16-07-2025
Northern Virginia incubation company taps new product and tech executive
Power Moves is a recurring series where we chart the comings and goings of talent across the region. Got a new hire, gig or promotion? Email us at dc@
While layoffs continue to hit the federal government, large companies and startups keep adding new leaders to their payroll.
Incubation and venture capital company Red Cell Partners hired a chief product and technology officer, and University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) appointed a new quantum education lead. Beyond the C-suite hires, publicly traded tech firm Qualys opened an office in downtown DC.
Keep reading to get the details on those and more regional power moves. Before then, check out some recent data on the most desirable skills for DMV tech positions, including how many job postings request each skill and how much those hired make.
Former Google leader to head McLean firm's product team
Michael Kilberry started at Red Cell on June 30 and will be working closely with startup founders incubated at the company with product market fit, strategy, possible pivots and hiring staff.
A founder himself, Kilberry wants to be a consistent resource and help as many entrepreneurs as possible grow, he said.
'A key part of my role is helping them make those decision points,' Kilberry told in an exclusive interview, 'and having someone like myself they can pick up the phone and call.'
He most recently worked at the tech giant Google's cloud computing wing, Google Cloud, where he served as the head of product for AI, machine learning, data and analytics. Before that, he founded an AI startup that was acquired under an NDA while it was still in stealth, he said. He also worked as the head of product at Amazon Web Services.
Kilberry was drawn to Red Cell because he wanted to do work that reflected the high rate of technological change, he said. The firm primarily incubates and invests in healthcare, cybersecurity and government technology. For example, the company invests in a local data center energy efficiency startup called Claros.
'These are really good, altruistic missions to be a part of that I feel like will impact everyone's lives for the positive,' he said. 'It's really easy to get up in the morning and work for that.'
UMD hires physicist to lead quantum education and research
Quantum science leader Gretchen Campbell started her new job this week as the college's associate vice president for quantum research and education.
She will focus on expanding quantum education at the K-12 level by incorporating teachings in graduate courses and looking for strategic partnerships in the field, per a press release.
'The University of Maryland boasts a remarkable legacy in leading quantum exploration, and now is the pivotal moment to amplify our role in this rapidly expanding field and cultivate a quantum-ready workforce,' said Patrick O'Shea, the vice president of research at UMD. 'With Dr. Campbell at the helm, I am absolutely confident that we will not only achieve our ambitious goals but also soar to new heights.'
This hire comes as Maryland leadership aims to position the state as a hub for quantum computing.
In January, Gov. Wes Moore announced a $1 billion initiative with quantum giant IonQ and UMD to drive investment in the emerging technology. The state university system's flagship institution and its prominent spinout previously collaborated to launch the $20 million National Quantum Lab.
Campbell comes to this possibly lucrative work with experience in nearby federal institutions. She most recently worked at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as the assistant director for quantum information science and director of the National Quantum Coordination Office. She's also held multiple positions at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
'I've been fortunate to be part of Maryland's quantum community for many years,' Campbell said in a press release. 'Stepping into this new role, I'm excited to help build on that foundation and continue advancing our leadership.'
California cloud services firm opens DC office
Qualys, headquartered in Foster City near San Francisco, announced a new space in the city, across the street from Franklin Square.
The firm, which specializes in cloud-based security and compliance, stated in a press release that it made this move to be closer to its growing federal government customer base.
Qualys is also close to nabbing the FedRAMP High Authorization for its technology — the highest security level for systems handling sensitive government data.
'As cyber threats evolve and budgets tighten, agencies need solutions that are not only powerful but also efficient,' said Sumedh Thakar, president and CEO of Qualys, in an announcement. 'Opening our Washington, DC office is more than just a physical expansion — it reflects our strategic investment in the federal space and our commitment to empowering public sector agencies with the tools they need to reduce cyber risk and increase efficiency.'
More leadership moves:
Arlington aerospace giant Boeing hired Jay Malave as the new chief financial officer. He was most recently the CFO at Lockheed Martin.
AI compliance startup Trustible hired Roger Nawrocki as its director of business development and Tanner Bokor as the director of marketing.
M&T Bank appointed Sam Mayper its senior vice president of federal government relations. Mayper, who will be based in the region. He previously worked in representing financial institutions on Capitol Hill.
The nonprofit American Society for AI appointed two members to its board. Michael Groen is the former director of the Department of Defense's Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, and Ramine Roane is the corporate vice president of AI at global semiconductor company AMD.
Beleaguered Blink Charging in Bowie acquired Bay Area startup Zemetric, the Washington Business Journal reported. Its software is used to manage charging networks for electric vehicles.
Reston cybersecurity company Neovera acquired fraud testing firm Greenway Solutions in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Layoffs hit Rockville gaming studio ZeniMax, which is owned by Microsoft. About 160 people will lose their jobs, the Baltimore Banner reported.
Tyto Athene company StackArmor is collaborating with Google Public Sector and Carahsoft Technology to contract FedRAMP-authorized software to the federal government.
Sharon Cao, founder of the HR tech platform Happied and cofounder of the social app Troov, is joining Brooklyn's legal tech startup Chariot Claims as founding growth marketer.
Agentic AI company in DC tapped Barry Hurewitz to serve as its new president.
IT consulting firm ASRC Federal appointed Ann Stevens its new chief strategy officer. Stevens previously worked at Boeing for more than two decades in federal defense and civilian government divisions. The firm also hired ex-General Dynamics leader Mike O'Hara as vice president of business development for its space operating group. Federal compliance software company RegScale in Tysons promoted Dale Hoak, one of its first hires, to be its chief information security officer.
Defense technology company Saalex Corporation in DC acquired Maryland's Greenfield Engineering Corporation, which specializes in electronic systems for aircrafts.
Cybersecurity firm Everfox in Herndon hired several people to expand its government sales team. Ned Miller is now the vice president of global government sales, Jim Coulter is the senior director for its defense department sales team and Ossen D'Haiti is senior director of the intelligence community sales team.
