Interview with Dewberry CEO Don Stone
Founded in 1956 by Sidney O. Dewberry, Fairfax County-headquartered Dewberry, a family-owned architectural, engineering, and construction firm, has deep roots in Northern Virginia. Dewberry’s impact can be seen throughout Fairfax County and the region, not only in terms of its infrastructure projects, but also as an employer providing career opportunities for the region’s talent pipeline, both at the university and K-12 level. Dewberry is very active volunteering within the community here and across the nation. From its Fairfax headquarters, Dewberry oversees its operations at 63 locations with 2,500+ professionals nationwide.
“Sid Dewberry has been iconic in the engineering community,” said Dewberry CEO Donald E. Stone, Jr. “The business is 100 percent family-owned, which is very unusual for an engineering and architectural firm of our size. When Sid Dewberry started the firm in 1956, his wife Reva was the bookkeeper. The first office was located in Arlington, but they moved to Fairfax County in 1965.”
Dewberry CEO Don Stone joined the company in 2008 as COO before being promoted to CEO in 2010. With more than 40 years in the industry, Stone has spearheaded Dewberry’s strategic plan and through collaborative leadership achieved significant growth and expansion. Stone graduated from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in multiple states. He currently sits on Dewberry’s board of directors.
Click here to read more about Dewberry.
Reach for the summit
Reston-based CACI International has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Azure Summit Technology to continue the company’s efforts to produce technology tailored to national security, ExecutiveBiz reported. Through a cash transaction for $1.275 billion, Azure Summit will look to leverage its portfolio of radio frequency services and electromagnetic spectrum-focused engineering throughout the Department of Defense. John Mengucci, CACI president and CEO said, “Azure Summit’s core capabilities and technology bolster CACI’s market-based strategy by expanding our offerings in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence across multiple domains, platforms and customer sets.”
Going public
After nearly two decades in business, McLean-based Chain Bridge Bancorp, the parent company of Chain Bridge Bank, is planning to go public, reported Washington Business Journal. The $1.1 billion-asset Chain Bridge filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and issued a press release indicating its decision. The price of the offering and the number of shares has not yet been determined, the company said. Its shares would trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “CBNA.”
Cybersecurity connection
Herndon-based Procentrix and Leesburg, Va.-based ClearFocus Technologies have formed a joint venture to provide systems that improve cybersecurity throughout federal agencies. ClearPro Partners will aim to leverage decades of combined technological experience between ClearFocus Technologies and Procentrix to ignite and accelerate digital transformation, according to ExecutiveBiz.
Jumping the pond
British Airways plans to add seven weekly flights between London and Dulles International Airport next year, adding flexibility for those in Greater Washington traveling to the U.K. for business or pleasure, Washington Business Journal reported. The IAD expansion comes as part of British Airways’ plan to offer a record-breaking number of flights between North America and London next summer. The carrier will have more than 400 nonstop flights per week to destinations across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. British Airways will offer 21 weekly flights between IAD and Heathrow Airport beginning next summer, up from 14 now.
Good cyber hygiene
Tysons and Medford, Mass.-based MITRE said the United Nations guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities do not address cybersecurity challenges and other threats to space systems. Good cyber hygiene is essential to the sustainability of the space environment amid the efforts of competitors and adversaries to build capabilities that could impact space system operations, MITRE said in a white paper published last week. ExecutiveGov has more.
Done deal
CGI Federal, a Fairfax-based wholly-owned U.S. operating subsidiary of CGI, has completed the previously announced acquisition of Tysons-based Aeyon, citybiz reported. The acquisition complements and expands CGI’s offerings portfolio as well as relationships with critical U.S. national security clients, such as the Office of the Secretary of Defense, multiple branches and agencies of the U.S. military, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. “Aeyon’s commitment to delivery excellence and integrity aligns seamlessly with CGI’s values, culture and delivery excellence track record,” said Stephanie Mango, CGI President, U.S. Federal Market. “This merger enhances our capabilities and reinforces our shared dedication to helping our clients advance their missions.”
Supporting the community
Tysons-based Appian announced a partnership with Children’s National Hospital, a top-ranked pediatric hospital in Washington, D.C., to raise awareness and funds for pediatric healthcare in the community, reported citybiz. This partnership includes Appian’s Backyard Bash which was held on September 12, 2024, and sponsoring the Children’s National Race for Every Child 5K on October 19, 2024. “Appian is deeply rooted in the D.C. and Northern Virginia area, and we are committed to supporting our community,” said Stephanie Kirby, Vice President, North America Sales, Appian. “Children’s National is a leading pediatric health system here, and we are proud to support pediatric healthcare in our region.”
About the Fairfax County
Economic Development Authority
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) promotes Fairfax County, Virginia, as a business and technology center. The FCEDA offers site location and business development assistance, and connections with county and state government agencies, to help companies locate and expand in Fairfax County.
Want to know more about the services of the FCEDA, or how economic development helps Fairfax County? Visit the FCEDA website or e-mail info@fceda.org.