As executive vice president of SAIC’s Air Force, Space and Intelligence Business Group, Vinnie DiFronzo is focused on getting national security capabilities into warfighters’ hands faster. His team is delivering on two recently awarded programs, the $1.4 billion COBRA task order and the $928 million AF TENCAP HOPE 2.0 contract.
DiFronzo is a finalist for WashingtonExec’s Chief Officer Awards in the Private & Public DOD Executive of the Year category. The event takes place live June 2.
Here, he discusses his focus areas going forward, the career advice that’s kept him close to the mission, and the spin habit that keeps him honest.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
SAIC is customer-focused, so strengthening customer trust has always been a top personal priority. My team proudly serves the Air Force, Combatant Commands, Space and Intelligence agencies by providing cutting-edge solutions across information technology, C5 and ISR, R&D, and digital engineering domains. My focus is to help our SAIC teams rapidly deliver national security capabilities and integrated mission systems that empower warfighters with fast decision-making and increased combat lethality.
For me, there are no more important missions than supporting our warfighters. For example, we are providing rapid solutions on two recently awarded major warfighting programs – the $1.4 billion Collaborative Operations for Battlespace Resilient Architecture (COBRA) task order and the $928 million Air Force Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities (AF TENCAP) Hyper-Innovative Operational Prototype Engineering (HOPE) 2.0 contract.
Through COBRA, we are deploying resilient digital infrastructure that improves integration across mission systems and enables faster access to operational data. On HOPE 2.0, we are accelerating the research, testing, and evaluation of mission engineering capabilities to transition emerging technologies from development into operational use.
SAIC’s Space and Intelligence work is critical to the warfighting kill chain, so I am excited about our recent acquisition of SilverEdge Government Solutions. This integration significantly expands our capabilities to support both the IC and Department of War.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
My best advice to my teams and colleagues is to find work that fires you up and connects to a mission bigger than yourself. I was fortunate to serve as an Air Force fighter pilot early in my career and my continued work in the defense industry has allowed for me to serve the nation in a different, but deeply meaningful, way. I believe the work done across the defense industry matters and has a long-term impact — it strengthens national security and supports the warfighter – so I find value in being part of this great SAIC team each and every day. When you believe in the mission you are serving, going the extra mile comes naturally and doing it consistently is often essential to success.
What is something about you that most people do not know?
I am a bit of a Peloton spin geek. I like the music, the energy, and the live and trend data. I find that the numbers keep you honest — they tell you pretty quickly whether you are cranking or just “calling it in.” It’s also a great energy pick up during a long week