Article shared from Hunt Scanlon Media.

August 14, 2020 – The public sector is in the midst of major transformation. It faces an array of challenges that range from shifting public expectations to budgetary pressures and a growing demand for operational efficiency. To successfully navigate these issues, government organizations need leaders who are focused, tenacious and adaptable, with the capacity to deal with significant scale, complexity and ambiguity, say recruiters who specialize in the field.

The McCormick Group, an Arlington, VA-based executive recruitment firm, recently assisted Pacific Science & Engineering Group Inc. (PSE) in the recruitment of Scott Tait its new president and chief executive officer. Deborah Page, managing principal of the firm’s tech practice, and Jim Gibson, senior consultant, led the assignment.

Mr. Tait recently completed a distinguished, 27-year career, including command of the USS Mustin (DDG 89) and the USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000). Since transitioning from the Navy, he has served as executive director of the UC San Diego National Security Innovation Catalyst, an organization that focuses on fielding innovative technical solutions and on making strategic and acquisition policy recommendations for the national security community.

“Mr. Tait’s extraordinary leadership experience, thorough understanding of military systems, and grasp of high technology solutions provide an outstanding foundation for leading Pacific Science & Engineering Group,” the company said in a statement.

Together with executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronald A. Moore, Mr. Tait is expected to continue PSE’s tradition of customer focus while guiding the company to new opportunities. PSE remains specialized in human system integration, training systems, human performance measurement, cognitive science, human factors engineering, and related areas.

Headquartered in San Diego, Pacific Science & Engineering Group specializes in human factors engineering, ergonomics, and human systems integration for complex military and commercial systems. The company’s products have helped customers improve system effectiveness, reduce error, and enhance user performance and decision-making quality.

Veteran Recruiters

Founded in 1974 by Bill McCormick, The McCormick Group provides executive search services to associations, corporate government affairs offices and law firms, among others. The firm offers clients a full range of human capital services, including recruitment, human resources strategic planning and consulting, compensation studies and surveys, management succession consulting and restructuring, and outplacement consulting.


Ms. Page leads The McCormick Group’s technology, cybersecurity and government contracts practice areas. Her expertise is partnering with clients to recruit best in class technology and operations executives to solve business problems and lead transformational change. Successful placements include CEO, president, CTO, CIO, CISO, CSO, chief product officer and chief growth officer. Beyond the C-suite and key leadership, Ms. Page recruits cybersecurity executives and outside consultants for leading professional services firms, cybersecurity technology companies and managed security services providers.

Ms. Page is on the strategic advisory board for International Consortium of Minority Cyber Professionals, a non-profit association dedicated to the academic and professional success of minority cybersecurity students and professionals. She also served several terms on the board of Women in E-Discovery, and participates in the Information Technology Senior Management Forum.

Mr. Gibson brings more than 25 years of recruiting experience in the Washington, D.C. marketplace in his specialty of information technology and government contracting. He has particularly expertise filling positions that require high-level clearances.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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