John Wason, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who most recently served as staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has been appointed as president and chief operating officer of Cypress International.
His appointment is effective Jan. 30 and he will bring knowledge and skills the Alexandria, Virginia-based consulting firm believes can help its clients navigate the national security landscape, Cypress said Friday.
David Halverson noted that Wason has more than 38 years of national security and defense acquisition experience.
“In his most recent role as Staff Director for Senator James Inhofe, John was responsible for all Senate Armed Service Committee oversight of the Department of Defense and managed the legislative process and all input to the annual Defense Authorization Bill as well as the confirmation process for defense leaders,” Halverson added.
Wason’s military service included time as Army congressional liaison, assistant project manager and test and evaluation officer, and commander of a nuclear-capable field artillery unit.
He transitioned to the Senate committee from the House Armed Services Committee, where he served as a staff member for 13 years. He helped advance acquisition reform and modernization investment programs for tactical air and land forces.
