Data science

Five Data Analytics Professionals in Government Contracting

Businesses today have access to a wealth of data sources owing to advancements in information technology. However, large troves of data are only useful if they can be digested.

In a 2020 publication, Gartner noted that the fields of data and analytics have historically been considered distinct. But the increasing integration of analytics capabilities with data workflows has blurred the lines between the once separate disciplines.

Advancements in artificial intelligence are also expected to increase the effectiveness of data and analytics infrastructure. Gartner expects 75 percent of enterprises to have fully operational AI by 2024.

The Potomac Officers Club—a division of Executive Mosaic—features five data analytics executives in government contracting.

David Geiger, Director of Data and Analytics at KPMG US

David Geiger serves as director of data and analytics at KPMG’s U.S. business. KPMG is an international network of professional services firms that specialize in audit, tax and advisory.

In his role, Geiger manages the delivery of data science and operations research capabilities to commercial and government clients, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Prior to joining KPMG in November 2017, Geiger served as an operations research manager at Booz Allen Hamilton, a consulting company that offers expertise in analytics, digital, engineering and cyber.

He oversaw multiple teams of professional analysts, data scientists and general management consultants. They provided solutions in optimization models, simulation design, machine learning, business intelligence and data management to clients such as the departments of Homeland Security, the Treasury and Defense.

Geiger said that he also supported Booz Allen’s business development by managing client relationships and providing competitive pricing in several markets.

From 2006 to 2010, he served as a junior associate at Summit Engineering Group, where he developed life cycle cost models and provided insight into the true costs of proceeding with a program.

Geiger was previously an industrial engineer at Remy International, supporting efforts to improve the efficiency and safety of major production areas.

He earned a master’s degree in systems engineering from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering from Virginia Tech.

Jennifer Nacy, Senior Director of Data Engineering and Advanced Analytics at Jacobs

Jennifer Nacy is a senior director of data engineering and advanced analytics at Jacobs, working out of the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Area. She is an information technology professional with over 24 years of hands-on and management experience, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Nacy’s experience includes running a portfolio of over 25 systems. She has led over 13 enterprise-wide implementations and full-scale system integrations.

Nacy has been with Jacobs, a Dallas-headquartered technical professional services firm, for over four years. In her current role, she manages a 110-strong global team handling data engineering, master data management, data integration platform, data warehousing, data-as-a-service and advanced analytics.

Nacy’s job sees her running the day-to-day operations, working closely with senior business leaders on new initiatives and building out the company’s data roadmap.

Nacy was briefly an enterprise cloud architect at Oracle. In that role, she helped companies transition their business to the cloud.

Previously, Nacy was the director of enterprise applications at Engility, where she worked for eight years.

Earlier in her career, Nacy held a series of ascending roles at Northrop Grumman, where she was employed for almost 11 years.

Nacy earned her bachelor’s degree in management information systems degree from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

David Grason, Analytics Engineering Director at Maxar Technologies

David Grason is the director of analytics engineering at Maxar Technologies. He has been holding the position since December 2020.

As analytics engineering director, Grason oversees the delivery of multiple analytics-focused products, including Maxar Analysis Read Data, Awave and the Geospatial Big Data Platform. He also specializes in automating satellite imagery information extraction and ensures that engineering capabilities are delivered on time, according to Grason’s LinkedIn profile.

He has been working at Maxar for nearly 14 years. Prior to his current leadership role, he was the director of analytics operations and senior manager of platform engineering.

Grason started his career at Maxar as a senior geospatial systems engineer. Other leadership roles he held at the company include manager of analytics technologies and senior manager of platform applications.

The industry veteran was a senior geospatial engineer at General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems before moving to Maxar. In this capacity, he provided geographic information system training nationwide for ArcGIS and delivered national help desk technical support for all GIS ESRI software and custom GIS applications.

GD AIS is now GD Mission Systems.

Grason holds a bachelor’s degree in geography from Radford University.

Maxar offers precision mapping, geospatial intelligence delivery, satellite access and on-demand intelligence services to commercial and government clients. It is headquartered in Westminster, Colorado, and has multiple offices within and outside the U.S.

Joshua Zelenka, Director of Analytics, Data and Process Transformation at Dell Technologies

Joshua Zelenka is the director of analytics, data and process transformation at Dell Technologies, working out of the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Area. He is a leader with consulting and management experience in the United States, Latin America and the United Kingdom, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Zelenka has served in gradually ascending roles at Dell over the course of his over 14 years with the company. In his current role, he leads a team of consultants tasked with providing delivery oversight on current engagements as well as supporting the sales and “solutioning” process. Additionally, he is responsible for coaching and mentoring his team members to help them better pursue their goals.

By his own account, Zelenka has performed well in the execution of large technology transformation programs. While on the job, he has picked up competencies in program, project and people management, facilitation, client management, customer data and system migrations, and customer experience programs.

He enjoys solving complex problems and working with people, Zelenka said in his autobiography.

Apart from his corporate job, Zelenka serves as a junior varsity football and baseball coach at the George Mason High School. He further writes in his autobiography that in 2019, he decided to do something for his community, and reached out to the local high school to see if there were any volunteer opportunities. This led him to the path of helping young athletes build sports skills, hoping they use these new skills in their broader lives.

Zelenka earned his degrees in computer science and engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. He later earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Maryland.

Yuvi Kochar, Managing Director of the Global Data Analytics Center of Excellence at Accenture

Yuvi Kochar is the managing director of global data analytics at Accenture‘s Center of Excellence, working out of the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Area. He is a business executive and management consultant who helps enterprises “leverage data and digital technologies in innovative ways to drive business outcomes,” according to his LinkedIn profile.

Kochar is described as a hands-on executive focused on execution and delivering business value at a very rapid pace and with a long track record of success. He works effectively in a broad range of industries to drive growth and create operational efficiencies, his biography further states.

Kochar joined Accenture, an Ireland-based multinational professional services company specializing in IT services and consulting, in October 2021. His current role sees him supporting executive teams in effectively utilizing data assets and cloud technologies to benefit the business. He is also in charge of developing data monetization strategies as well as managing large initiatives related to delivering digital transformation roadmaps.

Before joining Accenture, Kochar was a digital and data transformation adviser at GlobalLogic. In that role, he managed complex programs to transform and extend engineering organizations with offshore delivery capabilities.

Previously, he was managing director of his own company, Kochar Consulting. In that role, he advised companies on advancing their data and digital transformation programs.

Kochar earned his degree in electrical engineering from the Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur in his native India.

ABOUT POTOMAC OFFICERS CLUB

The Potomac Officers Club is owned and operated by Executive Mosaic. Since 2002, Executive Mosaic has been a leader in media and exclusive senior executive networking programs primarily targeted to the U.S. federal government contracting (GovCon) marketplace. In addition to connecting executives of consequence into a fabric of like minded communities, the company’s growing cross-media platform serves as a leading source of news about the people, policies, trends and events shaping the nation’s GovCon sector.