Leonardo DRS CTO Dr. Phil Perconti Named a 2026 Defense News Index Technology Disrupter

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ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Leonardo DRS, Inc. (NASDAQ: DRS) today announced that Dr. Philip Perconti, Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, has been named to the inaugural 2026 Defense News Index: Tech Disruptors List, which recognizes executives, engineers, founders and program leaders accelerating defense technology “from concept to capability.”

Defense News said honorees are distinguished by their ability to compress timelines, deliver breakthrough technologies, and put capability directly into the hands of warfighters.

“Dr. Perconti is exactly the kind of leader the defense community needs right now—relentlessly focused on quickly moving critical technologies out of the lab and into operational use,” said John Baylouny, President and CEO of Leonardo DRS. “His career has been defined by mission-driven innovation, and at Leonardo DRS he’s driving the rapid development and integration of advanced capabilities so our warfighters can stay ahead of the threat and own the edge.”

A Proven Innovator Advancing Mission-Ready Technology

As Leonardo DRS Chief Technology Officer, Perconti develops the company’s corporate research and development strategy, accelerates technology innovation, and seeks to create and expand partnerships that result in integrated technology solutions to produce enhanced warfighting capabilities.

Before joining Leonardo DRS, Perconti served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology and Army Chief Scientist, responsible for policy and oversight of the Army’s research and technology program spanning 17 laboratories and Engineering Centers and nearly 12,000 scientists and engineers. He previously served as Director of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, setting strategy and research priorities for the Army’s corporate research enterprise, with responsibility for more than 3,000 personnel and an annual budget exceeding $1.2 billion. He established and led the laboratory’s research programs in Quantum Information Sciences and Artificial Intelligence, shaping their scope and aligning investment and talent to deliver early results.

Perconti is an author or coauthor on more than 50 publications and holds two patents. His honors include the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive, the federal government’s highest award for sustained extraordinary accomplishment by a Senior Executive, the U.S. Army Distinguished Civilian Service Medal and Federal Laboratory Consortium Laboratory Director of the Year. He is a Technical Fellow of the Military Sensing Symposium.

About Leonardo DRS

Leonardo DRS, Inc. (Nasdaq: DRS) is at the forefront of developing transformative defense technologies using its proven agility and delivering innovative solutions for U.S. national security customers and allies worldwide. We specialize in rapidly providing high-performance, multi-domain capabilities across next-generation advanced sensing, network computing, force protection, and electric power and propulsion. Our reputation as a trusted provider is built on a continuous focus on practical innovation, delivering quality, and meeting our customers’ most demanding mission requirements. For further information on our complete range of capabilities, visit www.LeonardoDRS.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

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Source: Leonardo DRS, Inc.