Growth leadership roles highlight the week in exec movement

A-Tek

This science and technology-focused company has created a new chief strategy and growth officer position with its hire of 25-year industry veteran Reuben Maher.

Maher will work with other A-TEK executives to further expand the company's offerings across federal health and civilian agencies.

His career prior to A-TEK includes growth leadership roles at Skybrid, ActioNet and Jacobs. He joined Jacobs through its acquisition of Blue Canopy in 2017.

A-Tek is backed by the private investment firm CM Equity Partners.

Alpha Omega

This government technology integrator has looked within its own ranks to appoint a new leader for the push to drive innovation and further implement its centers for excellence.

As chief technology officer, Nitin Vartak will also be responsible for leading the creation of Alpha Omega's solution vision and digital strategy across its federal and commercial customer base.

Alpha Omega pegs its annual revenue at around $140 million and the staff has having grown by 49% over the past year. The company describes its core market areas as including national security, foreign affairs and climate science.

Vartak first joined Alpha Omega in 2018 as director of solutions and most recently was vice president of technology.

Comtech

Like with company number one in this roundup, this terrestrial and wireless network operator has also created a new executive position focused on its longer-term direction.

Defense industry veteran John Ratigan has joined Comtech as its first-ever chief corporate development officer, a role that involves leadership over new business initiatives and other strategic pursuits.

Ratigan was most recently chief executive at ST Engineering iDirect, a U.S. government-focused  subsidiary that provides satellite communications solutions to those customers. He was iDirect's first employee and led its growth to at least $100 million in annual revenue, according to Comtech.

For Comtech's 2023 fiscal year ended July 31, the company recorded approximately $172 million in revenue from U.S. government contracts and subcontract work. That figure represents approximately 31% of company-wide sales.

Fuse Integration

This service-disabled, veteran-owned small business has brought in a new president with experience at larger contractors to shape the next phase of its strategy.

Scott Rosebush joins Fuse Integration to oversee day-to-day operations at the defense technology integrator, which concentrates on engineering and design services for IT systems and communications network.

Rosebush most recently was vice president and general manager of secure systems at Cubic Corp., where he led product development efforts in the area of communications in contested environments.

His career also includes roles at Northrop Grumman, Science Applications International Corp., TASC and Atmel.

Skyepoint Decisions

On the heels of one promotion, the cybersecurity services provider has also looked within its own ranks to make a second senior-level appointment.

Heather Newlin has has transitioned over the role of chief strategy officer, from which Heather Conigliaro moved up to the president role. Newlin was most recently chief operating officer at SkyePoint, whose customer base covers both defense and civilian agencies.

Newlin's new responsibilities include market analysis, expansion efforts and strategy development aimed at further building out SkyePoint's cyber and other IT offerings across the market.

Her career prior to SkyePoint includes stints as chief operating officer at Apogee, plus a vice president and general manager role at Jacobs. She is also the founder of Transformative Partners.

Virtualitics

This artificial intelligence and data analytics startup wrapped up a $37 million Series C financing round over the summer and is using that new capital to support its strategy for enterprise markets including government.

Virtualitics has hired a new president to lead its growth push across the public sector in Rob Bocek, a 15-year technology veteran who will lead initiatives across the defense and other government domains to include partnerships with technology systems integrators.

Bocek's career prior to Virtualitics includes sales leadership roles at Enveil and Epirus.

The Virtualitics platform works to help organizations explore their data while being guided by AI and machine learning.

AeroVironment

The unmanned aerial vehicle maker's board of directors elected a new member in Joseph Votel, the retired Army general who concluded his military career as commander of Central Command.

Votel's addition to the panel increases is size to eight individuals, seven of whom including him are independent.

He retired from the Army in 2019 after four decades of service that also included assignments such as commander of Special Operations Command and Joint Special Operations Command.

Following his retirement, he has also been a member of the Defense Business Board and CEO of Business Executives for National Security.