In GovCon Wire’s latest Executive Spotlight interview, we sat down with Ashutosh Gokhale, chief financial officer and senior vice president of business management at HII Mission Technologies, to learn more about the company’s culture and its future endeavors.
Since he joined HII in 2021, Gokhale has been responsible for Mission Technologies’ business management functions like accounting, financial reporting and program cost control. Prior to his time at HII, Gokhale spent 14 years at Maximus, where he most recently served as SVP and CFO of the company’s federal services division.
Read below for Ashutosh Gokhale’s full Executive Spotlight interview.
GovCon Wire: Tell me about HII’s culture. What aspects of the company do you think are contributing most to its success while helping to attract and retain top-level talent?
Ashutosh Gokhale: HII is recognized as one of America’s top large employers. We are a values- and ethics-driven organization that puts people’s safety and well-being first. Our values of integrity, safety, respect, engagement, responsibility and performance are the foundation of HII’s culture, inspiring employees to do the right thing each day, regardless of the circumstances. Ethics and compliance are a critical part of what makes HII and Mission Technologies a great place to work.
Our mission requires the best of us: the utmost in character and values. Our values are the cornerstones of HII’s culture, driving our day-to-day decision-making and the long-term trust and confidence of our stakeholders. Ultimately, our adherence to our values nourishes and protects the strong, stable and resilient relationship on which our future growth and success depend.
We are proud of the work we do and the trust we have earned from our customers. Mission Technologies’ leadership and the work we do are leading the way for us to attract and retain top-level talent. We are committed to fostering an engaged workforce. Our employees are very involved in what they do and take ownership of their work.
GovCon Wire: Where are you seeing opportunities for expansion in HII’s portfolio? What new capabilities or markets are you eyeing?
Ashutosh Gokhale: Mission Technologies has achieved industry-leading organic growth over the last two years. This growth is from both market portfolio expansion as well as from growing our current portfolio. We have been able to leverage our core technologies and capabilities in artificial intelligence, cyber, data analytics, electronic warfare, C5ISR, advanced modeling and simulation, and autonomous and undersea warfare systems to develop new solutions and products that are driving mission success for our customers.
Expanding on these opportunities, eliminating organizational barriers and continuing to build technologies that advance our portfolio offering are all areas for growth. As the industry continues to evolve, the entire executive leadership team is working hard to ensure Mission Technologies evolves and is well aligned for the future. Mission Technologies continues to be well-positioned to take advantage of emerging opportunities within our core and adjacent markets as well as capitalize on international markets. Our expertise and reputed workforce are key ingredients for this successful growth.
GovCon Wire: What do you think we can expect to see from HII from an M&A perspective in the next year?
Ashutosh Gokhale: Mission Technologies has completed many acquisitions over the years, including the biggest one: Alion Science and Technology in 2021. We have successfully completed integration activities and are realizing synergies from these efforts. One reason for Mission Technologies’ recent growth is the force-multiplier effect of the Alion acquisition. While I cannot divulge any specific merger and acquisition activity, I can assure you that HII is always opportunistically evaluating acquisition targets.
GovCon Wire: What is your strategy for attracting and retaining top-level talent in the midst of ongoing talent shortages in today’s highly competitive market?
Ashutosh Gokhale: Mission Technologies has implemented several employee engagement initiatives to foster a community of ownership, personal growth and community. Through these programs, we have seen improved employee retention. HII has also received industry leading employer awards: Forbes Best Places to Work and 2024’s Best Employers for Excellence in Health & Well-Being are examples.
Career growth opportunities, leader and program manager training, new employee resource groups, and our ‘Mission Starts at Home’ event engagement program are all receiving great feedback and results from employee involvement. I believe all these initiatives, coupled with our strong ethics and culture, are contributing factors to attracting great talent.
A company also needs to challenge great minds and top-talent, and we take tremendous pride in the type of next-gen, advanced technology, artificial intelligence/machine learning, data analytics work that we do. In the high-tech workforce, a company’s reputation and word of mouth also play a big role. We get a lot of employee referrals.
