TLDR:
- SAIC CEO Toni Townes-Whitley drives growth with AI and ethical technology
- Company focuses on ‘serious technology’ for critical defense and government needs
- Priorities include undersea dominance, border security and next-generation space technology.
- SAIC increased its inventory by 30% during Townes-Whitley’s first year as CEO
- As one of two Black female CEOs in the Fortune 500, she emphasizes diversity and inclusion.
Toni Townes-Whitley, who took over as CEO of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) in October 2023, is steering the defense technology company toward a new era of growth focused on artificial intelligence and ethical technological solutions.
In her first year leading the $7.1 billion company, Townes-Whitley focused on modernizing SAIC’s offerings and expanding its reach in the defense and of the government.
SAIC specializes in providing technology and resources to the U.S. military and other government agencies.
Under Townes-Whitley’s leadership, the company has embraced what it calls “serious technology.” – practical and critical solutions designed for difficult real-world environments. This includes AI systems that can be used by warfighters deployed to areas without data centers.
“When we think about AI, it has to be the most secure; it has to be low code or no code,”
Townes-Whitley explained. “We support warfighters deployed where there is no data center. They need to be able to access and understand this data very quickly.
The company has identified several key focus areas, which it calls “national imperatives.” These include undersea dominance, border security, improving citizens’ experience with government, all-domain warfare capabilities, and next-generation space technologies.
Townes-Whitley stressed the importance of developing AI solutions in an ethical and responsible manner. At SAIC’s 24,000-square-foot testing facility in Maryland, scientists are working to find ways that AI can improve safety and technology while maintaining public trust.
“We built the first ethical framework for AI at Microsoft, and now at SAIC we have the same kind of framework for how we consider the consequences of the technology we build,” Townes-Whitley said.
The new CEO’s strategy seems to be paying off. SAIC’s stock price rose about 30% during his first year at the helm of the company. The company also secured significant new contracts, including a $229 million deal to advance IT solutions for NORAD and US Northern Command.
Townes-Whitley’s background combines technology industry experience gained while she was an executive at Microsoft with a family history of public service.
His father is a retired three-star Army general. This blend of technological expertise and understanding of military needs helped shape his vision for SAIC.
Beyond technology, Townes-Whitley focused on fostering an inclusive culture within SAIC. As one of only two Black women currently leading Fortune 500 companies, she has made diversity and inclusion a priority. Its management team is 70% women or people of color.
“It’s aligned with the customer, it’s part of our core values and it’s part of our mission statements for the last 55 years,” Townes-Whitley said of SAIC’s commitment to diversity.
The CEO is also investing in workforce development, recognizing that many of the skills needed for SAIC’s future growth will need to be developed internally. The company strives to upskill its 25,000 employees in critical areas.
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