Summary
Shawn Purvis serves as President and CEO of Sabel Systems, part of the Sagewind Capital Portfolio. As CEO of Sabel Systems, Ms. Purvis is responsible for all aspects of Sabel’s growth, M&A, product development and people strategy. Sabel is a leading provider of digital engineering, acquisition, manufacturing, supply chain and logistics solutions. Shawn has recently been named as a member of the George Mason University Board of Visitors through June 30, 2029.
Over the course of Shawn’s 30 years of P&L responsibilities, she has led billion dollar organizations in the areas of defense, intelligence and cyber security technical solutions in support of the warfighter and intelligence customers both domestically and globally. Ms. Purvis has in-depth skills in driving strategy, policy, corporate strategic campaigns and financial/non-financial goals across the company. She actively participates in corporate governance in areas of risks, benefits, cyber and policies and engagements with the Board of Directors. She has a passion for customer service and delivery in support of our nation’s most critical missions.
Executive Mosaic – 19/09/2022 (07:38)
Purvis shares advice for pursuing the right contracts and making the right decisions around limited capture dollars. Today, evolutions and advancements in modern warfare are driving major shifts in the technologies, weapons systems, and capabilities that defense contractors provide. Now, more than ever, robotics, autonomous solutions and cyber are dominating the defense landscape, and companies like QinetiQ, a United Kingdom-based defense and technology contractor, are using these shifts to steer strategies, investments, and offerings.
Shawn Purvis, president and CEO of QinetiQ U.S. and a two-time Wash100 Award winner, joined the company in February 2022, and in a recent video interview with Executive Mosaic, she spoke about her transition into the role, QinetiQ’s core offerings, new opportunities for expansion and her vision for the future of QinetiQ U.S.
In this executive interview, Purvis discusses the following topics:
✅ How Qinetic is focused on delivering on its core capabilities like C5ISR, robotics, and autonomous solutions.
✅ The new opportunities that are emerging as the Department of Defense rolls out its Joint All-Domain Command and Control initiative, known as JADC2.
✅ Advice for pursuing the right contracts, making the right decisions around limited capture dollars, securing contract wins, and more.
Timestamps
0:01 Who is Shawn Purvis
1:13 The history of QinetiQ’s parent company goes back to 1918
2:21 Robotics and Autonomous Systems
2:33 QinetiQ won prime contract to build RCV-L for US Army in 2020
2:57 Cyber and Information Advantage
3:33 JADC2: Joint All-Domain Command and Control
4:00 QinetiQ Expansion Areas
4:27 QinetiQ’s 4 Strategic Markets
4:54 PWin: Probability of Winning a contractExecutive interview – Government contracting executive feature news – federal executive news- govcon executive spotlight news- govcon executive spotlight – Executive moves
5:58 Nurture & Maintain Your Network
OnAir Post: Shawn N. Purvis
News
Shawn Purvis, (MS, IS ‘99) received the College of Engineering and Computing’s Distinguished Alumni Award at George Mason University’s Celebration of Distinction on Friday, October 21, at the Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center.
Purvis is currently President and Chief Executive Officer at QinetiQ US, a multinational defense technology company. She has been a strong supporter of the College of Engineering and Computing and served Mason in numerous ways, including as a graduation speaker for the College of Engineering and Computing in 2018. She shares her Mason experiences and enthusiasm with students, faculty, and alumni and the college is grateful for her support.
The annual celebration recognizes outstanding alumni for their accomplishments and involvement with the university. The College of Engineering and Computing presents the award to an alumnus who has made significant contributions to Mason through their level of engagement within the university, their service to the community, and their professional accomplishments in their field.
Janet Ioli / The Inner Edge – February 6, 2023 (27:15)
In this episode, I talk to Shawn Purvis. She is the Chief Executive Officer of QinetiQ US and has over 25 years of senior leadership experience at major aerospace and defense companies. You’ll hear Shawn share some of the fundamental lessons she learned throughout her career that are key to becoming a better leader. Letting go of perfection, owning up to your mistakes, listening to and trusting your team, asking for and accepting help, and continually working to learn and develop yourself and your team are all valuable insights she shares. In this episode:
- The importance of leadership development
- Enjoying the journey and letting go of perfection
- “You don’t have to do it all!” Ask for help, receive it and accept it
- Tips to deal with feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy
- Fundamental lessons Shawn learned from one of her biggest mistakes
- Tapping into your experiences to find your leadership voice
The Christian Science Monitor, – September 28, 2015
How a full-spectrum approach including defensive cyber, active defense and cyber resiliency keeps America ahead of digital threats.
Cybersecurity’s biggest challenge today is straightforward to describe and extremely hard to fix: you can’t see the threat before it hits you. Cyber defenders have little to no warning that an intruder is lurking just beyond their borders.
That’s why we see cyber technology as more than just the passive understanding of protecting our systems. Taking a position of active defense means looking not at just protecting the network, but the protection of the network and the constant monitoring of the network to identify threats. When we talk about full-spectrum cyber, we’re talking about taking it even one step further. Not only are you protecting your environment, you’re monitoring that environment and now when you identify or find an indication that a threat is coming, you can defeat that threat preemptively.
Taking a full-spectrum operations approach is about a very deliberate effort to defeat the threat before the threat comes into the system. We do that in some cases by understanding the attacker’s vulnerabilities and issuing our own cyber initiatives that exploit those vulnerabilities.Simultaneously, we are investing in advanced forms of defense, what we call cyber resiliency. Cyber resiliency looks to not only protect the environment from the outside, that end point of the information sphere, but also how to understand what malicious actors are already inside the network, identifying that threat and then protecting and healing the network as that threat is being removed from the system. Finally, rounding out this picture of understanding where threats are coming from involves looking at cybersecurity from a global standpoint. There’s a greater requirement and a need for us to communicate with our allies because the threat does not focus just on one entity or one country.
Shawn Purvis is the new Sector Vice President and General Manager for the Cyber division of Northrop Grumman’s Information Systems sector and has been with the organization since 2012.
WashingtonExec interviewed Purvis on her new position, the challenges ahead and the changing landscape of cybersecurity. Purvis also discussed CyberPatriot and the importance of mentorship with WashingtonExec.
WashingtonExec: What makes you excited about your new position, and how has the first six months on the job been going?
Shawn Purvis: I continue to be energized by the opportunity, and I am always impressed by the skill and dedication of the men and women of Northrop Grumman to partner with our government customers to secure some of the most high-risk networks and infrastructures in the world.
We are an increasingly cyber-dependent society. Vulnerabilities in our information infrastructure pose significant threats to our economic stability and national security. As a leading provider of full-spectrum cyber solutions to the federal government, we know first-hand how the threats are increasing in sophistication and numbers, and we view each threat as having an impact to our national security.
About
Biography
Ms. Purvis’ prior roles include President, CEO for QinetiQ US; at Northrop Grumman: Corporate Vice President (CVP), President of Enterprise Services (ES); Chief Information Officer (CIO), Sector Vice President and General Manager for Northrop Grumman’s cyber division, and Vice President for the Integrated Intelligence Systems (IIS) business unit. A leader in these roles, she was responsible for all aspects of the business strategy, growth, customer relationships and program execution – delivering global full-spectrum cyber and security and technology solutions to intelligence, defense and civilian customers. Prior to joining Northrop Grumman, Ms. Purvis held management positions at SAIC and Lockheed Martin.
Ms. Purvis currently serves as a Board of Trustee for Dodge and Cox and previously served on the boards the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, Northern Virginia Family Services Council and the Board of Visitors for George Mason University. In 2019 she was named to the Black Enterprise™, Most Powerful Women in Corporate America. In 2020 she received the 2020 Distinguished Black Alumni Award from the George Mason Black Alumni Chapter and the 2021 & 2025 Alumni of the year award, College of Engineering and Computing, GMU. She is a WASH 100 award recipient from Executive Mosaic “Top 100 Leaders” in 2021, 2022 and 2023 & 2024.
Ms. Purvis earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Hampton University and a master’s degree in information systems from George Mason University. She attended the Executive Program at Darden School of Business: University of Virginia and earned a certificate from the Accelerated Management Program at Yale School of Management. Ms. Purvis was selected for the 2020 cohort for Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Women’s Global leadership Program.
Source: GMU Board of Visitors
Experience
CEO, Sabel Systems
Sabel Systems Technology Solutions, LLC · Full-time
Mar 2025 – Present
United States · Hybrid
President, CEO QinetiQ US
QinetiQ · Full-time
Feb 2022 – Jan 2025
Tysons Corner, Virginia, United States · On-site
Northrop Grumman- 10 yrs
Corporate Vice President, President – Enterprise Services Sector
Jan 2018 – Feb 2022 · 4 yrs 2 mos
Falls church, VA
Leads Enterprise Services organization; focused on digital transformation, advanced collaboration systems and business applications across Northrop Grumman. Develops strategy for nextgen network, cyber security and digital design for domestic and international employees and locations.… more
Vice President, Chief Information Officer
Jan 2016 – Jan 2018 · 2 yrs 1 mo
Leads and executes all aspects of Northrop Grumman’s IT strategy and related responsibilities, and provides direction as the IT organization partners with customers and suppliers on innovative solutions that contribute to value delivery, user experience, and risk management.… more
VP, General Manager (P&L) – Cyber Division
June 2014 – Jan 2016 · 1 yr 8 mos
Sector vice president and general manager for the Cyber division of Northrop Grumman’s Information Systems. Responsibilities include: delivering cyber and security solutions to intelligence, defense, federal, state and international customers. Key capabilities for the division include global provisioning of full spectrum cyber security to include IT infrastructure and architectural design and services; command and control deployment and operations; intelligence collection; net-centric cloud-enabled data distribution and storage; data analytics and development of intelligence products with web-enabled collaboration and visualization
VP, Business Unit Manager (P& L), for Integrated Intelligence Systems BU
Mar 2012 – Jun 2014 · 2 yrs 4 mos
Chantilly, VA
Vice President of the Integrated Intelligence Systems (IIS) business unit for Northrop Grumman’s Intelligence Systems division. Responsible for all aspects of the IIS’ business operations, including strategy, growth, customer relationships and program execution. IIS is a business with broad capabilities centered on the successful delivery of IT solutions to solve key customer’s PED requirements. IIS BU has a broad depth of technical expertise and continues to expand its market position in the Open Source Intelligence, geospatial intelligence, enterprise IT solutions, national and defense and intelligence applications.
Senior Vice President, General Manager ( P&L) – PED Operation SAIC
Sep 1999 – Apr 2012 · 12 yrs 8 mos
I was responsible for planning, budgeting, maintaining costs and creating standard processes and procedures across the Op. My responsibilities include managing the Op staff, to include all functional components, business development, and program execution. I developed the planning and administration of the organization’s current and long-range business objectives and the strategic vision for the operation. I worked with Op functional organizations to create efficient policy and procedures. I took an active role in all strategic and fiscal year planning to include Plan/Actual financial reviews and quarterly financial forecasts.
ELDP Systems Engineer
Lockheed Martin · Full-time
May 1995 – Sep 1999 · 4 yrs 5 mos
United States · On-site
Volunteering
Board of Visitors, George Mason University
Aug 2015 – Jun 2019 · 3 yrs 11 mos
Member Board Of Directors, NACME
Jun 2017 – Oct 2019 · 2 yrs 5 mos
Science and Technology
Board Of Directors, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Aug 2019 – Sep 2020 · 1 yr 2 mos
Board Member,Technology Business Management Council
Jan 2020 – Present · 6 yrs 3 mos
LinkedIn overview
Shawn N. Purvis is a passionate, solutions-oriented executive driven by an intuitive entrepreneurial spirit and an aptitude for enterprise strategy. Over the course of the past 30 years, Shawn has engaged in senior leadership initiatives aimed to optimize the daily operations and capabilities of the workforce. Shawn has delivered success portfolio management by leveraging new approaches to business development, intelligence, technical integration, and strategic planning to introduce sustainable solutions for clients operating in the intelligence, cyber, information systems, and defense industries. She is confident in her uniquely cultivated skillset, diverse background, and proven track record of success of leading high performing teams to meet their business objectives.
Shawn operates at the intersection of dependability and innovation, striving daily to deliver consistently high-caliber products and services while constantly pushing the boundaries to identify and implement continuous improvements, digital transformation, and operational optimization. Her belief that there is always room for advancement and development, allow her to quickly adapt to the ever-changing landscape and welcome change with a strategic mindset. Shawn thrives in an environment where she can encourage collaborative interactions and build joint success among her team members, challenging them to take ownership of work and strive for excellence. Shawn has led a multitude of high-functioning teams in strategic planning and development efforts for long-range business objectives, driving efficiency and profitability through the expert execution of resource allocation, project management, corporate communications, and professional networking. She has successfully transformed struggling organizations into high performing, fiscally sound businesses as a result of her extensive business acumen and dedication to superior performance, demonstrating unparalleled value as a leader, team member, and professional.
Source: Shawn Purvis
Web Links
Videos
QinetiQ US CEO Shawn Purvis On Robotics, C5ISR & More
(07:38)
By: Executive Mosaic
Purvis shares advice for pursuing the right contracts and making the right decisions around limited capture dollars. Today, evolutions and advancements in modern warfare are driving major shifts in the technologies, weapons systems, and capabilities that defense contractors provide. Now, more than ever, robotics, autonomous solutions and cyber are dominating the defense landscape, and companies like QinetiQ, a United Kingdom-based defense and technology contractor, are using these shifts to steer strategies, investments, and offerings.
Shawn Purvis, president and CEO of QinetiQ U.S. and a two-time Wash100 Award winner, joined the company in February 2022, and in a recent video interview with Executive Mosaic, she spoke about her transition into the role, QinetiQ’s core offerings, new opportunities for expansion and her vision for the future of QinetiQ U.S.
In this executive interview, Purvis discusses the following topics:
✅ How Qinetic is focused on delivering on its core capabilities like C5ISR, robotics, and autonomous solutions.
✅ The new opportunities that are emerging as the Department of Defense rolls out its Joint All-Domain Command and Control initiative, known as JADC2.
✅ Advice for pursuing the right contracts, making the right decisions around limited capture dollars, securing contract wins, and more.
Timestamps
0:01 Who is Shawn Purvis
1:13 The history of QinetiQ’s parent company goes back to 1918
2:21 Robotics and Autonomous Systems
2:33 QinetiQ won prime contract to build RCV-L for US Army in 2020
2:57 Cyber and Information Advantage
3:33 JADC2: Joint All-Domain Command and Control
4:00 QinetiQ Expansion Areas
4:27 QinetiQ’s 4 Strategic Markets
4:54 PWin: Probability of Winning a contractExecutive interview – Government contracting executive feature news – federal executive news- govcon executive spotlight news- govcon executive spotlight – Executive moves
5:58 Nurture & Maintain Your Network
Fundamental Leadership Lessons from a CEO with Shawn Purvis
February 6, 2023 (27:15)
By: Janet Ioli / The Inner Edge
In this episode, I talk to Shawn Purvis. She is the Chief Executive Officer of QinetiQ US and has over 25 years of senior leadership experience at major aerospace and defense companies. You’ll hear Shawn share some of the fundamental lessons she learned throughout her career that are key to becoming a better leader. Letting go of perfection, owning up to your mistakes, listening to and trusting your team, asking for and accepting help, and continually working to learn and develop yourself and your team are all valuable insights she shares. In this episode:
- The importance of leadership development
- Enjoying the journey and letting go of perfection
- “You don’t have to do it all!” Ask for help, receive it and accept it
- Tips to deal with feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy
- Fundamental lessons Shawn learned from one of her biggest mistakes
- Tapping into your experiences to find your leadership voice
About Shawn Purvis & Cybersecurity
March 18, 2026 (02:00)
By: NotebookLM and this post
Sabel Systems
Women at Sabel
Source: LinkedIn
We’re proud to highlight the incredible women who help move our mission forward.
This week, we’re amplifying Abby Carroll and the impact she makes across our organization.
Abby’s commitment to learning and ability to bring clarity to complex challenges reflect the spirit of growth and collaboration that defines Sabel.
From strengthening core systems to guiding teams through major integration efforts, she continues to shape meaningful progress through curiosity, resilience, and excellence.
Abby’s story is the first of several we are sharing this month, each shining a light on the talented women shaping Sabel every day.
Read Abby’s full story here: https://lnkd.in/eKbrSNP8
Data Friction
Source: LinkedIn
Data friction is one of the biggest barriers to modernization across the acquisition lifecycle.
In his latest post, Michael Baker highlights why programs slow down even when the technology is ready. When technical data is fragmented or difficult to validate, engineering teams spend more time finding information than improving systems:
Part III: Modernization Velocity Increases When Data Friction Decreases
In Part I, I discussed the gap between policy and execution.
In Part II, I focused on operational control of technical data under hashtag#DoDI500097 and hashtag#MOSA. The final piece in this series addresses a question that affects every Program Office and hashtag#OEM. Why does modernization move so slowly, even when the technology is ready? The answer is often data friction.
George Mason University
Appointed by Governor Spanberger to serve January 17, 2026 – June 30, 2029
Shawn Purvis serves as President and CEO of Sabel Systems, part of the Sagewind Capital Portfolio. As CEO of Sabel Systems, Ms. Purvis is responsible for all aspects of Sabel’s growth, M&A, product development and people strategy. Sabel is a leading provider of digital engineering, acquisition, manufacturing, supply chain and logistics solutions.
Over the course of Shawn’s 30 years of P&L responsibilities, she has led billiondollar organizations in the areas of defense, intelligence and cyber security technical solutions in support of the warfighter and intelligence customers both domestically and globally. Ms. Purvis has in-depth skills in driving strategy, policy, corporate strategic campaigns and financial/non-financial goals across the company. She actively participates in corporate governance in areas of risks, benefits, cyber and policies and engagements with the Board of Directors. She has a passion for customer service and delivery in support of our nation’s most critical missions.
Ms. Purvis’ prior roles include President, CEO for QinetiQ US; at Northrop Grumman: Corporate Vice President (CVP), President of Enterprise Services (ES); Chief Information Officer (CIO), Sector Vice President and General Manager for Northrop Grumman’s cyber division, and Vice President for the Integrated Intelligence Systems (IIS) business unit. A leader in these roles, she was responsible for all aspects of the business strategy, growth, customer relationships and program execution – delivering global full-spectrum cyber and security and technology solutions to intelligence, defense and civilian customers. Prior to joining Northrop Grumman, Ms. Purvis held management positions at SAIC and Lockheed Martin.
Ms. Purvis earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Hampton University and a master’s degree in information systems from George Mason University. She attended the Executive Program at Darden School of Business: University of Virginia and earned a certificate from the Accelerated Management Program at Yale School of Management. Ms. Purvis was selected for the 2020 cohort for Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Women’s Global leadership Program.
Ms. Purvis currently serves as a Board of Trustee for Dodge and Cox and previously served on the boards the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, Northern Virginia Family Services Council and the Board of Visitors for George Mason University. In 2019 she was named to the Black Enterprise™, Most Powerful Women in Corporate America. In 2020 she received the 2020 Distinguished Black Alumni Award from the George Mason Black Alumni Chapter and the 2021 & 2025 Alumni of the year award, College of Engineering and Computing, GMU. She is a WASH 100 award recipient from Executive Mosaic “Top 100 Leaders” in 2021, 2022 and 2023 & 2024.
Distinguished Alumni Award
Source: Mason News
Shawn Purvis honored at Mason’s Celebration of Distinction
Shawn Purvis, (MS, IS ‘99) received the College of Engineering and Computing’s Distinguished Alumni Award at George Mason University’s Celebration of Distinction on Friday, October 21, at the Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center.
Purvis is currently President and Chief Executive Officer at QinetiQ US, a multinational defense technology company. She has been a strong supporter of the College of Engineering and Computing and served Mason in numerous ways, including as a graduation speaker for the College of Engineering and Computing in 2018. She shares her Mason experiences and enthusiasm with students, faculty, and alumni and the college is grateful for her support.
The annual celebration recognizes outstanding alumni for their accomplishments and involvement with the university. The College of Engineering and Computing presents the award to an alumnus who has made significant contributions to Mason through their level of engagement within the university, their service to the community, and their professional accomplishments in their field.
Overviews from NotebookLLM
Overviews below based on this onAir post and a web search using Google’s NotebookLLM. Note: Shawn Purvis has yet to review and curate this post or the NotebookLM overviews. Also in the “Videos” section, a NotebookLM video was generated from this post.
Some of the fundamental leadership lessons Shawn Purvis shares in her “Inner Edge” interview
- Let go of perfection: She emphasizes the importance of “letting go of perfection” and “enjoying the journey” rather than being bogged down by it
- “You don’t have to do it all!”: She encourages leaders to “ask for help, receive it and accept it”
- Handle self-doubt: She provides tips to deal with “feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy”
- Own your mistakes: She teaches the value of “owning up to your mistakes” and learning from them as a “fundamental lesson”
- Find your voice: She suggests “tapping into your experiences to find your leadership voice”
Shawn Purvis shares specific advice for young women and computer science students centered on leadership, personal resilience, and the value of community support.
Mindset and Personal Growth
Purvis emphasizes that the path to leadership involves internal shifts in how one views success and failure:
- Let go of perfection: She advises young professionals to release the need to be perfect and instead focus on enjoying the journey of their careers
- Acknowledge you cannot “do it all”: A fundamental lesson she shares is that successful leaders must ask for, receive, and accept help from others
- Manage self-doubt: She offers strategies for navigating feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt, which can be common when entering high-pressure technical fields
- Find your unique voice: Purvis encourages students to tap into their own personal experiences to discover and develop their specific leadership voice
Professional Conduct and Resilience
Her advice for navigating the workplace highlights the importance of accountability and continuous learning:
- Own your mistakes: She views owning up to mistakes as a critical part of professional development and a core leadership lesson.
- Commit to development: She believes there is “always room for advancement” and encourages a mindset of constant learning for both oneself and one’s team
- Trust the team: For those moving into management, she stresses the necessity of listening to and trusting your team to achieve collective goals
Networking and Community
Purvis is a strong advocate for mentorship and building professional connections:
- Prioritize mentorship: She frequently speaks on the importance of mentorship as a tool for career longevity and success
- Maintain your network: She specifically advises professionals to nurture and maintain their network, as these relationships are vital for long-term career growth
- Participate in specialized communities: She supports initiatives like “Women in CyberSecurity” and the “GMU Cyber onAir” network, which provide platforms for students to demonstrate their expertise and connect with industry experts
- Purvis also highlights the current challenges and opportunities for women in the field, emphasizing the need to build “pipelines for the next generation” of cybersecurity professionals.
