priorities.

For example, Northrop Grumman merged its Information Technology and Mission Systems units to form a new sector — Information Systems, under the leadership of Linda Mills.

“The realignment creates additional mass, agility and resources to respond to our customers’ needs,” Mills said.

Other companies such as Boeing are focusing on their performance on existing contracts to help them weather the tough economic times.

“We really view this as a critical year of execution,” said Jeff Trauberman, vice president of business development at Boeing’s Network and Space Systems, which is part of the company’s Integrated Defense Systems division.

Several of the top companies also share a growing interest in cybersecurity and health IT, both of which are important priorities for the Obama administration.

Companies such as Booz Allen Hamilton (No. 10), Computer Sciences Corp. (No. 9), HP and others have created business units or other organizations focused on cybersecurity.

Mergers and acquisitions are also playing a role for companies that want to stay current with their customers. General Dynamics Corp. (No. 4) bought ViPS Inc. for $225 million in June 2008 to bolster its health care capabilities.