Enthusiasm and expertise
We are passionate about exploring new ways of solving problems, and our team of Pioneers brings curiosity, creativity, optimism, and entrepreneurship into everything we do.
Our core values
Pioneers are more than employees to Pioneering Evolution—a Pioneer is a vested member of our community. Pioneers bring the company to life with their positive energy, thirst for learning, genuine team spirit, collaborative thinking, and relentless drive for excellence. Pioneers create and execute new ideas and methods and inspire innovation, consistently rising above challenges and evolving where necessary. They are the driving force embodying our organizational identity.
About the company
World class leadership with the heart of a small business
Founded in 2004, Pioneering Evolution is a Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) with a reputation as a leader in our field by providing a combination of vast industry-specific experience, custom software development and integration, and award-winning support services—for both small and large federal acquisition organizations.
Our agile mindset allows us to work toward a well-defined end state, but how we get there is always evolving. This allows us to build unique partnerships with our clients and ensures we are delivering exactly what they need at the time they need it.
As a small business, Pioneering Evolution maintains a streamlined decision-making process that bypasses typical bureaucratic inertia. This enables us to adapt quickly to changing requirements or priorities.
We are headquartered in Crystal City, Virginia, around the corner from the Pentagon and Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Conveniently located steps from the D.C. metro, we have state-of-the-art conference facilities for hosting customer meetings and connecting our coast-to-coast teams of Pioneers.
Kenneth Michaud
Managing Partner
Ken Michaud is the Majority Owner and Managing Partner of Pioneering Evolution, where he drives strategic and day-to-day management decisions as the company’s chief executive officer. With over three decades of experience in federal acquisition, program management, and financial oversight, Ken has successfully led large-scale defense initiatives and developed innovative solutions for the U.S. Navy. His expertise spans acquisition strategy, lifecycle cost management, and advanced financial systems. A former Acquisition Director for a Navy ACAT I acquisition program, Ken is a recipient of the Meritorious Civilian Service Award, one of the highest honors bestowed on civilian employees by the Department of Defense.
Joseph L. Clem II
Founding Partner
Joe Clem founded Pioneering Evolution in 2004, and he has been instrumental in shaping the company’s culture and commitment to excellence. With extensive experience in contracting strategy, program management, earned value management, and financial oversight, Joe has supported critical defense initiatives for clients like NAVSEA, the Missile Defense Agency, and the Defense Travel System. A seasoned leader with expertise in business administration and resource management, Joe holds an MBA from George Washington University and brings a strong foundation in international business and entrepreneurship.
Charles O’Rourke
Vice President of Operations
Charles O’Rourke is the Vice President of Operations for Pioneering Evolution, with over two decades of experience in federal acquisition, program management, and software development. As the company’s head of finance, Charles has been pivotal in shaping corporate strategy, overseeing company operations, and leading key process improvements. Charles has a range of experience architecting and developing enterprise software solutions for the U.S. Navy, with expertise across the entire software development lifecycle, and prior federal civilian experience as a computer scientist for the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport.
Adam Jones
Principal Director of Personnel
Adam Jones is the Principal Director of Personnel for Pioneering Evolution, and in that capacity he oversees our Pioneer Engagement Process, a unique approach to human resource management that maximizes productivity, fosters professional development, promotes team building, and ensures that our staff has the critical knowledge and capabilities to execute our clients’ missions. He oversees our industry-leading recruiting, retention, and internal training capabilities, ensuring that we are always ready to hit the ground running on any new efforts. Adam has decades of experience in program management, contracts management, and weapons systems acquisition, specializing in contract performance analysis, Foreign Military Sales, cost estimating and analysis, and strategic communications.
Russell Parker
Director of Financial Planning & Analysis
Russ Parker serves as the Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at Pioneering Evolution, bringing nearly two decades of experience in DoD financial management. With a background supporting NAVSEA and other critical defense programs, Russ excels in budgeting, financial analysis, and strategic planning. His experience includes managing billions in resources, overseeing compliance with DoD financial regulations, and developing advanced financial management tools. Holding a Master’s in Finance from Georgetown University and multiple certifications, Russ leads efforts in aligning financial strategies with mission objectives, ensuring precise execution and insightful financial reporting across customer initiatives.
Matthew Steege
Director of Programs and Business Development
Matt Steege is the Director of Programs and Business Development at Pioneering Evolution. As Director of Programs, Matt is responsible for managing and monitoring the processes that enable successful execution of our customers’ missions, including quality control, performance evaluation and reporting, financial stewardship, and risk management. As the head of business development, Matt is responsible for maintaining our relationships with current and future teammates and pursuing opportunities to introduce our approach and innovations into new organizations. Matt’s background in complex systems management, strategic planning, and program execution—building upon his distinguished military career—provides the foundation for his success in aligning company capabilities with client needs and delivering high-impact results.
Carrie Pedri
Deputy Director of Personnel
Dr. Carrie Pedri is Pioneering Evolution’s Deputy Director of Personnel. With a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and over a decade of experience in logistics and training, she ensures that all Pioneers are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel at their positions. Her in-depth and targeted analyses of organizational health have been key to developing our empowering company culture and providing a structured and supportive framework for individuals to grow professionally through increased awareness of behavioral patterns and impacts. Carrie has been instrumental in developing and evaluating training programs for NAVSEA, ensuring personnel are equipped with the training needed to meet mission goals.