Meet PE Systems

Chief Financial Officer

As Chief Financial Officer, Tom Dawson leads the accounting and finance functions of PE Systems, Inc.  He is responsible for the overall financial health of the organization assuring precise accuracy of all financial matters, prompt response to audits and contract close-outs, as well as representing the company in matters dealing with financial related agencies. In addition, he oversees the accurate and timely filing of international, federal, state, and local business registrations and tax returns in the numerous jurisdictions in which the company operates. He also monitors any needed improvements to the accounting infrastructure. His proactive and positive mindset as well as his straightforward approach to PE System’s finances support the company’s health and drives continued growth.

Tom has over 17 years of experience in the Government contracting industry with expertise in financial leadership, reporting and analysis, budgeting and forecasting, acquisition integration, pricing, financial system enhancement, banking relations, negotiations, and audit management. He was previously Chief Financial Officer at Q2 Impact (formerly The QED Group), where he managed all administrative activities including Accounting, Information Technology, Human Resources, Contracts and Pricing. He also spent four years in public accounting with Cherry Bekaert doing audits and consulting work. 

Tom is a member of multiple professional organizations such as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Virginia Society of CPAs (VSCPA), and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). He has volunteered at Homeward Trails Animal Rescue. Tom attended Virginia Tech where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Information Systems. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and previously a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA).

Chief Operating Officer &
Vice President of Contracts, Compliance and Ethics

Doug Cooper serves as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for PE Systems, Inc. where he oversees and guides the day-to-day operations of the company. He is responsible for maintaining a clear and concise code of ethics and assuring its compliance by all employees as well as supporting subcontractors and consultants. He also oversees the monitoring and auditing of the company’s contractual obligations and adherence to government regulations.  He leads by example and is transparent in his efforts to best support the PE Systems family of employees and clients. His can-do attitude and no-nonsense approach to overcoming challenges is at the core of what PE Systems strives to accomplish every day.

Doug has over 30 years of business experience effectively coordinating and communicating across all disciplines. Doug initially joined PE Systems to provide his leadership to the company’s contracts, ompliance, and ethics efforts. As the leader of the company’s contracts organization, he improved the organization by establishing best practices with regards to contract administration as well as advising and supporting the company’s growth and capture strategy. Prior to joining PE Systems, he served at Engility Corporation overseeing its International portfolio of efforts, many of which were performed in support of the Department of Defense, Department of State, and direct commercial sales to foreign customers. He was the resident expert for all matters regarding international contracting. Prior positions had Doug setting corporate policy and procedure regarding contracts and subcontracts.

Doug is a long-standing member of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) and earned its top certification of Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM). He has his Master in Business Administration from George Mason University with a concentration in Global Business and his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

President and CEO,
PE Systems Inc.

In her role as President and CEO at PE Systems, Marissa applies her extensive background in oversight and compliance to navigate the complexities of government contracting. Under her leadership, PE Systems continues to be a premier provider of superior technical solutions for the U.S. military. Her strategic vision focuses on delivering high-quality, technically advanced solutions that meet the rigorous demands of military operations while maintaining adherence to regulatory standards. She accomplishes her vision by investing in PE System’s employees and culture to create a company that nurtures professional excellence and growth, reveres integrity, and champions collaboration. Marissa also embraces continuous improvement by leveraging her expertise in process optimization to enhance operational efficiency. She is guiding the company into a future of sustainable growth and impactful service to our nation.

Marissa’s experience in people management has equipped her with the skills to inspire and motivate high-performing teams, ensuring that every member contributes their best to the organization's mission. Because she believes that investing in people is key to driving innovation and success in a highly technical environment, she is a strong advocate for professional development and fostering talent within the organization. Further, she champions cross-functional collaboration, ensuring that technical teams and project managers work seamlessly together to achieve shared goals and deliver outstanding performance. PE Systems is now an established employer of choice, attracting top talent to serve the needs of our contracts and clients.

With over 23 years in operational leadership within the education sector, Marissa brings a wealth of knowledge in process improvement, cross-functional team management, and regulatory compliance to PE Systems. Prior to her work at PE Systems, Marissa served in education where she demonstrated an unwavering commitment to operational excellence and innovative program development. She successfully led initiatives that enhanced academic performance, streamlined processes, and fostered a culture of collaboration among diverse teams. Marissa is passionate about leveraging her unique background to contribute to the mission of enhancing national security through innovative solutions and exceptional service.

Marissa is actively involved in various professional organizations related to national security, education, and government contracting. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Education in Secondary Curriculum and Instruction from Boston College, as well as an Education Specialist in Education Administration and Policy Studies from The George Washington University.

Vice President of Operations

In his role as Vice President of Operations at PE Systems, Inc. Scott Murray budgets for, organizes, and equips the operating division. He is responsible for ensuring that the company's day-to-day activities align with its strategic goals and contribute to its overall success. Focusing on efficiency and effectiveness, Scott works to optimize resources, manage budgets, and drive continuous improvement across various departments. He is accountable for establishing and enforcing company policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulations and standards, enhancing productivity, reducing waste, and streamlining operations. He is a proven operations leader with a demonstrated history of transforming businesses through operational excellence and strategic leadership.

Scott has over 17 years of experience supporting federal contracts and served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force. Prior to joining PE Systems, Inc. Scott was an Operations Manager with AECOM where he led, planned, and managed activities of a $56M annual revenue business area consisting of 12 program managers/functional support specialists who ran a 200+ personnel workforce. As a Senior Program Manager with AECOM, he was in charge of numerous federal contracts worth more than $100M and identifying new business opportunities/leading business development efforts to capture new work.

He is a member of AFCEA, Air & Space Forces Association (AFA), Logistics Officer Association (LOA), Electronic Engineering and Manufacturer’s Group (EEMG), and the Dayton Defense Association.

Scott has a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services from Wayland Baptist University, a Master of Science degree in Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) Graduate School of Engineering and Management, and Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP) certifications in Program Management and Acquisition Logistics.

Vice President of Business Development

Serving as the Vice President of Business Development, Yvonne Vermillion promotes and directs growth for PE Systems, Inc. She is responsible for driving revenue for the organization, creating strategic business partnerships and marketing. This includes seeking growth areas by identifying and managing pursuits through an effective capture process. Her leadership, coordination, resource allocation, strategy and management are unmatched in the industry.

Yvonne has over 25 years of experience supporting Federal, State, Local, and commercial industry customers in financial management, portfolio management, logistics, data management, organizational change management, and information technology. She has served in numerous program and project management leadership roles. She was a financial lead on an Air Force Oracle eBusiness Suite Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) effort; the lead for an SAP Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) effort for an Army client; the lead for a Fortune 500 company to deploy Oracle eBusiness Suite and Hyperion Planning internationally; a lead in a risk reduction effort for an Air Force client upgrading to a later version of Oracle eBusiness Suite; and helped the Air Force establish the Logistics Office of Data Management.

Yvonne is a lifetime member of the Air and Space Forces Association (AFA) and currently serves as a Board Member and former Secretary for the Wright Memorial Chapter. She is a lifetime member of National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and Women in Defense (WID) and in addition to establishing the local Chapter, was an inaugural member of the Greater Ohio Valley Chapter of WID. Yvonne is also a lifetime member of AFCEA International. She is a previous President of the Dayton-Wright Chapter of AFCEA (DWAFCEA) and served on their Board of Directors. She held numerous executive officer positions in the DWAFCEA Chapter to include Executive Vice President and Vice President of Operations. She also served as a member of the Board of Directors for AFCEA International and has received countless awards for her involvement in the organization.

Yvonne has a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Dayton, and an Associates in Project Management from the George Washington University School of Business. She was a Project Management Professional (PMP) and holds certifications in Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Foundations, Professional Scrum Master (PSM) and Security+.

Vice President of Program Management

In his capacity as the Vice President of Program Management at PE Systems, Inc. Maurice McDonald leads the Program Management Office. He guides the company in utilizing the best-in-class program management methodologies to support the end-to-end oversight of the program strategy and management for initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and reporting on all initiatives. Additionally, he oversees company project management resources ensuring the right skills and expertise are applied to each project while also mentoring and growing the next generation of company leaders.

Maurice has over 17 years in program management supporting military activities and served our nation for over 21 years in the U.S. Air Force. Prior to joining PE Systems, Maurice was the Executive Vice President of Aerospace and Defense at the Dayton Development Coalition responsible for preserving and protecting the federal assets in the Miami Valley region. He managed programs and partnerships between the Miami Valley region of Ohio and Wright- Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), the Springfield Air National Guard Base, and the Dayton Veterans Administration Medical Center. In addition, he supported the attraction, retention, and
expansion of Aerospace and Defense related businesses across Ohio.

For several years, Maurice has been selected by the Dayton Business Journal as Who’s Who in Aerospace and Defense. In 2016, Maurice was awarded the Ambassador Award by the Wright Memorial Chapter of the Air and Space Forces Association (AFA). He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Clark State College, a member and Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Association of Defense Communities (ADC), a member of the Board of Directors for the Miami Valley Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Miami Valley Down Syndrome Association and member of the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Dayton.

He is a lifetime member of the Air and Space Forces Association (AFA), a member of AFCEA, the Logistics Officer Association and the Dayton Area Defense Contractor Association. Maurice has a Bachelor of Science from the United States Air Force Academy and a Master of
Science from Georgia College and State University. He also has Acquisition Professional Development Program certifications in Program Management and Life Cycle Logistics.