Navigating the space, missions, and defense markets has been a key interest of the United States government since the dawn of space flight. To bolster the government’s growth and capabilities in space exploration, it collaborates with pioneering companies to supply cutting-edge technologies and industry-leading solutions.

What are the space, missions, and defense initiatives of the federal government?

The federal government began to diligently set its sights on space exploration in the mid-1900s. At the height of the Space Race, the government founded the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1958 to consolidate all the space assignments of the federal government. More than half a century later, the agency continues to institute expedition efforts to unknown domains in aerospace.

Get acquainted with the leading companies pioneering the federal government’s space, missions, and defense priorities. 

7 Space, Missions, and Defense Companies to Follow in 2023

Note: The following list of leading space, missions, and defense companies is ranked in no particular order. The selection criteria are based on a variety of factors, including market capitalization, revenue, and overall industry impact. That said, while they are highly regarded in the industry, plenty of other companies also offer exceptional products and services.

Boeing Defense, Space, and Security

• Sales: $23.2 billion
• Founded: 2002
• Headquarters: Arlington, Virginia

As a major business division of Boeing, one of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers, Boeing Defense, Space, and Security (BDS) boasts a broad scope of products and services to address the aerospace requirements of the federal government. The company traces its roots to Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, building experiences in the government contracting realm.

Possessing a demonstrated history dating back to 1938, BDS leverages the expertise of its predecessor and parent organization to amplify its capabilities in the development, production, enhancement, and maintenance of aircraft, satellites, weapons, and technologies. The company’s competencies have been pivotal to the government’s various space missions, including flagship operations to Mars and Saturn’s satellite, Titan.

Lockheed Martin Space

• Sales: $11.5 billion
• Founded: 1912
• Headquarters: Bethesda, Maryland

Lockheed Martin Space is one of the primary divisions of Lockheed Martin, specializing in the space exploration efforts of the federal government. The company’s primary focus centers around the design of propulsion technologies based on existing and planned aircraft, aviation vehicles, and space technologies.

Spending over a century honing its expertise in space, missions, and defense, Lockheed Martin Space has secured its position as one of the leading government contractors in aerospace. Some of the company’s pioneering projects include the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles and the creation of the Titan family of rockets. More recently, Lockheed Martin Space has collaborated with other contracts, such as Boeing, to reduce the costs of going to space.

General Dynamics

• Sales: $39.4 billion
• Founded: 1952
• Headquarters: Reston, Virginia

General Dynamics exhibits a diverse defense portfolio for multi-domain capabilities in air, water, land, cyber, and space. Several divisions of the company focus on supplying the aerospace needs of the federal government and have been credited for their contributions to several launch missions to Mercury.

Managing a broad scope of specialties in aerospace, General Dynamics has produced, developed, and supplied a wide variety of products and solutions, including satellites, GPS trackers, mission systems instruments, and spacecraft. Backed by its successful track record in various space missions, the company has been tapped by NASA to share its communications expertise for the Perseverance rover on Mars.

Northrop Grumman

• Sales: $36.6 billion
• Founded: 1994
• Headquarters: Falls Church, Virginia

Although Northrop Grumman was officially founded in 1994, Northrop Grumman’s contribution to the aerospace industry dates back to World War II as a designer of legendary fighter jets. The company was formed through the merger of two aviation giants, Northrop Corporation and Grumman Corporation, further propelling its position as a government contractor.

With a distinguished history in the federal government’s space, missions, and defense sectors, Northrop Grumman has secured multiple contracts for NASA’s various space programs, including serving as the lead developer of the James Webb Space Telescope. The company continues to adhere to its mandate to solve “the toughest problems in space” by developing a range of solutions for spaceflight technology.

RTX

• Sales: $67.1 billion
• Founded: 2020
• Headquarters: Arlington, Virginia

RTX, also known as Raytheon Technologies, delivers a range of aerospace, missions, and defense products for commercial and government customers worldwide. The company is on a mission to address the challenges and limitations of space exploration through its three business units: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon.

RTX leverages the rich history of its predecessors, Raytheon Company and United Technologies, established as early as 1922. Boasting over a century as a prime supplier of industry-leading aerospace and defense products, the company has been pivotal for the production of transformative technologies, smarter defense systems, and intelligent space technologies, as well as the improvements of several aircraft and spacecraft.

SpaceX

• Sales: $979.9 million
• Founded: 2002
• Headquarters: Hawthorne, California

SpaceX is one of the contemporary space, missions, and defense companies and a rising contractor for various space operations of the federal government. Although the company has different missions in discovering multi-planetary life, SpaceX is best known for its research and development of Mars to eventually colonize the planet.

Since its inception, SpaceX has made over a hundred launches and has won over $12 billion in contract revenues. The company is keen on its space exploration missions, allowing it to secure various funding from private organizations and the federal government. Having these various resources, SpaceX continues its comprehensive plans to achieve mission successes and breakthroughs in space travel.

Sierra Space Corporation

• Sales: $400 million
• Founded: 2021
• Headquarters: Louisville, Colorado

The Sierra Space Corporation has a long-standing history in space, missions, and defense as part of Sierra Nevada Corporation. Taking advantage of its parent corporation’s years of expertise in government contracting, the company has supplied a range of microsatellites, orbital transportation services, and next-generation space solutions for NASA and the military.

Although Sierra Space was officially founded only in 2021, the company is quickly growing as its own entity. As one of the country’s space, missions, and defense giants, Sierra Space Corporation pushes forth the advancement of premier developments to enhance life on Earth and space, including the Dream Chaser, the only winged commercial spaceplane, and Large Integrated Flexible Environment Habitat, a modular, three-story habitation platform.

Aeyon’s Leaders, Founders, Execs: Who Are They? Aeyon is a recognized management and consulting firm in the government contracting field. The company’s management teams and executives comprise seasoned leaders who can establish transformational approaches, advanced operations procedures, and complete technological infrastructures.

Aeyon’s Leaders, Founders, Execs: Who Are They

Take a look into Aeyon’s leaders, founders and executives and see what they bring on the table.

Sunny Singh, President and Chief Executive Officer

Sunny Singh serves as the current Chief Executive Officer and President of Aeyon. As the CEO, Mr. Singh provides leadership and insights that benefit the company, such as creating strategic goals for the company’s growth and transformative solutions for the defense and civil sectors.

Mr. Singh has over 15 years of executive and leadership experience. He has been the President and CEO of Aeyon since 2018 and held the same position at Ace Moving & Storage, Inc. from 2007 to 2015. Besides his work with Aeyon, he is also a member of YPO, a global executive community. Because of his outstanding initiatives for diversity, Mr. Singh was recognized and received the Washington Business Journal 2022 Diversity in Business Awards.

Duane J. Piper, Chief Administrative Officer

Duane J. Piper works as the Chief Administrative Officer and closely works with top executives. Mr. Piper primarily fosters the company’s growth through executing strategic business strategies and maturing its operating infrastructure.

Mr. Piper contributes over 27 years of expertise working in the private sector. Some of his expertise include government contract pricing, growing talent, building industry relationships, organizational management, and human resource. Before joining the company, Dune was enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.

Jeff Pagano, Chief Financial Officer

Jeff Pagano is in charge of Aeyon’s finances as Chief Financial Officer. Under his purview, he oversees the company’s operation in accounting, financial planning, treasury, and tax. Mr. Pagano brings over 25 years of leadership and expertise in financial management. He has experience working with publicly traded, privately held, and high-growth companies that do business with the government. 

Some companies he worked with are CFO Rising, S2 Analytical Solutions, MorganFranklin Consulting, and Network Access Solutions. Throughout his career, Jeff gained skills in corporate financial management, accounting, financial reporting, mergers and acquisitions, capital finance, and strategic planning and analysis.

Gary Turner, Chief Delivery Officer

Gary Turner has been the Chief Delivery Officer at Aeyon since 2021. Mr. Turner has a long history of working in various positions at the company, such as being Chief Operating Officer and Director of different Aeyon business segments. As a CDO, he oversees every aspect of customer-facing operations, including managing teams, ensuring happy customers, and expanding the business.

Gary is an effective communicator and leader with extensive experience in data analysis, business processes, and implementing process improvements. He has been an integral part of Aeyon’s success. During his time as COO, he managed and facilitated the performance growth of Sehlke, an Aeyon subsidiary, resulting in several awards.

Before joining Aeyon, Mr. Turner served the Department of Defense for over 28 years, including his 21-year Marine Corps service as a Financial Management Resource Officer. He is a graduate of BAS Marketing from Park University and AS Marketing from Hawaii Pacific University.

Pat Collins, Chief Growth Officer

Pat Collins is the current Chief Growth Officer at Aeyon. As a CGO, his primary work is to oversee strategic growth and business development. He worked as Chief Strategy Officer at Sehlke from 2018 until Aeyon acquired the consulting company in 2021. Pat began his professional life as an auditor before transitioning to the consultancy industry. 

After running a successful small business, he helped other small and medium-sized government consulting firms expand. Mr. Collins holds a bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from Washington and Lee University. He is also a Certified Government Financial Manager from AGA.

Mark Hogenmiller, Chief Transformation Officer

Mark Hogenmiller is the Chief Transformation Officer at Aeyon. As CTO, he oversees the company’s strategic client efforts in technological advancement, digital transformation, and process optimization.

Mr. Hogenmiller has been with Aeyon for over nine years and started as VP for Defense Programs before getting his current position. He is a seasoned project and program manager with over three decades of expertise in areas such as delivering transformational initiatives and implementing new business models. Before Aeyon, Mark worked with prominent companies like ICF, Integrity Management Consulting, and KPMG. He also served in the U.S. Navy as a Supply Officer for over 20 years.

(All images of the executives above are from Aeyon’s Official Website)

About Aeyon 

Aeyon Company serves federal and civilian government entities with innovative business and management consultancy services. Its primary capabilities are data analytics, program management, and robotic process automation. The company’s priority is the success of its clientele mission while working with core principles, including integrity, service, excellence, and creativity.

Where is Aeyon’s headquarters located?

Aeyon’s headquarters is located at Westwood Center Drive in Vienna, Virginia, with more than 500 people working there.

What are the services of Aeyon?

Aeyon uses cutting-edge methods and digital transformation to serve vital national security and civilian sector customers. The company primarily delivers Mission Services, Data Management and Analytics, Financial Management, Engineering and Science, and Digital Transformation.

Who is the founder of Aeyon?

Sunny Singh, the company’s current Chief Executive President, established Aeyon in 2021. It was formed when Artlin Consulting and Sehlke Consulting merged.

Read the top government contracts won by Aeyon here.