On January 28, Data Systems Analysts, Inc. (DSA) announced a planned leadership transition and series of executive appointments effective February 1, 2026. After a distinguished career of service and leadership, Frances Pierce has announced her retirement as chief executive officer and chairman of the board. Pierce will continue to serve on DSA’s board of directors and as a trustee.
“Serving as CEO of DSA has been the greatest honor of my career,” Pierce said. “It has been a privilege to work alongside such a talented and dedicated workforce. Together, we have built a strong foundation for the future, and I am confident DSA is well positioned for continued success.”
Under Pierce’s leadership, DSA navigated periods of significant growth and industry change while strengthening its reputation as a trusted partner to DSA’s mission essential customers. Her tenure over the decades was marked by a steadfast commitment to operational excellence, customer trust, and the principles of employee ownership.
As part of this planned transition, John Foley has been appointed chairman of the board and chief executive officer of DSA. Foley brings deep institutional knowledge and a proven record of leadership, having served in multiple executive roles in transformation, finance, operations, strategy, and growth.
“John’s leadership reflects both continuity and opportunity,” Pierce said. “I wish him and his team great success as they lead DSA into its next chapter.”
In conjunction with the CEO transition, DSA announced several executive promotions aligned with the company’s transformation, continued growth, and commitment to operational excellence.
Robert Wheeler has been appointed chief technology and innovation officer. In this role, Wheeler will oversee DSA’s AI and digital transformation initiatives, customer solutioning, and enterprise technology functions. Wheeler’s background in enterprise deployments and technology initiatives enables DSA to meet the future needs of our customers.
Additionally, three leaders have been promoted to operational vice president positions and will join DSA’s senior executive team, where they will play key roles in advancing DSA’s strategic objectives and enable mission success:
- Wayne Irwin, vice president of Department of War programs
- Eoin O’Driscoll, vice president of critical infrastructure protection
- Chris Guyton, vice president of intelligence programs
In addition, Mike Emerle, while continuing to serve as vice president of finance, has been appointed treasurer of DSA, assuming expanded responsibilities in support of the company’s financial stewardship and governance.
“These appointments reflect DSA’s strong bench of internal talent and our commitment to developing leaders from within,” Foley said. “As a 100% employee-owned company, continuity, accountability, and thoughtful succession planning are core to how we operate.”
Source: DSA
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