Jim Scanlon, EVP and GM for Defense Systems Group at SAIC

Jim Scanlon serves as the executive vice president and general manager for the Defense Systems Group at SAIC. 

His responsibilities involve directing the unit’s strategy and business development as well as managing the $2.9B resources for the company’s programs for the U.S. military agencies, including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Defense Logistics Agency, the company said. 

Scanlon’s most recent role was senior vice president and general manager for the organization’s Army business, which had and annual portfolio worth $1B. He oversaw the unit’s delivery of services in engineering and system integration, simulation and training, as well as software design and enterprise information systems. 

Previously, he assumed the role of a general manager for the company’s services and solutions sector, where he led the operations for the unit’s more than 13,000 employees and partners to provide services to local civilian and government clientele

Scanlon’s major contribution was in 2013 when he spearheaded the company’s structural change to a matrix business model from a hierarchical standard. He jointly managed the group that designed the matrix organization, wherein around 10,000 employees were given responsibilities according to their qualifications. 

He has been connected with SAIC since 1988, starting his career as a project engineer assisting in the design of hybrid electric combat vehicles. Years later, he served in various management positions, mostly in business development and strategic planning. 

Scanlon, a U.S. Air Force veteran, earned his degree with honors in electrical engineering from the Virginia Military Institute and his masters in business administration from Kennesaw State University.