Acclaim Technical Services’ David Popelier Named WashingtonExec’s CEO of the Year
Acclaim Technical Services (ATS) CEO David Popelier has been named WashingtonExec’s CEO of the Year in the Private Company Annual Revenue Greater than $100M and Less Than $500M category, recognizing his leadership during one of the most challenging federal contracting environments in recent years.
Since becoming CEO in early 2025, Popelier has driven record company performance, including 4% organic revenue growth and 2.2% EBITDA growth in a lean year for the industry as well as a 31% increase in backlog and a 40% new work win rate—both major improvements over prior years.
Popelier coupled this growth with an emphasis on organizational resilience and workforce stability. ATS reduced attrition year-over-year while maintaining its Top Workplace streak for the twelfth consecutive year and securing its seventh Gold Medallion for veteran employment. He led a strategic reorganization, modernized key business systems, and oversaw technology and compliance transformations to strengthen operational agility and meet emerging customer requirements.
ACG Community Project of the Year
ATS was also honored with ACG’s Community Project of the Year, recognizing the company’s PILLARS program and its deep commitment to strengthening the National Capital Region. In 2025, ATS employees engaged in high impact service initiatives addressing food insecurity, homelessness, education, and family support. Through PILLARS, ATS volunteers prepared meals for local nonprofits, assembled snack bags for students, and supported shelters across Northern Virginia. The company amplified employee generosity through donation matching and corporate support, including contributing to the $33,677 raised for Homestretch during the Backyard BRRR Challenge and the $43,000 generated through ATS’s annual charity golf tournament benefiting the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation.
These efforts, coupled with ongoing employee-driven outreach and wellness initiatives, reflect ATS’s commitment to service, shared ownership, and strengthening community resilience across the region.
About Acclaim Technical Services (ATS)
ATS delivers tech-enabled solutions across the intelligence community. The company is known for mission expertise, high-quality performance, and a strong culture rooted in its people. The Company is venture capital backed (Blue Delta Capital Partners) with a significant Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
