Tom Watson Named Successor of Serco Group’s US CEO Dave Dacquino

Tom Watson, a 25-year federal market veteran who is currently serving as senior vice president of defense services at Serco Inc., will become CEO of the Herndon, Virginia-based government contractor when Dave Dacquino retires from the chief executive role Sept. 1.

Dacquino will continue his role as chairman of the board of directors for the North American arm of Serco Group, the company said Tuesday.

Under his leadership, the company’s subsidiary covering the U.S. and Canada experienced a 15 percent compound annual growth rate and completed multiple acquisitions, including the deals for Alion Science & Technology’s naval systems group in 2019 and Whitney, Bradley & Brown in 2021.

He is handing over CEO responsibilities to Watson after five years in the job.

“With Tom Watson as CEO, we are placing the business in the hands of a thoughtful, goal oriented, ambitious leader. Someone I know will carry out Serco’s values as well as our strategic priorities to grow, evolve and to always look after our people,” Dacquino, a two-time Wash100 awardee, told GovCon Wire.

Watson came to the company in April 2018 after a 22-year career at Science Applications International Corp. (NYSE: SAIC). He previously worked at RCI and served as a U.S. Navy electronics technician for six years.

“We’re always looking to improve, to be better, to innovate – we pride ourselves on that at Serco. And as I think about the future, about my role – it isn’t about change for change’s sake, this is about building on a solid foundation,” Watson said.

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