Thompson Gray has appointed Todd Johnston as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Ron Gray, who has moved to Executive Chairman.
The Huntsville, Alabama-based government contracting company is 100% employee-owned and provides services across financial management, engineering, enterprise IT, digital transformation, logistics, program management and strategic integration.
Johnston joined Thompson Gray in 2023 after more than a decade of leadership experience in the defense and government contracting industry.
Within two years, he was named President and became a central figure in the company’s strategic direction, operational performance and growth.
As President, Johnston expanded business development, strengthened customer relationships, broadened Thompson Gray’s contract vehicle portfolio and helped build the systems and processes needed to support greater scale.
He also expanded the company’s executive leadership team and strengthened its financial and governance operations.
The leadership transition follows a period of significant growth under Ron Gray.
Ron and Cindy Gray took a controlling interest in Thompson Gray in 2013 and spent the following 12 years building the company from a specialized professional services firm into a larger federal government contractor.
In 2023, Ron Gray led the transaction that made Thompson Gray 100% employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
Since that transition, the company has grown to more than 300 employee-owners and annual revenue exceeding $70 million.
As Executive Chairman, Gray will continue to lead Thompson Gray’s board of directors, support the company’s long-term strategic direction and advise Johnston in his new role as CEO.
The succession is designed to provide leadership continuity while positioning Thompson Gray for its next phase of growth.
Thompson Gray is headquartered in Huntsville, with additional offices in the National Capital Region and Orlando, Florida.
The company also performs work across multiple U.S. states and internationally, including program support in Germany and Italy.
KEY QUOTES:
“Today represents both a celebration of our history and an investment in our future. Todd has demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to our employees, customers, and mission. He has positioned Thompson Gray for sustained growth while preserving the values that have defined this company since its founding. I have every confidence that Thompson Gray’s best years are still ahead.”
Ron Gray, Executive Chairman of Thompson Gray
“Employee ownership changes the way you think about building a company. Every decision is made with future generations of employee-owners in mind. That responsibility has guided our growth in recent years, and I know Todd shares that same commitment.”
Ron Gray, Executive Chairman of Thompson Gray
“The foundation Ron built is extraordinary, and our job now is to build on it. That means taking exceptional care of our customers, investing in our employee-owners, and delivering innovative solutions that support our nation’s most critical missions.”
Todd Johnston, Chief Executive Officer of Thompson Gray
