Dual Leadership Excellence at Riverside Research Signals New Model for National Security Innovation

WASHINGTON, DC – May 26, 2026 – In a move that underscores the critical synergy between advanced technology and strategic human capital, two senior executives at Riverside Research have been named finalists for the prestigious 2026 Washington Exec Chief Officer Awards. The recognition of Chief Technology Officer Dr. Kimberly Sablon and Chief Human Resources Officer Madelyne D'Angelo places the national security nonprofit in a unique spotlight, highlighting a leadership model that integrates technological vision with a people-centric culture to tackle the nation’s most complex defense and intelligence challenges.

The dual nominations for CTO of the Year and CHRO of the Year are more than a celebration of individual achievement; they represent an industry acknowledgment of a holistic strategy. In the high-stakes government contracting (GovCon) arena, where success is measured by mission impact, Riverside Research is demonstrating that the most effective organizations are those that innovate on two fronts simultaneously: the technology they build and the talent they cultivate.

Forging the Future Battlefield with Transformative Tech

Dr. Kimberly Sablon’s nomination as a finalist for CTO of the Year comes just over a year after she joined Riverside Research in 2025, a period during which she has already enacted a profound strategic shift. Tasked with sharpening the organization's technical direction, she has revamped its Independent Research and Development (IRAD) program into a powerhouse for identifying, maturing, and transitioning mission-critical technologies.

Her approach moves beyond traditional R&D, instituting a more integrated, outcome-driven model built around clear milestones and rapid prototyping. This agile methodology is designed to accelerate progress and ensure that innovation doesn't remain siloed in a lab but is rapidly delivered to address the pressing needs of warfighters and intelligence professionals. It is a strategy honed over a distinguished career at the highest levels of national security technology.

Prior to Riverside Research, Dr. Sablon served as the Principal Director for Trusted AI and Autonomy for the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, where she oversaw AI and machine learning research across the entire Department of Defense. Her deep expertise in strategically integrating artificial intelligence with existing military procedures is evident in her current work. She is a vocal proponent of developing AI systems engineering, autonomous cognition, and resilient AI architectures that can operate at the tactical edge.

"Kim brings a rare combination of deep technical knowledge and a sharp awareness of our customer's hardest problems," said Dr. Steven Omick, President and CEO of Riverside Research, in a statement. "She has a strong instinct for where the battlefield is headed, and she is helping us stay ahead of the curve."

This forward-looking instinct is crucial as Riverside Research supports advanced projects in areas like Accelerated AI/ML, Zero Trust architectures, and Commercial Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR). Dr. Sablon's leadership ensures that the organization’s technical roadmap is not just reactive to current threats but is actively shaping the capabilities that will define future conflicts.

Architecting a Mission-Ready, Multi-Generational Workforce

Parallel to the technological transformation, Madelyne D'Angelo’s work as CHRO has been equally revolutionary, earning her a finalist spot for CHRO of the Year. In a sector where attracting and retaining cleared, highly skilled talent is a constant battle, D'Angelo has reimagined human resources as a strategic enabler of corporate growth and execution excellence.

Her initiatives demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the modern defense workforce. Recognizing the challenges of a five-generation workplace, she led a comprehensive redesign of benefits offerings to serve the diverse needs of employees ranging from Gen Z to Baby Boomers. She also overhauled the candidate selection process, transforming it from a simple screening tool into an insight-driven evaluation model designed to identify not just skills, but mission alignment and cultural fit.

Crucially, D'Angelo has equipped the organization's leadership with the tools needed to manage this talent effectively. She implemented a new merit management system, structured workforce analytics, and survey mechanisms that provide leaders with actionable insights rather than administrative data dumps. This focus on data-driven HR allows the organization to be proactive in addressing workforce trends and challenges.

Perhaps her most impactful initiative is the creation of a three-tier People and Program Leadership Program. This structured framework institutionalizes leadership development, equipping new supervisors with foundational skills and preparing emerging leaders for greater responsibility. In the national security space, where program managers are on the front lines of mission delivery, this investment in leadership quality directly translates to enhanced organizational performance.

"Madelyne makes such a meaningful impact on Riverside Research because she understands that strong organizations are built through both high standards and genuine care for people," Dr. Omick noted. "She leads with wisdom, integrity, and empathy, and she has helped ensure that Riverside Research continues to grow and adapt while staying true to who we are."

The Nonprofit Advantage in Driving Innovation

The dual recognition of Sablon and D'Angelo highlights the unique position of a national security nonprofit in the broader defense ecosystem. Unbound by the quarterly profit pressures of publicly traded contractors, organizations like Riverside Research can make sustained, long-term investments in both foundational research and human capital development. The organization's Open Innovation Center (OIC) embodies this philosophy, fostering multidisciplinary R&D and collaboration.

This model is proving its value. In late 2024, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) awarded Riverside Research a $160 million contract to help prototype and scale commercial technologies for DoD use cases. This significant award demonstrates a deep trust in the nonprofit's ability to act as an honest broker and effective integrator of technology, a role enabled by the very expertise that Sablon and D'Angelo bring to the organization.

The leadership of its CTO and CHRO is not happening in a vacuum. The ability to pursue Dr. Sablon's advanced AI frameworks, like the developmental 'RavenEye,' depends directly on Ms. D'Angelo's success in recruiting and retaining the specialized engineers and data scientists needed to build them. This symbiotic relationship between technology strategy and talent strategy is the core of their shared success and a powerful model for the entire industry. As the nation faces an increasingly complex and technologically sophisticated threat landscape, this integrated approach to building both advanced systems and the expert teams that operate them will only become more critical.