NVC and George Mason University’s Costello College of Business Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting announced 35 of this year’s distinguished Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards® (GovCon Awards) finalists during the lively, invitation-only Finalists Reception on Thursday, August 27, 2026.
The GovCon Awards Gala, hosted on Thursday, November 5, at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, will convene more than 1,000 industry and government leaders to celebrate the exceptional companies and executives whose leadership, innovation, and achievements have helped shape this critical industry.
“Today’s finalists represent the very best of an industry that delivers mission success and strengthens our economy,” said NVC President & CEO Julie Coons. “Federal contracting supports more than 441,000 jobs across Virginia, with nearly two-thirds of federal contract dollars flowing through Northern Virginia. As the nation’s top state for federal contracting, Virginia’s talent and leadership support economic growth. We are proud to celebrate this industry and congratulate all finalists and applicants whose work continues to contribute to our prosperity and support our country’s most vital priorities.”
During the reception, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey McKay gave inspirational remarks on the vital role the government contracting community plays in driving Northern Virginia’s economy and, by extension, the Commonwealth’s economy. He spotlighted Fairfax County’s relationship with NVC and the NOVA Roadmap initiative, as well as the importance of collaboration between NVC, as the voice of business in Northern Virginia, and policymakers.
This year’s finalists include:
Contractor of the Year (Up to $25 million in revenue):
- APV
- Contact Government Services
- S. Caldwell & Associates
- ThinkTek
- Tridentis
Contractor of the Year ($25-$75 million in revenue):
- Amivero
- KIHOMAC
- Procon Consulting
- Quantum Leap Research
- ShorePoint
Contractor of the Year ($75-$300 million in revenue):
- DCCA
- MetroStar Systems*
- Patriot Group International
- PingWind
- Steampunk
Contractor of the Year (Over $300 million in revenue):
- Amentum
- CACI International*
- LMI*
- MANTECH*
- Noblis*
Executive of the Year (Up to $75 million in revenue):
- Loretta Caldwell, President & CEO, L.S. Caldwell & Associates
- Adam Grimm, President & COO, KIHOMAC
- Nick McCarter, CEO, Chartis Federal
- James “Jim” Miller, President & CEO, Quantum Leap Research
- Tim Tkacz, CEO, Blue Sky Innovators
Executive of the Year ($75-$300 million in revenue):
- Greg Craddock, CEO, Patriot Group International
- Gautam Ijoor, President & CEO, Alpha Omega*
- Lawrence Melton, President & CEO, The Building People*
- Aaron Moak, CEO, PingWind
- David Popelier, CEO, Acclaim Technical Services
Executive of the Year (Over $300 million in revenue):
- Tim Borchert, CEO, Tria Federal
- Mile Corrigan, President & CEO, Noblis*
- Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium Communications
- John Steckel, CEO, AMERICAN SYSTEMS
- Josh Wilson, CEO, LMI*
* Members of the Northern Virginia Chamber
Two award categories have not yet been announced: Program of the Year and Public Sector Partner of the Year. The 2026 LaFleur-Chason Hall of Fame Inductee announcement is also forthcoming.
“The Greg & Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting is proud to serve as the Northern Virginia Chamber’s strategic partner for this year’s Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards,” said The Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting’s Executive Director Mike Derrios. “These finalists represent the very best of the GovCon community, and their innovation, performance, and commitment to the public mission strengthen both our region and the federal marketplace. We congratulate each of them on this well-earned recognition and look forward to celebrating their accomplishments.”
The 2026 GovCon Awards Nominating Committee, co-chaired by Jamie Graham, Director of Business Development, KippsDeSanto & Co., and Mandy Wheat, Partner, RSM, received and reviewed more than 100 applications. Following careful deliberation, the Selection Panel selected 35 finalists.
“The applications we received spotlighted the people, organizations, and leaders shaping the future of government contracting,” said Graham. “We saw strong growth among applicants, with several companies reporting significant year-over-year revenue gains. That reflects a broader trend of companies successfully scaling their operations and expanding their market presence despite a challenging economic climate. I encourage the govcon community to join us in November as we celebrate our finalists and recognize our industry’s exceptional achievements.”
“This year’s GovCon Awards applicants made it clear that resilience drives success,” said Wheat. “Organizations across the government contracting community are investing in their people and leveraging technologies such as AI, augmented reality, and automation to address real mission challenges. As we approach the GovCon Awards’ 25th anniversary, we remain committed to evolving the program alongside our industry and recognizing the leaders and organizations helping shape its future.”
For more information about this year’s GovCon Awards, including the full list of award categories and finalists, please visit the event page. To view photos from this year’s reception, visit NVC’s Flickr page.
