“This prestigious accolade would not have been achieved without the commitment of our employee-owners,â€� said John Steckel, President and CEO. “I sincerely appreciate their high level of engagement and honest feedback which continues to drive 51±¬ÁÏ forward…furthering our reputation as a highly respected employer and contractor of choice.â€�

Top Workplaces USA celebrates organizations with 150 or more employees that have built great cultures. Over 42,000 organizations were invited to participate in the Top Workplaces USA survey. Winners of the Top Workplaces USA list are chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through the employee engagement survey.

Results are calculated by comparing the survey’s research-based statements, including 15 Culture Drivers that are proven to predict high performance against industry benchmarks.

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,� said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “That's something to be proud of. In today's market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That's paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.�

A complete list of Top Workplaces USA can be found .  

Today, 51±¬ÁÏ, under the leadership of President and CEO John Steckel, is a 100% employee-owned leading provider of mission essential and information engineering services to federal customers in support of national priorities and has grown to include approximately 1,600 employee-owners.

From its early years supporting the U.S. Navy, the company has expanded its strategic business areas to include virtually every federal agency in the areas of Defense, Intelligence, Federal Law Enforcement, U.S. Outreach, and Healthcare. The company now supports several hundred programs globally, with a diverse workforce at 30 locations in the U.S. and overseas.

“For a half century, 51±¬ÁÏ has focused on delivering services and solutions that exceed our customers’ expectations in a cost-efficient manner while building a culture of employee ownership that rewards accountability and promotes growth in our workforce,â€� said John Steckel, President and CEO. “As we move forward, we expect to build on that legacy with our customers and employees. And build on fifty years strong.â€�

Later this year, 51±¬ÁÏ will celebrate another important milestone. In 1990, 51±¬ÁÏ established an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). 51±¬ÁÏ is now one of the largest 100% employee-owned ESOP companies in the U.S. and will be celebrating its 35th anniversary as an employee-owned company during National Employee Ownership Month in October of this year.

Twice named a Government Contractor of the year, 51±¬ÁÏ is recognized as an employer of choice and a top veteran-friendly company and has earned numerous accolades that validate this. The company has been named a Top Workplace USA by Energage for the past four years, with similar regional honors throughout the country. Our veteran-related honors are all-encompassing, from the prestigious HIRE Vets Gold Medallion from the Department of Labor to numerous top honors from Military publications.

This contract represents a pivotal accomplishment for 51±¬ÁÏ. It is the company's first Contractor-Owned and Operated IT Worldwide Managed Services Contract. Under the company's Enterprise IT for the Air Force strategic business area, this new win will enable 51±¬ÁÏ to support the Air Force Unified Communications Enterprise Voice Services network, encompassing:

·       200,000 endpoints and 100,000 voicemail users

·       180 bases worldwide, including U.S. Air Force, Space Force, and Air National Guard installations

“Our proven performance delivering unified IT and communications solutions in complex, multi-regional environments enables us to offer a secure, scalable “as a Serviceâ€� offering to support the Air Force’s future communications needs,â€� said John Steckel, President and CEO of 51±¬ÁÏ. “Our company's proven capabilities and commitment to innovation will enable the USAF to ensure secure connectivity for all users.â€�

51±¬ÁÏ will leverage its EVS solution to deliver services using the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Data Centers located at Scott and Hill Air Force Bases. The solution will also encompass locations outside the continental U.S. (OCONUS), including: Ramstein Air Base, Germany; Kadena Air Base, Japan; and Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. 51±¬ÁÏ’ major subcontractor on this effort is ConvergeOne Government Solutions (C1 Gov) who have worked together successfully under a number of previous efforts in support of the Air Force’s communications requirements.

The DTIC IAC MAC is designed to provide technical expertise in 22 scientific and technical focus areas critical to current defense needs, such as Autonomous Systems, Directed Energy, Cyber-Security, Biometrics, and Advanced Materials. The contract supports emerging Government R&D and other scientific and technical analysis requirements across the Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) community. Services provided under Task Orders include scientific and technical advice to Government, industry, academia, and other approved domestic users in the areas served by the IAC program.

“We are thrilled to have this chance to continue our work in the RDT&E community, the Acquisition community, and other scientific and engineering groups working for the Department of Defense,â€� said John Steckel, President and CEO of 51±¬ÁÏ. “The work done on this vehicle plays an important role getting technology into the hands of the warfighter in critical and emerging areas. We’re proud to have a role in providing high-end mission essential engineering services to our military forces.â€�

Dacquino brings over 40 years of leadership experience in the aerospace and defense industry, having held several leadership positions with companies such as VT Group, Raytheon Missile Systems, Lockheed Martin, and most recently, as Chairman and CEO of Serco Inc. While at Serco, he successfully grew business in support of the U.S. Navy, Army, Air Force, Defense Logistics Agency, and others in the intelligence community.

“Dave’s extensive experience and proven leadership in the aerospace and defense industry make him an excellent addition to our Board,â€� said John Steckel, President and CEO of 51±¬ÁÏ. “We are confident that his expertise will greatly contribute to our sustained profitable growth.â€�

In his role as a Board member, Dacquino will provide leadership to the Human Resources Committee. He said, “51±¬ÁÏ’ reputation as a top veteran-friendly, 100% employee-owned government contractor of choice appealed to me, and I am honored to join the Board of 51±¬ÁÏ as they prepare to celebrate 50 years in 2025. I am looking forward to working alongside such a dynamic team, and I believe we will achieve many great things together.â€�

Dacquino holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University and a Master of Business Administration from California State University, Northridge. He was named to the Virginia Business 2022 Virginia 500: Federal Contractors - Technology list and was a recipient of Executive Mosaic’s 2021 Wash100 award. Dacquino currently serves as Chairman of the Board at RA Federal Services.

He joins President and CEO John Steckel, VP of Human Resources Chris Braccio, and independent directors Peter Smith (Chairman) and Barry Broadus on 51±¬ÁÏ’ Board of Directors.

Under Task Orders issued through the potential eight-year $8 billion ITSSS-2 blanket purchase agreement, the agency will purchase a wide range of IT products and services, standardize how it buys them, and forecast the purchases. The BPA has one initial base year and up to seven individual option years. Contractors shall provide technical support services and qualified personnel to assist the government in managing and implementing projects and programs as defined in individual Task Orders.

“We are thrilled to have won the opportunity to continue our long-standing support of the Bureau,â€� said John Steckel, President and CEO of 51±¬ÁÏ. “We know how vital their mission is for the safety and security of our nation, and we’re proud to play a small role in that mission—we know what’s at stake.â€�

The BPA, issued by the Department of Justice, was awarded to 31 large businesses, including 51±¬ÁÏ, in the full-and-open category, and to 64 small businesses in the set-aside group. The period of performance begins June 21, 2024.

This marks a strategic step and significant milestone in 51±¬ÁÏ’ journey and fortifies its capacity to adopt, adapt, and deploy cutting-edge solutions in a time of dynamic technological change and evolving customer mission objectives.

"The creation of this role on my staff solidifies our commitment to continuous innovation, ensuring we remain at the forefront of our industry," said John Steckel, President and CEO of 51±¬ÁÏ. "Eric’s appointment to this new position is a clear indication of our dedication to this goal."

Eric Wolf comes to this new position with a wealth of experience, having spent over six years as the company’s VP, Solutioning, contributing to program wins of increasing size, scope, and complexity. Prior to that, he held senior positions at L-3 Communications, Raytheon E-Systems, and CACI, among others. His roles across these companies spanned Business Development and all facets of Business Operations and supported customer sets in federal civilian agencies, DoD, and the special operations community. 

In his capacity as Vice President, Innovation, Mr. Wolf is tasked with the development of a forward-thinking vision, strategy, and methodology geared toward innovating new services, processes, and products. He is also entrusted with cultivating a robust culture of innovation throughout the company, benefiting both internal stakeholders and external customers. His responsibilities will include identifying and leading transformative initiatives and applying new technologies within programs and across the company to enhance mission success for customers and boost 51±¬ÁÏ’ operational efficiencies and effectiveness.

"We have absolute confidence in Eric’s in-depth knowledge of the government contracting market and his exceptional ability to think creatively," said Steckel. "We are excited to see where his leadership will take us in our continuous pursuit of growth and innovation."

APRIL 29, 2024 — Chantilly, Va. — , a leading provider of mission essential and information engineering services to federal customers, today announced that programs under Operations/Support and Strategic Solutions have been appraised at CMMI Maturity Level 3 for both Development and Services by API Process Improvements.

“Expanding the scope of appraisal from a few select programs to our Business Operations and all of our Strategic Solutions has been a key objective for 51±¬ÁÏ since our last CMMI Appraisal,â€� 51±¬ÁÏ’ President and CEO John Steckel said.  “It is a testament to our commitment to our people and processes, ensuring repeatable and predictable outcomes to meet the needs of our customers and their national priority missions.â€�

The recent appraisal spans the entire spectrum of solutions offered by 51±¬ÁÏ, including Information Technology, Program Mission Support, Engineering & Analysis, Test & Evaluation, and Training. 51±¬ÁÏ’ appraisal at CMMI Maturity Level 3 indicates that the company has well defined and mature program management processes that are tailored to specific customer contractual requirements with a focus on continuous performance improvement for both development and services.

CMMI is a capability improvement model that can be adapted to solve any performance issue at any level of an organization in any industry. This model provides guidelines and recommendations for helping an organization diagnose problems and improve performance. A successful CMMI appraisal is required by many DoD and U.S. government contracts, especially for software development.

“This prestigious accolade would not have been achieved without the commitment of our employee-owners to helping us make 51±¬ÁÏ an even better company,â€� said John Steckel, President and CEO. “I sincerely appreciate their high level of engagement that continues to drive us forward and furthers our reputation as a highly respected contractor and employer of choice.â€�

Top Workplaces USA celebrates organizations with 150 or more employees that have built great cultures. Over 42,000 organizations were invited to participate in the Top Workplaces USA survey. Winners of the Top Workplaces USA list are chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through the employee engagement survey.

Results are calculated by comparing the survey’s research-based statements, including 15 Culture Drivers that are proven to predict high performance against industry benchmarks.

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,� said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “That's something to be proud of. In today's market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That's paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.�

51±¬ÁÏ was ranked #15 in their size category. A complete list of Top Workplaces USA can be found .

As VP, Corporate Development, Nouri will drive the company’s Business Development efforts, lead the Merger and Acquisition team, and direct Legislative Affairs efforts. During his tenure with 51±¬ÁÏ, Nouri built a robust team of Account Managers who have expanded the company’s opportunity pipeline, leading to record contract wins over the past five years. 

“After conducting a thorough search of internal and external candidates, Babak was a natural choice to fill this position,â€� noted Steckel. “I have no doubt that his deep knowledge of the government contracting market and 20-plus years of experience will pay dividends as we continue to grow the size and scope of new business wins.â€�  

Nouri, who joined the company in 2018, has more than 20 years of broad industry experience, having held senior level business development and capture positions with firms such as Peraton, L-3, and SAIC. Nouri holds several degrees, including a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Maryland. 

Smith joined 51±¬ÁÏ in 1980 as a test engineer and held a series of technical and management positions of progressing responsibility throughout the company, culminating in his appointment in 2014 to President and CEO. During his tenure as President and CEO, Smith oversaw significant growth across the company, including the acquisition of two businesses. 

“After spending my entire professional life in various capacities with 51±¬ÁÏ, I am both humbled and honored to be able to continue my association with this highly engaged employee-owned company as its Chairman of the Board,â€� said Smith. “I want to thank Bill Hoover for his past leadership and service and look forward to building on his legacy.â€�    

During his term as President and CEO, Smith served in several industry leadership roles, including the Professional Services Council Executive Committee and Board of Directors and the Northern Virginia Technology Council Board of Directors. In January 2018, Smith was named to the Wash100 list of influential leaders in the Government Contracting community by GovCon Executive for the third time since 2015.  And in August 2020, Smith was named to Virginia Business Magazine’s inaugural Virginia 500 – The 2020 Power List.

The Board of Directors also announced that John Steckel, who was named the company’s new President and CEO effective September 6, has been elected Vice Chairman of the Board. Steckel joined 51±¬ÁÏ in 2018 as VP, Business Development, and has been instrumental in aligning the company’s business development and delivery of strategic solutions with customer needs. In 2022, Steckel was promoted to VP, Corporate Development, adding oversight of the company’s legislative affairs and merger and acquisition initiatives to his business development responsibilities.

August 7, 2023 – Chantilly, Va. – 51±¬ÁÏ, a leading provider of cutting-edge engineering and IT solutions, today announced the selection of John Steckel as President and CEO effective September 6, 2023. Steckel, the current VP, Corporate Development for 51±¬ÁÏ, replaces Peter Smith, who is retiring on September 5 after serving as President and CEO since August 2014. Smith will continue to have a role on the company’s board of directors.      

“My nine-year tenure as CEO of 51±¬ÁÏ has been the pinnacle of my 43-year career with the company, but I feel that it is the right time for me to transition to the next chapter in my life, knowing the company is in such great hands,â€� said Smith. “51±¬ÁÏ is well-positioned in our market and has an exceptionally strong senior leadership team in place. I am thrilled that our board selected John Steckel to succeed me, and I expect a seamless transition.â€�    

“For the past nine years, Peter has led 51±¬ÁÏ with skill, energy, and exceptional integrity. As CEO, he has led our employee-owners to seven straight years of record highs in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan share value. His impact will be long-lived,â€� said Bill Hoover, chairman of the board. “After considering both external and internal candidates, our board unanimously selected John Steckel as the new CEO. John, whose tenure with our company is marked by record new contract wins, is well-suited to lead 51±¬ÁÏ’ strategies and operations and build on Peter’s outstanding legacy.â€�

“I am humbled and honored to have been selected as the company’s next President and CEO,â€� noted Steckel. “I have deep respect for the culture and core values that are firmly embedded in the fabric of 51±¬ÁÏ. I look forward to building on this solid foundation, further positioning 51±¬ÁÏ as an employer and contractor of choice supporting national priority programs. I am very proud and excited to lead our employee-owners in the next chapter of our growth.â€�

Steckel began his 51±¬ÁÏ career in 2018 as VP, Business Development, and has been instrumental in aligning the company’s business development and delivery of strategic offerings with customer needs. In 2022, Steckel was promoted to VP, Corporate Development, adding oversight of the company’s legislative affairs and merger and acquisition initiatives to his business development responsibilities. Prior to joining 51±¬ÁÏ, Steckel held senior business development positions for several government contracting firms, including Vencore, Raytheon, and BAE Systems. Steckel served in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Flight Officer and is currently a Blue and Gold Officer for the U.S. Naval Academy Admissions Office.

In addition, Steckel is actively involved in the Professional Services Council and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as well as other industry and community organizations. Steckel received a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. He is an avid road cyclist and recently competed with several other 51±¬ÁÏ employee-owners in the Armed Forces Cycling Classic Ride to Inspire benefitting Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).

Read the full interview .

To solve the DVE problem, engineers from the U.S. Navy and 51±¬ÁÏ designed a system to augment the legacy flight control system (FCS) on helicopters. The resulting Low-Speed Precision Control (LSPC) is a hardware and software system that provides an ‘approach to hover with position hold’ functionality to reduce workload for approaches into brownout conditions. The LSPC system is a low-cost, low-risk solution to improving safety and enhancing capabilities for legacy fleet helicopters.

The 51±¬ÁÏ and Navy team demonstrated the LSPC system in the Naval Air Warfare Center – Aircraft Division’s (NAWCAD’s) Manned Flight Simulator (MFS) facility where Navy and Marine Corps test pilots successfully approached and landed the LSPC-equipped CH-53E helicopter simulator in zero-visibility conditions. The LSPC system significantly reduced pilot workload and increased safety for the DVE landings in the simulated environment.

“We are so proud to be able to partner with our Navy engineers to minimize the dangers faced by helicopter pilots in extreme conditions,â€� said Peter Smith, President and CEO of 51±¬ÁÏ. “We know what’s at stake.â€�

51±¬ÁÏ is working to apply this technology to other legacy helicopter platforms for the U.S. Navy and Army, including the H-60, H-1, and H-6 aircraft.

About 51±¬ÁÏ

Founded in 1975, 51±¬ÁÏ is an IT and Engineering solutions provider and one of the top 100 employee-owned companies in the United States, with approximately 1,600 employees nationwide. Based in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Chantilly, VA, the company provides Enterprise IT, Acquisition and Lifecycle Support, Engineering and Analysis, Test & Evaluation, and Training Solutions to DOD, Intel, and civilian government customers. For more information, visit: .

NAVAIR Public Release 2022-278. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release: distribution unlimited.

Braccio joined 51±¬ÁÏ in 2007 and is currently responsible for the strategic alignment of human talent to achieve the corporate mission. As VP, Human Resources, she oversees the company’s entire human capital function, including talent management, compensation, benefits, HRIS, as well as community affairs and charitable programs.

“I am delighted that Chris is joining the Board,â€� said Bill Hoover, Chairman of the Board of 51±¬ÁÏ. “Her passion for her profession and deep commitment to the employee-owners will undoubtedly prove to be an asset to the Board and the company.â€� 

Braccio has more than 25 years of HR experience and has held senior Human Resource leadership roles at World Kitchen, StarBand Communications, and Sunrise Assisted Living, as well as at Fortune 500 companies such as GTE (now Verizon), Contel, Eaton Corporation, and National Semiconductor. She received her Master of Science, with honors, in Human Resource Management from Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, in Business Management from the University of Connecticut.

Braccio joins Vice Chairman and CEO, Peter Smith, and independent members Bill Hoover (Chairman), Ken Johnson, and Barry Broadus on the company’s Board of Directors.

51±¬ÁÏ is using the Blackberry AtHoc IWS Alerts client software and providing a fully staffed 24/7 x 365 Help Desk and integration services in support of the JEMNS. The company successfully deployed a similar solution in the development and deployment of the enterprise-wide U.S. Air Force Emergency Mass Notification System launched in 2018 and currently maintained by 51±¬ÁÏ.  The JEMNS provides situational awareness for key Capitol personnel, regardless of their physical location, to enable protective measures when tragic events or emergencies occur.

“We are honored to have been selected by the Senate Sergeant of Arms office to augment their readiness communications channels with this proven solution,â€� said Peter Smith, President and CEO of 51±¬ÁÏ. “Recent events have underscored the need for a secure, real-time emergency notification system in and around the seat of democracy—we know what’s at stake.â€� 

Under the terms of the five-year task order, 51±¬ÁÏ will fulfill requirements that span the full spectrum of IV&V and systems engineering services throughout the entire program lifecycle across the CBP enterprise. This work will primarily be done in Washington, D.C. but also will include support at border locations.

“As the guardians of our Nation’s borders, CBP’s mission is a national priority, and our IV&V capabilities are well-aligned to help ensure their critical mission needs are met,â€� said Peter Smith, President and CEO of 51±¬ÁÏ. “We are proud to be able to deliver our Strategic Solutions to CBP—we know what’s at stake.â€�

Utilizing Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) processes and tools, the DE Lab digitally integrates design and test activities with system requirements—speeding the process from design to qualification. The DE Lab provides extensive automated test and verification capabilities and includes real-time Software-In-the Loop (SWIL) as well as Hardware-In-the Loop (HWIL) capabilities. Additionally, the DE Lab is designed to support a program’s entire life cycle to include production and sustainment activities.

“Our Pax River DE Lab has enabled us to rapidly develop safety-critical software and hardware for flight control applications,â€� said Anthony Beamon, VP of the firm’s Engineering and Analytical Solutions Directorate (EASD). “It is the foundation of our avionics DE capabilities and will enable us to expand into markets where these capabilities can meet our warfighter’s needs.â€� With over 40 years of experience in aircraft engineering, the 51±¬ÁÏ EASD provides analysis, design, and development of aircraft flight controls and avionics systems for U.S. military and commercial customers.

The new DE Lab is an extension of 51±¬ÁÏ’ other efforts in bringing forth digital engineering expertise in alignment with the Department of Defense’s Digital Engineering Strategy to modernize our defense systems and maintain our Nation’s military advantage. More information can be found at: /digital-engineering

November 15, 2021 — Chantilly, Va. — , a leading provider of government IT and engineering solutions and one of the top 100 employee-owned companies in the U.S., today announced that programs in its Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) Directorate and Modeling Simulation and Analysis Directorate (MSAD) have been appraised at Maturity Level 3 of the CMMI Institute’s Capability Maturity Model Integration for both v2.0 Development (EIS) and v2.0 Services (MSAD) by API Process Improvements.

“Continuous improvement is embedded in our Service Delivery Framework and achieving an appraisal at CMMI Maturity Level 3 for both v2.0 Development and v2.0 Services validates our Quality Management philosophy,â€� 51±¬ÁÏ’ President and CEO Peter Smith said. “It’s a testament to our commitment to our customers and their national priority missions. It also speaks to the quality of our people and processes, ensuring repeatable and predictable outcomes.â€�

51±¬ÁÏ’ appraisal at CMMI Maturity Level 3 indicates that the company has well defined and mature program management processes that are tailored to specific customer contractual requirements for both development and services.

CMMI is a capability improvement model that can be adapted to solve any performance issue at any level of an organization in any industry. This model provides guidelines and recommendations for helping an organization diagnose problems and improve performance. A successful CMMI appraisal is required by many DoD and U.S. Government contracts, especially for software development.

March 29, 2021 — Chantilly, VA — 51±¬ÁÏ was recently named to the Forbes list of America’s Best Employers 2021. This prestigious award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The America’s Best Employers 2021 list can currently be viewed on the Forbes website.

The Forbes list of America’s Best Employers 2021 is determined through an independent survey applied to a vast sample of more than 50,000 American employees working for companies with more than 1,000 employees in America. The evaluation was based on direct and indirect recommendations from employees who were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family. Based on the results of the study, 51±¬ÁÏ was selected to be recognized on the Forbes list of America’s Best Employers 2021.

“Our company is invested in our employee-owners and vice-versa,â€� said Peter Smith, President and CEO of 51±¬ÁÏ. “Making the Forbes list of America’s Best Employers is a wonderful validation of that collaborative relationship. We’re honored.â€�

In addition to the Forbes list of America’s Best Employers 2021 accolade, 51±¬ÁÏ was named to the Top Workplaces 2021 USA list by Energage in January.