Tom Bell

Tom Bell
Born	Thomas Bell
Nationality	American
Occupation	Business executive
Title	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Leidos Holdings
Employer	Leidos Holdings
Known for	CEO of Leidos Holdings

Thomas "Tom" Bell is an American business executive who serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Leidos Holdings, a Fortune 500 defense technology, information technology, and biomedical research company headquartered in Reston, Virginia. Under Bell's leadership, Leidos has pursued a strategic vision known as "NorthStar 2030," which outlines the company's growth pillars and long-term direction through the end of the decade. Bell has overseen significant business developments at Leidos, including acquisitions and major defense contracts, positioning the company as one of the largest defense and information technology firms serving the United States government and its allies. His tenure has been marked by steady revenue growth and an emphasis on constructive acquisitions aligned with the company's core capabilities in defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets.

Career

Leadership at Leidos Holdings

Tom Bell serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Leidos Holdings, one of the largest defense and IT services companies in the United States. In this role, Bell is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the company, which operates across defense, intelligence, civil, and health sectors.

A central element of Bell's leadership at Leidos has been the development and execution of the company's "NorthStar 2030" strategy. This long-term strategic framework defines the company's growth pillars and guides its operational and acquisition decisions through the remainder of the decade. In discussing the strategy during the company's second-quarter 2025 earnings period, Bell stated that Leidos would "continue to seek constructive acquisitions that back its growth pillars" as part of the NorthStar 2030 execution.

Acquisitions and Business Development

Under Bell's tenure, Leidos has pursued targeted acquisitions to strengthen its technological capabilities and expand its portfolio. One notable acquisition was that of Kudu Dynamics, a move that Bell highlighted during the second quarter of 2025 as part of the company's broader strategy to bolster its growth pillars under the NorthStar 2030 framework.

In terms of organic business development, Leidos under Bell's leadership has secured significant defense contracts. In August 2025, the company received a contract from a classified customer for 12 Sea Dart unmanned underwater vessels. According to reporting by Defense Daily, the Sea Dart vehicles were intended "to augment their arsenals," reflecting the growing demand for unmanned maritime systems among defense and intelligence customers. The Sea Dart contract illustrated Leidos's expanding role in autonomous and unmanned systems, a sector of increasing strategic importance to the U.S. military and allied nations.

Financial Performance

Leidos reported increased earnings during the second quarter of 2025 under Bell's leadership. The company's second-quarter revenue was up three percent compared to the prior year period, reflecting continued demand for the company's services across its defense, intelligence, civil, and health portfolios. The increase in quarterly earnings was also noted in conjunction with the Sea Dart contract announcement, as the company reported a broader uptick in its financial results during the same period.

Bell's strategic emphasis on aligning acquisitions and organic growth with the NorthStar 2030 framework has been a recurring theme in the company's financial communications. By focusing on what Bell has described as "constructive acquisitions," Leidos has sought to expand its capabilities in areas directly relevant to its core customer base while maintaining financial discipline.

Recognition

In December 2024, Tom Bell was announced as a recipient of a CAP (Central Atlanta Progress) award, alongside Camille Love and Carter. The recognition was reported by SaportaReport, an Atlanta-based news outlet, highlighting Bell's contributions alongside other civic and business leaders. The CAP awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the economic development and civic life of the Atlanta metropolitan area.