Xcelerate Taps Legal Heavyweight Jerry Howe for Board Amid Growth Spurt

MCLEAN, VA – April 16, 2026 – Xcelerate Solutions, a rapidly ascending defense and national security contractor, announced today it has appointed Jerry Howe, a veteran legal executive from industry giant Leidos, to its Board of Directors. The move is a significant indicator of Xcelerate's strategic ambitions as it navigates a period of aggressive expansion fueled by key acquisitions and major contract wins.

Howe brings over 35 years of high-level experience in the aerospace, defense, and government services sectors. His appointment provides Xcelerate with a seasoned advisor known for his deep expertise in government contracting, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A)—a skill set that aligns precisely with the company's recent trajectory.

"Jerry brings an extraordinary depth of experience in government contracting, corporate governance, and strategic growth within the national security sector," said Mark Drever, CEO of Xcelerate. "His perspective and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to expand our capabilities and support critical missions for our customers."

A Strategic Play for Aggressive Growth

Howe's appointment is widely seen as a move to supercharge an already potent growth strategy. Since receiving a strategic investment from private equity firm McNally Capital in early 2023, Xcelerate has executed a series of transformative acquisitions that have reshaped its market position.

In just the past two years, the company has made several key moves:
* February 2024: Merged with VMD to significantly build out its federal IT and security technology portfolio.
* September 2025: Acquired the background investigation assets of General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), strengthening its core capabilities in personnel vetting and aligning with the government's Trusted Workforce 2.0 initiative.
* October 2025: Acquired clearAvenue, a firm specializing in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and big data analytics. This deal dramatically enhanced Xcelerate's technical prowess, adding approximately 1,500 technology professionals to its ranks.

This rapid inorganic growth underscores a clear ambition to scale quickly and compete for larger, more complex federal contracts. Howe's extensive background in M&A, honed during his time as a partner at the law firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP and as General Counsel at TASC, where he oversaw corporate development, makes him a pivotal addition to the board. His experience provides Xcelerate with elite-level counsel as it identifies and executes future strategic transactions in the competitive federal marketplace.

Alongside its acquisition strategy, the company is expanding physically, announcing in late 2025 that it would triple its headquarters footprint in Fairfax County, Virginia, to accommodate significant workforce growth.

Fortifying Governance in a Complex Regulatory Climate

While growth is a clear priority, Howe’s appointment also signals a sophisticated effort to fortify the company’s legal and compliance foundations. The federal contracting environment in 2026 is fraught with increasing regulatory complexity and heightened enforcement, creating significant risks for contractors.

Key challenges include intensified scrutiny of contractor integrity, robust enforcement of cybersecurity standards under the False Claims Act (FCA), and new compliance demands related to supply chain integrity. For a company like Xcelerate, which is rapidly increasing its size and the scope of its federal work, navigating this landscape is critical for sustained success.

Howe's career has been defined by managing these very risks at the highest levels. As Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Leidos, a $12.4 billion global technology leader, he was responsible for the company’s entire legal, contracts, corporate governance, ethics, and compliance functions. Before that, he held similar top legal roles at TASC and Veridian Corporation, both prominent government contractors. His experience provides Xcelerate with an invaluable resource for building and maintaining the robust governance structures necessary to operate and thrive in the high-stakes national security sector.

His expertise will be instrumental in guiding Xcelerate as it integrates its newly acquired assets and competes for contracts that demand stringent cybersecurity and compliance protocols, particularly those within the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community.

A Veteran Leader for a High-Stakes Market

Howe's professional pedigree is a testament to his deep immersion in the defense and intelligence sectors. His career began with a judicial clerkship for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, followed by a partnership at Steptoe & Johnson LLP. His educational background includes a J.D. from Harvard Law School, a master's from Oxford University as a Sachs Scholar, and an A.B. from Princeton University, providing a formidable intellectual foundation for his legal and strategic work.

This depth of experience is particularly relevant to Xcelerate's core business. The company provides integrated solutions to a client base that includes the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the Intelligence Community. Howe's long history of advising and leading organizations that serve these same clients gives him a unique perspective on their missions, procurement habits, and strategic needs.

Furthermore, his recent publications on the intersection of AI and law demonstrate a forward-looking mindset that aligns with Xcelerate’s strategic pivot toward advanced technology. As the company leverages the capabilities gained from its clearAvenue acquisition to pursue AI-centric contracts, such as its Basic Ordering Agreements with the DoD's Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC), Howe's insights into the legal and ethical dimensions of AI will be a significant asset.

In a market characterized by a fierce "talent war" for proven leadership, attracting an executive of Howe's caliber is a statement in itself. It enhances Xcelerate's reputation and signals to the market, potential partners, and prospective talent that the company is poised for a new level of competition and success. As a board member, Howe's role will be to advise on growth strategy and opportunities, leveraging his decades of experience to help guide Xcelerate through its next critical phase of development.