Steffan Lyson
Trusted contractors collaborate with the United States federal government to deliver a wide range of advanced products and services, spanning various industries, from everyday items like paper clips to heavy equipment such as tankers and aircraft carriers. The government contracting sector is a massive industry due to the fact that the U.S. government holds the title of being the world’s largest consumer.
Get acquainted with the industry’s giants shaping the public procurement landscape. Below are the notable government contractors supplying a diverse array of products and services to the U.S. government.
Note: The following list of notable government contractors is ranked in no particular order. The selection criteria are based on a variety of factors, including market capitalization, revenue, and overall industry impact. That said, while they are highly regarded in the industry, plenty of other companies also offer exceptional products and services.
Leidos
- Revenue: $14.4 billion (FY 2022)
- Established: 1969 (Spin-off in 2013)
- Headquarters: Reston, Virginia
Leidos is a prime government contractor for a wide range of products and services related to healthcare, intelligence, defense, and civil sectors. With a history spanning over fifty years, the company has grown to become a global solutions provider aiming to make the world safer through engineering, science, and technology.
Leidos, the official successor of the billion-dollar enterprise, traces its roots back to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), founded by Dr. J. Robert Beyster in 1969. Following a spin-off in 2014, Leidos emerged as an independent company under the leadership of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Roger Krone.
Over the years, Leidos has built a successful track record in government contracting. The company secured the ten-year $4 billion contract from the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command. This contract entails the delivery of electronic health record solutions and integration deployment efforts, with the project scheduled to continue until September 2025.
Lockheed Martin
- Revenue: $66 billion (FY 2022)
- Established: 1912 (Merger in 1995)
- Headquarters: Bethesda, Maryland
Lockheed Martin is one of the largest aerospace and defense contractors for the U.S. federal government. The company generates the majority of its revenue through government contracting activities, particularly with the Department of Defense. As a renowned manufacturer of military solutions, Lockheed Martin specializes in producing advanced mission systems, fighter jets, sonar technologies, and more.
Lockheed Martin operates mainly in four business areas: (1) Aeronautics; (2) Missiles and Fire Control; (3) Rotary and Mission Systems; and (4) Space. Company operations are led by Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer James D. Taiclet, overseeing the production of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22, F-35 fighter jets, and C-130 Hercules.
Lockheed Martin secured a position in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, a contract valued at $250 billion — one of the most expensive contracts awarded by the DoD. The company was responsible for the development of 5th-generation fighter jets complete with ground, air, and strike attack abilities.
Northrop Grumman
- Revenue: $36.6 billion (FY 2022)
- Established: 1930 (Merger in 1994)
- Headquarters: Falls Church, Virginia
Northrop Grumman manages a robust portfolio of multi-domain capabilities in air, land, sea, space, and cyber. Under the leadership of Chair, President, and Chief Executive Officer Kathy J. Warden, the company pioneers the development of advanced solutions to address the most challenging problems and meet the ever-changing demands of the federal government.
Northrop Grumman is the proud manufacturer of products such as B-2 stealth bombers, X-47B aircraft, and the Lunar module, primarily used by the U.S. federal sector and 25 other governments. The company has been a key innovator of the Flying Wing concept, an aircraft design that eliminates the need for fixed fuel usage.
In 2020, Northrop Grumman secured a $13.3 billion contract from the U.S. Air Force to replace the aging intercontinental ballistic missile system. The contract encompassed various stages of work, such as the design, qualification, test and evaluation, and nuclear certification until 2029.
Raytheon Technologies
- Revenue: $67.1 billion (FY 2022)
- Established: 1922 (Merger in 2020)
- Headquarters: Arlington, Virginia
Raytheon Technologies emerged from the merger of two prominent two government contractors, Raytheon Company and United Technologies. The strategic merger propelled the company to become a notable government contractor, specializing in commercial airplanes, aircraft carriers, military weapon systems, and other defense solutions.
Raytheon Technologies primarily operates within the aerospace industry. Since 2020, Gregory J. Hayes has been serving as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company and its four subsidiaries: (1) Raytheon Intelligence & Space; (2) Raytheon Missiles & Defense; (3) Collins Aerospace; and (4) Pratt & Whitney.
As a top military contractor, Raytheon Technologies has won numerous government contractors from various defense-related federal agencies. In 2022, the company was awarded an $867 million hybrid contract for the production and assembly of the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA All-Up Rounds.
Pfizer
- Revenue: $100.3 billion (FY 2022)
- Established: 1849
- Headquarters: New York City, New York
Pfizer, a biotechnology company, holds a prominent position in the global healthcare market. The company is a major supplier of prescription drugs, vaccines, and medicinal products in more than 165 countries. Most recently, Pfizer became one of the key players in the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, collaborating with governments worldwide.
Through the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer has made remarkable advancements in its scientific transformation capabilities. This progress enabled the company to expedite the vaccine development from the typical timeline of eight years down to just eight months. With its diverse range of products and solutions, Pfizer has secured the 43rd position among Fortune 500 companies.
Through a collaboration between the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services, Pfizer was awarded a $5.3 billion contract to produce 10 million doses of Paxlovid, an oral protease inhibitor drug against COVID-19. It was part of a series of contracts awarded to Pfizer to supply biomedical products for combatting the virus.
General Dynamics
- Revenue: $39.4 billion (FY 2022)
- Established: 1952
- Headquarters: Arlington, Virginia
General Dynamics operates a diverse portfolio of defense systems across four primary business groups: (1) Aerospace; (2) Marine Systems; (3) Combat Systems; and (4) Technologies. The company is best known for manufacturing Stryker, M1 Abrams, Virginia-class attack submarines, and other advanced weapons and solutions.
With expertise spanning over 70 years, General Dynamics has become one of the most trusted contractors for the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Army, and other defense departments. Since 2013, industry veteran Phebe N. Novakovic has held the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, bringing over her 25 years of experience.
One of General Dynamics’ largest subsidiaries, General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), was among the 50 contractors awarded a five-year $10 billion contract for Omnibus IV Medical Research and Development. The company was expected to finish work by June 2027, with an ordering period end date of June 2032.
McKesson
- Revenue: $66.1 billion (FY 2022)
- Established: 1833
- Headquarters: Irving, Texas
McKesson Corporation is a notable government contractor in the healthcare industry. The company operates an extensive wholesale drug distribution network of medical supplies, disease control solutions, and pharmaceutical services to doctors, hospitals, and government agencies across the United States.
With a global workforce of over 49,000 across 16 countries, McKesson Corporation is a significant player in the medical field. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Bryan Tyler, the company operates six business units, contributing to the advancements in medications for various conditions, including COVID-19, cancer, digestive diseases, and more.
In 2012, McKesson Corporation won an estimated $32 billion contract award from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Under the Pharmaceutical Prime Vendor (PPV) Contract, the company supplied pharmaceuticals to the VA’s 700 healthcare facilities, 270 medical centers, and seven outpatient pharmacies.
Boeing
- Revenue: $66.6 billion (FY 2022)
- Established: 1916
- Headquarters: Arlington, Virginia
Boeing is best known as the premier designer, manufacturer, and vendor of commercial airplanes and jetliners, making it one of the biggest manufacturing exporters in the United States. The company has customers in over 150 countries—with one of its largest customers being the U.S. federal government.
Boeing operates across four main business areas: (1) Boeing Commercial Airplanes; (2) Boeing Defense, Space & Security; (3) Boeing Global Services; and (4) Boeing Capital. The company’s Intelligence and Analytics sector is headed by Chief Executive Officer and President Roxanne Wood.
The Missile Defense Agency awarded Boeing a five-year $5 billion contract for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) System. The company was responsible for the system integration, test, and readiness (SITR) against potential ballistic missile attacks.
L3Harris Technologies
- Revenue: $17.1 billion (FY 2022)
- Founded: 1895
- Headquarters: Melbourne, Florida
With a combined legacy of nearly 130 years from its predecessors, L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation, L3Harris Technologies has significantly expanded its government contracting business with the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and other government agencies.
Serving both the defense and commercial sector across 100 countries, L3Harris Technologies has grown to become of the leading providers of electronic systems, communications equipment, and other military IT capabilities. Leading the company’s multi-domain capabilities in air, land, sea, space, and cyber is Christopher Kubasik as the Chair and Chief Executive Officer.
L3Harris Technologies worked with Thales Defense and Security for a ten-year $6 billion contract for the modernization of the Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) used by the U.S. Army. The ten-year contract covered the alignment of SINCGARS based on the crypto modernization requirements of the National Security Agency.
Humana
- Revenue: $92.9 billion (FY 2022)
- Established: 1961
- Headquarters: Louisville, Kentucky
Humana began as a nursing home operator and gradually expanded its operations to hospital ownership. Today, more than six decades after its establishment, Humana stands as one of the largest health insurance providers across the United States. The company operates in 22 cities, including Wisconsin, Ohio, and Illinois.
One of Humana’s most significant contracts from the federal government involves the management of TRICARE, a healthcare program serving over 9.6 million active duty, reserve, and retired service members. In 2016, the company was awarded a $40.5 billion contract from the Defense Health Agency to provide managed care support under this contract.
Overseeing Humana’s federal contracting efforts is President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce D. Broussard. He also manages the integrated care delivery across the company’s three business segments: (1) Group and Specialty; (2) Retail; and (3) Healthcare Service
