Stu Shea (born January 9, 1957) is an American business executive and leader and intelligence professional serving in a leadership capacity to public and private companies, as well as an advisor to government agencies, private equity investors, and academic institutions. Shea is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Peraton, a national security technology company. He is 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.
Shea was born in New York, the son of Katherine Rea (née Hahn) and Kenneth Francis Shea. He attended Mineola High School, and excelled in both academics and sports, graduating in the top 21 of his class and earning seven varsity letters in football (center/defensive guard), lacrosse (goalie), and rifle. He was the captain of the rifle team and was one of the top high school marksmen in the country.
Shea started his career in national security in 1982 at Rome Research Corporation as a software engineer, designing some of the earliest implementations of computer mapping for the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, US Air Force, Defense Mapping Agency and others. 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 the acquisition of TASC by Primark Corporation in 1991. From 1991 to 1998, he served as the director, imagery and geospatial systems. When Litton Industries acquired TASC, he then 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.[4]
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 as the 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. With nearly 13,000 employees and over $4B in revenues, his group provided technology services and products for customers across the full spectrum of national security programs.
In 2012, Shea was named chief operating officer of SAIC, an $11B FORTUNE 500® scientific, engineering, and technology company. Shea was the principal architect and 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 when he served as the chief operating officer of SAIC. During that time, Shea led a team of 40,000 employees across 400 locations worldwide.
After the separation, Shea assumed the role of 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 favorite to succeed Leidoschief executive officerJohn P. Jumper. In the spring of 2014, he resigned as COO.[1]
After Leidos, Shea served in an advisory capacity to public and private companies, government agencies, private equity investors, and academic institutions as chief executive officer of Shea Strategies, LLC.[2][3] In June 2017, Veritas Capital appointed Shea the CEO of MHVC Acquisition Corp, formerly Harris Corp.'s Government Services business.[4] In August 2017, MHVC was rebranded by Shea as Peraton.[5][6][7][8][9]
In 2021 he oversaw three acquisitions (mission support and IT solutions business of Northrop Grumman, Perspecta and as-a-service business of ViON) making of a US$1 billion a US$7 billion company.
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 for students whose studies and experiences broaden and help advance the vision for next generation national security solutions.
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 for those distinguished GovCon executives that have demonstrated excellence in leadership, innovation, reliability, achievement and vision.
In 2018, Shea was recognized by the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) as a Tech100 Award winner, for driving tech innovation, implementing new solutions for their customers, and leading growth in the Greater Washington Region. 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, for a legacy of service to the GEOINT Community. 13 September 2018.
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, for service on the Director of National Intelligence Senior Advisory Group (SAG).
In 2014, Shea was recognized by CEO of Leidos with the Leidos Courage Award in Honor of K. Stuart Shea, recognizing courage, leadership, and service to Leidos and the nation, awarded to a student in the field of national security and intelligence at The Citadel who embodies the qualities of leadership the Mr. Shea holds in the highest regard.
In 2009, Shea was awarded the Fed100 Award, Federal Computer Week award for the top executives in the IT industry.
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. He was appointed by the Speaker of the House, the Honorable J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL), in consultation with the Chairman of the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Honorable Porter Goss (R-FL).
Shea is the founder and emeritus chairman of United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) (www.usgif.org) and the highly acclaimed 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 the geospatial intelligence tradecraft and to develop a stronger community of interest between government, industry, academia, professional organizations and individuals who share a mission focused around the development and application of geospatial intelligence to address national security objectives. The GEOINT Symposium has become the largest single gathering of intelligence professionals in the world.
Shea is an internationally recognized author and has served on several major international refereed journal editorial boards. He has been an invited participant and speaker at a wide range of industry, government, and academic venues. Some of his significant professional appearances include:
2013: Keynote Speaker: Stu Shea, The Citadel, Greater Issues Series, "Navigating National Security Challenges: A Call for Leadership," Oct 10, Charleston, SC.
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:
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)
