In national security, a new title is rarely just a new title. Who’s moving up, moving out, or jumping from government to industry can offer some pretty good clues about where the money, missions, and momentum are headed next. This week, the biggest name on the move is at the Pentagon.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submitted his resignation after roughly 18 months on the job, with the White House offering no official explanation for the departure.
The Iraq War veteran and former tech investor made speed a hallmark of his tenure, pushing faster acquisition, more drones and counter-drone capabilities, and a defense industrial base that could move at something closer to Silicon Valley speed. News of his exit drew praise from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, but no successor has been named.
Driscoll may be grabbing the biggest headline, but he’s hardly the only name worth watching. Across government, the primes, and defense tech, a fresh crop of leaders is taking the reins, with résumés heavy on acquisition, manufacturing, intelligence, space, missile defense, and commercial technology.
Consider this your national security “who’s in, who’s out, and who’s on the move” list.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
New federal appointments are bringing industry, acquisition, and investment experience into influential national security roles. This week’s moves center on space intelligence and strengthening the Navy’s defense industrial base.
Andrew Magliochetti, Department of the Navy (DON)
New role: Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for the Defense Industrial Base
Previously: Director, Department of the Navy Office of Small Business Programs
Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao has appointed Andrew Magliochetti to lead a new office focused on strengthening the Navy’s defense industrial base.
Magliochetti will serve as the principal civilian adviser to the assistant secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition on the health, integration, and expansion of the service’s industrial supply chain. His responsibilities include expanding domestic manufacturing, addressing supply chain vulnerabilities, and accelerating the adoption of dual-use commercial technologies.
Magliochetti previously advised Navy leadership on small-business policy and has approximately 25 years of private-sector experience in structured finance, investment banking, private equity, and national security technology investment.
The appointment places a dedicated senior leader over industrial capacity at a time when the Navy is trying to increase shipbuilding output, strengthen its supply chain, and move commercial technology into operational use more quickly.
Roger Mason, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)
New role: Director of the National Reconnaissance Office
Previously: Chief Growth Officer at V2X
Roger Mason was sworn in as the 20th director of the National Reconnaissance Office on August 17. He now provides direction and oversight for the agency responsible for developing, acquiring, launching, and operating the nation’s reconnaissance satellites.
Mason most recently served as chief growth officer at government contractor V2X. He previously held senior positions at Peraton, including president of the company’s Space and Intelligence sector.
Mason’s appointment represents a significant industry-to-government move. His background combines aerospace, defense contracting, intelligence missions, and corporate growth, giving the NRO a leader with experience on both the government customer and industry sides of national security technology.
BRIAN BONACCI, CISA
New role: Acting Executive Assistant Director for Emergency Communications
Previously: Senior Counselor to the Secretary of Homeland Security
Brian Bonacci has been named acting executive assistant director for Emergency Communications at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. He most recently served as a senior counselor to the secretary of Homeland Security and previously worked as CISA’s chief of staff.
Bonacci brings more than 30 years of experience in federal information technology. His career has included government service as well as leadership positions at companies supporting federal agencies, including RIVA Solutions and SAIC.
CISA’s Emergency Communications Division works to strengthen the reliability, interoperability, and resilience of communications used by emergency responders and national security personnel. Bonacci’s combination of government, technology, and private-sector experience will shape those efforts as agencies modernize critical communications systems.
NATSEC CONTRACTORS
Major national security contractors are elevating experienced insiders and adding leaders with expertise in space, missile defense, manufacturing, and corporate growth.
Sam Mehta, L3Harris Technologies
New role: President and CEO
Previously: President of Space & Mission Systems and Communications & Spectrum Dominance
L3Harris Technologies appointed Sam Mehta president and CEO as Christopher Kubasik stepped down as chairman, CEO, and a member of the board. Lewis Hay III was separately named independent chairman.
L3Harris said Kubasik’s departure followed an investigation into conduct that was inconsistent with the company’s code of conduct. The company said the matter was unrelated to its financial reporting, internal controls, customer relationships, or operational performance.
Mehta joined L3Harris in 2023 and previously led business segments representing more than 80% of the company’s revenue. He has more than 25 years of aerospace and defense experience, including leadership positions with Collins Aerospace and Sikorsky.
Mehta takes over while L3Harris is investing $3 billion to expand solid rocket motor production and strengthen its supply chain. The company also elevated Lauren Barnes to president of Space & Mission Systems and Christopher Aebli to president of Communications & Spectrum Dominance.
Mark Peller, United Launch Alliance
New role: President and CEO
Previously: Chief Operating Officer
United Launch Alliance named Mark Peller president and CEO following a search that considered internal and external candidates. Peller succeeds interim CEO John Elbon, who is scheduled to retire at the end of 2026.
Peller has worked at ULA since the company was formed in 2006. As chief operating officer, he oversaw the Atlas and Vulcan launch vehicle programs and responsibilities spanning engineering, production, supply chain, quality, and launch operations. He also led Vulcan’s development from the beginning of the program through its entry into service and certification for government missions.
ULA selected a longtime technical and operational leader as demand for military, intelligence, civil, and commercial access to space continues to grow. Peller’s experience with Vulcan will be particularly important as ULA works to expand the rocket’s launch cadence.
Khalid Syed, Amentum
New role: Vice President of Strategic National Security Initiatives
Previously: Executive in Booz Allen Hamilton’s National Security Technology Sector
Amentum hired Khalid Syed to lead efforts involving integrated air and missile defense, C5ISR, and space systems.
Syed brings more than 30 years of defense technology experience. At Booz Allen Hamilton, his work included programs connected to homeland air defense, command-and-control modernization, joint all-domain operations, GPS modernization, and the Defense of Guam.
The appointment provides a clear indication of where Amentum is adding senior talent. Air and missile defense, space, artificial intelligence-enabled battle management, and interconnected command systems remain major areas of federal investment and contractor competition.
DEFENSE TECH
Defense technology companies are bringing operational and strategic experience into their leadership teams as they scale emerging capabilities and pursue new national security missions.
Sean Gainey, BIGBEAR.AI
New role: Member of the Board of Directors
Previously: Commander of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command and Joint Task Force-Gold
BigBear.ai appointed retired Army Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey to its board of directors following his 36-year military career.
Gainey was the first director of the Pentagon’s Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office and helped develop the department’s initial counter-drone strategy. In his final Army assignment, he led U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. He also commanded Joint Task Force-Gold, which was established to help integrate homeland air and missile defense capabilities associated with Golden Dome.
Gainey brings direct operational experience in counter-drone technology, missile defense, and the integration of sensors and weapons. Those areas closely overlap with BigBear.ai’s work in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, sensor fusion, and military decision support.
Chris Rogers, Applied Aerospace & Defense
New role: President and Chief Strategy Officer
Previously: Chief Strategy Officer
Applied Aerospace & Defense appointed Chris Rogers to the newly created combined position of president and chief strategy officer following the company’s June 2026 initial public offering.
Rogers will have broader strategic and operational oversight while continuing to lead corporate strategy, business development, mergers and acquisitions, government relations, communications, and investor relations. Before joining Applied, he spent more than 20 years at Harris Williams and served as a Marine Corps officer.
Applied said it is adjusting its executive structure to support growth and the expansion of its advanced manufacturing infrastructure. The company operates 11 facilities across six states serving space, launch, defense aviation, C5ISR, and precision-strike markets.
THE MOVE BEHIND THE MOVE
This week’s leadership changes highlight the continued movement of executives between government, the military, traditional contractors, and newer defense technology companies.
Taken together, the moves show growing demand for leaders who understand more than one side of the national security market. Operational experience, acquisition knowledge, commercial technology, manufacturing capacity, and private investment are becoming more closely connected as agencies and contractors attempt to deliver new capabilities faster.
PEOPLE TO WATCH
Nicole Perry: Now performing the duties of director of the Navy’s Office of Small Business Programs, Perry will oversee efforts to integrate small businesses into Navy and Marine Corps acquisition. She brings 24 years of defense acquisition experience to the role.
Ty Mortensen: The new CEO of Kinetic Engine Systems brings nearly three decades of manufacturing leadership to a company producing mission-critical engine components for commercial and military aircraft. His experience scaling complex manufacturing operations will be important as aerospace suppliers respond to growing production demands.
Salim Omar: Peraton’s recently appointed chief financial officer has more than a decade of leadership experience across Peraton and its predecessor organizations. His background in mergers, acquisitions, integrations, and operational restructuring makes him a leader to watch as Peraton pursues its next phase of growth.
