# Stu Shea

Stu Shea (born January 9, 1957) is an American business executive and intelligence professional. He has served in leadership roles for both public and private companies, and as an advisor to government agencies, private equity investors, and academic institutions.
Shea is the former chairman, president and chief executive officer of Peraton, a national security technology company. He is also the former president and chief operating officer of Leidos, chief operating officer of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and founder and emeritus chairman of the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation.

## Early life and education

Shea was born in New York, the son of Katherine Rea (née Hahn) and Kenneth Francis Shea. He attended Mineola High School, where he graduated in the top 21 of his class and earned seven varsity letters in football (center/defensive guard), lacrosse (goalie), and rifle. He captained the rifle team and was among the top high school marksmen in the country.
Shea received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from George Mason University in 2022, a Master of Arts degree in geography from the University of Kansas in 1983, and a Bachelor of Science degree in geological sciences from the State University of New York at Albany in 1979. He has also attended executive development programs at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, Harvard Business School, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and George Washington University School of Business.

## Career

Shea began his career in national security in 1982 at Rome Research Corporation as a software engineer, designing early implementations of computer mapping for the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, US Air Force, and Defense Mapping Agency. From 1982 to 1987, Shea served as senior staff member and technical director, digital cartography for PAR Government Systems Corporation, leading advanced computer mapping research in cartographic generalization, automated character recognition, and cartographic applications for tactical and strategic systems. He joined The Analytic Sciences Corporation (TASC, Inc.) in 1987, serving as member of the technical staff, section manager, department manager and program manager until TASC was acquired by Primark Corporation in 1991. From 1991 to 1998, he served as the director, imagery and geospatial systems. After Litton Industries acquired TASC, he served as senior vice president and strategic business unit director, information management. With the acquisition of Litton by Northrop Grumman in 2001, Shea served as vice president as the general manager, Space and Intelligence Business Unit.
In 2005, Shea joined Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (NYSE: SAI) and led the National Security Space Business Unit and the Space & Geospatial Intelligence Business Unit. In 2007, he was named president of the Intelligence, Security and Technology Group, renamed in 2010 to the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group. Shea led SAIC's support to the National Security Community; his group of nearly 13,000 employees provided technology services and products for national security programs, with over $4B in revenues.
In 2012, Shea was named chief operating officer of SAIC, then an $11B scientific, engineering, and technology company. Shea has been credited with leading the corporate split of Science Applications International Corporation into Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) and the new SAIC (NYSE: SAIC) as two publicly traded companies. During that time, Shea led a team of 40,000 employees across 400 locations worldwide.
After the separation, Shea became president and chief operating officer of Leidos, a $6B scientific, engineering, and technology company in national security, cybersecurity, engineering, and health. In the fall of 2012, Shea was considered a potential successor to Leidos chief executive officer John P. Jumper. In the spring of 2014, he resigned as COO.
After Leidos, Shea served as chief executive officer of Shea Strategies, LLC, advising public and private companies, government agencies, private equity investors, and academic institutions. In June 2017, Veritas Capital appointed Shea the CEO of MHVC Acquisition Corp, formerly Harris Corp.'s Government Services business. In August 2017, MHVC was rebranded by Shea as Peraton.
In 2021, he oversaw three acquisitions (the mission support and IT solutions business of Northrop Grumman, Perspecta, and the as-a-service business of ViON), growing the company from US$1 billion to US$7 billion.

## Honors and awards

* In 2024, Shea was named a recipient of the Virginia Business Power 50 for the "50 most powerful and influential executives in Virginia."
* In 2023, Shea was named a recipient of the Virginia Business Heavy Hitters Award for the "50 most powerful and influential executives in Virginia."
* In 2023, Shea was recognized with the Stu Shea Scholarship in National Security by the George Mason University (GMU) Honors Program.
* In 2023 and 2022, Shea was named a recipient of the Virginia Business Virginia 500 Award for the "most powerful and influential leaders in business, government, politics and education in the Commonwealth of Virginia."
* In 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2013, Shea was named a recipient of the Executive Mosaic Wash100 Award.
* In 2018, Shea was recognized by the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) as a Tech100 Award winner. 3 December 2018.
* In 2018, Shea was recognized by Robert Cardillo, Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), with the GEOINT Hall of Fame. 13 September 2018.
* In 2017, Shea was recognized by the Honorable Jeffrey K. Harris, Chairman, United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF), with the K. Stuart Shea Endowed Academic Scholarship. 5 June 2017.
* In 2016, Shea was recognized by Director of National Intelligence, the Honorable Lt Gen James R. Clapper, Jr., USAF (Ret.) with the Intelligence Community Seal Medallion.
* In 2014, Shea was recognized by the Washington Business Journal in association with the National Association of Corporate Directors, with the Outstanding Director Award.
* In 2014, Shea was recognized by CEO of Leidos with the Leidos Courage Award in Honor of K. Stuart Shea.
* In 2009, Shea was awarded the Fed100 Award, Federal Computer Week award.
* In 2003, Shea was named as one of the 12 members of the National Commission for the Review of the Research and Development Programs of the United States Intelligence Community.
* In 1997, Shea was named a Fellow, American Congress on Surveying and Mapping.

## Professional services

Shea is the founder and emeritus chairman of the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) (www.usgif.org) and the GEOINT Symposium, and also served as president, CEO, and chairman of the board. USGIF is a 501(c)(3) educational foundation whose purpose is to promote geospatial intelligence and to develop a community of interest between government, industry, academia, professional organizations and individuals focused on the development and application of geospatial intelligence to address national security objectives.
Shea has served on several international journal editorial boards, and has been an invited speaker at industry, government, and academic venues. Some of his appearances include:
* 2023: Top 100 Talk with Nick Wakeman, Washington Technology Insider, McLean, VA.
* 2022: Commencement Address, George Mason University (GMU), Fairfax, VA. (Address begins at 1:14:00)
* 2021: One-on-one conversation with Editor-in-Chief Vandana Sinha, Washington Business Journal, Ashburn, VA.
* 2013: Keynote Speaker: Stu Shea, The Citadel, Greater Issues Series, "Navigating National Security Challenges: A Call for Leadership," Oct 10, Charleston, SC.
* 2013: Inaugural Commencement Address, James Madison University (JMU), College of Integrated Science and Engineering.

## Board service

Shea has served as a member of over a dozen industry, government, and academic advisory boards. Across his career, he has been the chairman of the board of nine companies, and either trustee or board member of five others, including:
* 2017–2024 Chairman of the board, Peraton
* 2023–present Member, advisory board, AFCEA Intelligence Committee (AFCEA)
* 2013–present Member, advisory board, National Intelligence University Foundation (NIUF)
* 2015–present Member, board of trustees, Riverside Research] (Cyber/ISR R&D)
* 2019–2020 Chairman, Senior Advisory Group (SAG), Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Joseph Maguire (Acting DNI) and Andrew P. Hallman (Principal Executive)
* 2017–2019 Chairman, Senior Advisory Group (SAG), Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Dan Coats (DNI) and Susan M. Gordon (PDDNI)
* 2014–2017 Member, Senior Advisory Group (SAG), Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Jim Clapper (DNI) and Stephanie O'Sullivan (PDDNI)
* 2017–2021 Member, board of directors, Fornetix
* 2016–2017 Member, board of directors, Applied Research Solutions
* 2004–2014 Chairman of the board, United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF)
* 2013–2014 Member, board of trustees, Shakespeare Theatre Company (Theatre)
* 2012–2013 Member, advisory board, Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA)
* 2003 Member, National Commission for the Review of the Research and Development Programs of the United States Intelligence Community
* 1996 Member, National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council (United States), Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, Marine Board
* 2012–2015 Member, advisory board, University of Kansas, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
* 2003–2005 Member, advisory board, University of Virginia (UVA) Department of Systems and Information Engineering
* 1990–2000 Member, editorial board, Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA)
* 1997–1999 Director (non-Federal), Cartography and Geographic Information Society (CaGIS)