Alion
$1B
Private-Equity Backed Provider
of advanced engineering, cyber security, and technology solutions for defense, intelligence, and federal civilian markets.
Over 3200
Employees
with operations spanning the United States and key international locations.
RENOWED FOR DEEP EXPERTISE
in systems engineering, modeling & simulation, cyber operations, and mission-critical support for national security programs.
DISTINGUISHED AS A TRUSTED PARTNER
to the U.S. Department of Defense and intelligence community, with a strong presence across naval, air, and cyber domains.
Why NorthWind?
During Veritas Capital’s ownership of Alion, NorthWind Partners was engaged to help transform and strengthen the company’s executive leadership team to drive growth, operational excellence, and market expansion.
NorthWind Partners recruited and placed the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Growth Officer, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Cyber Business, and multiple Vice Presidents across key business units and functions.
Each executive brought proven expertise in high-growth, mission-focused environments and demonstrated leadership validated by industry peers and superiors. This revitalized team was instrumental in enhancing Alion’s strategic positioning, operational scalability, and customer engagement.
NorthWind worked closely with Alion’s board and ownership to assess leadership gaps, define the archetype for each critical role, and ensure that new hires possessed both the technical acumen and cultural alignment necessary for Alion’s ambitious transformation.
The Result
Under the new leadership, Alion significantly expanded its presence in high-priority areas such as cyber operations, artificial intelligence, and advanced analytics. The company deepened its entrenchment in long-term defense and intelligence programs, stabilizing future revenue streams and increasing its attractiveness to strategic acquirers. The leadership team focused on optimizing operational processes, professionalizing business functions, and building scalable systems to support rapid growth. Alion successfully captured new business with both existing and new customers, leveraging its enhanced capabilities and reputation for mission-critical support. Investments in talent and technology enabled the company to anticipate and respond to evolving customer needs, particularly in the fast-changing domains of cyber and digital modernization.
In 2021, Alion was acquired by Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII), the largest military shipbuilding company in the U.S., for approximately $1.65 billion (over 13x EBITDA), marking a successful exit for Veritas Capital and positioning Alion for continued growth within a leading defense platform.