Charles Lyons-Burt 
As federal contractors navigate workforce disruption driven by artificial intelligence adoption, acquisition reform, program uncertainty and an aging talent base, executive recruiting has become a strategic differentiator rather than a transactional service. Demand for leaders who understand federal missions, compliance realities and evolving technology stacks continues to outpace supply, particularly at the board and C-suite levels.
Against that backdrop, ExecutiveBiz identified a group of recruiters shaping how GovCon organizations build leadership teams in 2026. This list spans boutique firms and global search players, with expertise across defense, civilian agencies, private equity-backed contractors and adjacent technology markets. Listed alphabetically, these recruiters are ones federal contractors and GovCon executives consistently turn to as the talent market tightens.
Want to connect and grow your network with the best and brightest in the GovCon industry? Make sure you attend Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 GovCon Executive Leadership Summit on Feb. 26. The event will feature panel discussions with established CEOs and emerging company leaders, as well as dialogues about hot button issues like Golden Dome, acquisition reform, defense technology and more. Secure your place now!
Who Are the Top Recruiters in the GovCon Industry?
Jake Frazer
President and co-founder, Precision Talent Solutions
Jake Frazer is president and co-founder of Precision Talent Solutions, where he has worked since January 2016 building executive recruiting capabilities rooted in firsthand GovCon experience. Frazer brings a rare perspective shaped by time as a government end user, decades inside large integrators and a decade leading a mid-sized prime as a C-suite executive.
That background informs how he approaches executive search in a sector where leadership decisions directly affect mission outcomes. Frazer told ExecutiveBiz that GovCon stands apart from other industries because “there is no other industry where the quality and fit of talent is as critical,” adding that empathy and mission awareness are essential to getting executive hiring right.
Upon reflection, Frazer framed 2025 as the most disruptive year GovCon has seen since 9/11, with ripple effects carrying into 2026.
“The entire GovCon workforce must up-skill and adapt to absorb the impact of AI, FAR overhaul and new national security priorities,” he said. “These changes will demand a new breed of GovCon leaders who can navigate these variables with both emotional intelligence and a focus on innovation.”
Read: Executive Spotlight with Frazer
Brian Thomas
Capital Region Office Leader and Partner; Industrial and ADG Practice Leader, NorthWind Partners
Brian Thomas brings more than 20 years of executive search and advisory experience with deep domain focus across industrial markets and the aerospace, defense and government and public sector segments. As capital region office leader and a partner at NorthWind Partners, he leads the firm’s Industrial and ADG practice with a primary emphasis on retained board and C-suite searches.
Thomas’ market coverage spans space systems, defense electronics, aerospace and industrial components, AI and ML technology, SaaS, cyber and GovCon. NorthWind says he has helped scale the firm fourfold and grow revenue more than fivefold while spearheading internal training and talent development, an area Thomas has described as his true passion. He has completed more than 750 executive searches for public, private and PE/VC-backed companies and is known for building full leadership teams for new investments, including board seats and roles such as CEO, CFO, CGO, CHRO and general counsel. ExecutiveBiz previously named him one of the top GovCon executive recruiters in 2020 and 2022.
Patrick Gray
Co-Founder and CEO, Gray Talent Advisors
Patrick Gray is co-founder and CEO of Gray Talent Advisors, a boutique executive search firm focused on aerospace, defense and government services. A former U.S. Army intelligence officer, Gray combines military, intelligence, investment and technology experience with more than two decades in executive search.
His recruiting career includes senior leadership roles at Korn Ferry and Heidrick & Struggles, where he led global aerospace, defense and government services practices. Today, Gray supports Fortune 1000 companies and private equity firms on board and C-suite searches during periods of leadership transition.
What Were Gray’s Thoughts on the Industry?
Gray told ExecutiveBiz that GovCon remains uniquely rewarding because of its mission-driven nature. He pointed to partnerships with investors, executives and operators who are “dedicated to important objectives in support of national security and of more transparent and efficient government.”
On workforce challenges, Gray flagged demographic shifts and systemic friction. “The continued retirement wave of the Baby Boomer generation, security clearance bottlenecks, federal workforce reductions and uncertain regulatory and acquisition environments” are shaping the year ahead, he said, noting that political volatility could further complicate planning for contractors in 2026.
Eric Joseph
Partner, Heidrick & Struggles
Eric Joseph is a partner in Heidrick & Struggles’ Washington, D.C. office and a senior leader within the firm’s CEO and board of directors practice. He leads Heidrick Consulting in North America, advising clients on leadership development, team effectiveness and performance culture alongside executive search.
Joseph’s work spans government and defense technology, professional and technology services, software and private equity-backed organizations. He brings extensive experience in CEO succession planning and board development, helping organizations align leadership strategy with long-term growth objectives.
Before joining Heidrick & Struggles, Joseph spent a decade in management consulting focused on change management and transformation initiatives, experience that continues to shape his advisory approach with GovCon and technology services clients.
Mercedes LeGrand
Partner and Head of Global Aerospace, Defense and Security Practice, Odgers US
Mercedes LeGrand leads Odgers’ global aerospace, defense and security practice from Washington, D.C., advising public, private and private equity-backed clients on board, CEO and C-suite searches. With two decades of experience across aerospace, defense, intelligence and security, she is frequently engaged at moments of organizational transformation.
LeGrand has built a reputation for pairing leadership selection with broader advisory work tied to digital transformation and diversity and inclusion initiatives. She also brings governance experience as a member of Odgers’ U.S. board of directors.
She holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and London Business School and earned a BA in Government and International Politics from George Mason University. ExecutiveBiz has previously named LeGrand a Top 10 GovCon Recruiter.
Alison Marshall
Principal, JDG Associates
Alison Marshall is a principal at JDG Associates, where she has performed national and local executive searches since joining the firm in 2010. Her work spans C-suite, senior executive, scientific and IT roles, including searches within classified environments.
Marshall’s client base includes federal, state and local government agencies, Fortune 1000 corporations, startups and research institutions. She has led senior-level searches for agencies across the civilian and defense landscape, including NASA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Department of War components and independent federal entities.
Before JDG, Marshall founded Government Sales Force, a firm focused on helping technology companies expand their federal market presence. That experience continues to inform her understanding of how leadership, mission alignment and business development intersect in GovCon environments.
Charles Nailen
Managing Director, Stanton Chase
Charles Nailen serves as a managing director in Stanton Chase’s Washington, D.C. office, working with clients across aerospace, technology, digital and media markets. He co-founded a boutique consulting firm before merging with Stanton Chase International to expand global reach and delivery.
Nailen oversees executive search engagements alongside strategic consulting, communications and board advisory work. His background includes senior leadership roles at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Qatar, where he led outreach, branding and government engagement initiatives.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and an MBA from Georgetown, bringing a global and policy-aware lens to executive search assignments.
Deborah Page
Vice President, Innovation and Technology, Government Contracts, The McCormick Group
Deborah Page is vice president of innovation and technology for government contracts at The McCormick Group, where she specializes in executive search across technology, cybersecurity and professional services markets.
Page partners with GovCon and technology-driven organizations to identify leaders capable of driving innovation, AI adoption and operational transformation. Her experience includes telecommunications leadership roles spanning operations, delivery, sales and analytics, as well as exposure to mergers and acquisitions.
She was named one of The Washingtonian’s “Most Important and Innovative People in Washington’s Digital Economy” and is a member of Leadership Greater Washington’s Signature Class. Page also serves on advisory boards supporting diversity and leadership development in the technology sector.
Anne Simonds
Consultant and Partner, CEO and Boards Practices; Leader, Global Development and Social Impact Platform, Spencer Stuart
Anne Simonds advises CEOs and boards across sectors on leadership assessment, succession and governance, with a focus on organizations operating at the intersection of public, private and social impact markets.
With more than 25 years of experience, Simonds has led more than 250 CEO and board transitions and counseled organizations navigating complex growth, innovation and restructuring challenges. Her work often involves helping leaders translate geopolitical and systemic trends into talent strategies that support long-term impact.
She serves on multiple nonprofit and academic boards and brings deep experience across global development, healthcare, innovation and social enterprise ecosystems.
Evan Scott
CEO and Founder, ESGI Potomac Recruiting
Evan Scott is CEO and founder of ESGI Potomac Recruiting, a retained executive search firm specializing in federal contractors, defense and government services organizations. With more than 28 years in executive search, Scott has built teams for companies ranging from small businesses transitioning out of 8(a) status to large publicly traded contractors.
Scott founded ESGI in 2000 and ran it for 25 years before merging with Potomac Recruiting in early 2025 to form ESGI Potomac Recruiting.
What’s Scott’s Take on the GovCon Industry?
Scott told ExecutiveBiz that he was drawn to GovCon because of its mission focus and the challenge of talent scarcity. “The demand for talent who understand the work of the federal government far exceeds the pool of talent existing at any one time,” he said, adding that working with former military and senior government officials has been one of the most gratifying aspects of his career.
Looking ahead, Scott pointed to policy uncertainty and workforce attrition as compounding risks. “The lack of predictability and understanding of what programs will be funded is a major challenge,” he said. “Stabilizing the market and creating transparency between federal agencies and the private sector is paramount to success in 2026.”
Chaz Trent
Managing Consultant, Technology and Professional Services, Korn Ferry Professional Search
Chaz Trent is a managing consultant in Korn Ferry’s technology and professional services practice, leading retained search engagements for Fortune 1000, mid-market and private equity-backed clients.
His work focuses on commercial and go-to-market leadership across enterprise software, cybersecurity, IT consulting, outsourcing and business services markets. Trent also leverages Korn Ferry’s broader talent advisory platform, including executive assessment, succession planning and compensation advisory, as organizations compete for leaders with both technical fluency and growth orientation.
Hear from top GovCon industry voices like MITRE CEO Mark Peters, Serco CEO Michael LaRouche and QinetiQ US CEO Tom Vecchiolla at the 2026 GovCon Executive Leadership Summit on Feb. 26!
