Charles “Chad” Buechel
Vice President, Space Force and Air Force Division Manager, Leidos
Charles “Chad” Buechel spent over 25 years supporting the Department of War and the intelligence community, bringing operational and technical expertise to complex mission challenges.
As vice president and division manager for the Space Force and Air Force at Leidos, he leads enterprise IT modernization, cloud operations, and defensive cyber programs supporting airmen and guardians worldwide.
Buechel’s biggest recent achievement was leading enterprise IT modernization efforts across the Department of the Air Force while supporting global cyber and cloud operations. Leidos improved resilience and accelerated the delivery of secure digital capabilities that support Air Force and Space Force missions.
Earlier this year, Leidos partnered with the Air Force to win the Cloud One contract. The team worked closely with the customer to transition operations on a compressed timeline while ensuring uninterrupted support for Mission System Owners. The team’s work ethic and willingness to challenge traditional approaches reflect the culture Leidos is building, one focused on innovation, partnership and mission delivery.
“One idea I’m excited about is helping Air Force customers modernize and accelerate the Authorization to Operate process,” Buechel said.
Approaches like ARMOR, combining automation, AI-enabled workflows, continuous compliance monitoring, and partnerships with companies like SecondFront and RegScale, have shown the potential to dramatically reduce ATO timelines. Looking ahead, Buechel sees opportunities to expand these capabilities to improve speed, security and operational readiness for the Air Force.
“Chad consistently demonstrates exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and commitment to mission success for our Air Force and Space Force customers,” said Catherine Bolger, senior vice president of Defense & Intel at Leidos. “His ability to lead high-performing teams and deliver innovative, mission-critical solutions continues to position Leidos as a trusted partner advancing the Department of the Air Force’s digital modernization priorities.”
Leidos also helps government customers operate more efficiently by modernizing enterprise IT environments on secure, scalable cloud platforms, reducing complexity and improving mission responsiveness.
Why Watch
In 2026, Buechel’s team is focused on accelerating the adoption of secure cloud, advancing defensive cyber capabilities and delivering resilient digital infrastructure for the Department of the Air Force. They’re prioritizing scalable DevSecOps solutions and mission-focused modernization to improve speed, security and operational readiness.
Buechel and his team’s focus remains on enabling airmen and guardians to make faster, data-driven decisions in contested environments. Buechel continues pushing the team to think differently and deliver capabilities faster for the warfighter.
“Our mission is bigger than technology alone,” Buechel said. “It’s about delivering resilient, secure, and innovative capabilities that empower the warfighter and strengthen national security. I’m proud of our team’s commitment to operational excellence and their ability to solve complex challenges at speed and scale for our customers.”
Fun fact: Before entering the industry, Buechel was a DOD intelligence analyst supporting national-level policymakers and deployed military operations. Outside work, Buechel enjoys mentoring emerging leaders and spending time outdoors with his family. He’s also an avid water skier and wakeboarder.