WELCOME TO

Cornerstone

About Us

Cornerstone Defense LLC is a Small Business servicing the Intelligence, Defense, and Space communities of the U.S. Government. Cornerstone Defense specializes in cloud architecture, enterprise engineering, systems and network engineering, systems and network security, and application and software development. We use these foundational technology areas to deliver solutions for data analytics, cyber, and space/mission operations, customized to meet mission requirements. We are headquartered in Herndon, VA, with employees working across the U.S including DC, MD, CO, UT, NM, HI, and CA. At Cornerstone Defense, you’ll find a partner that values strong relationships, excellence, and teamwork. Our team is a network of professionals who are dedicated to providing agile, secure, and efficient solutions to support mission success. With Cornerstone Defense, youโ€™re not just choosing a service provider, but a committed, steadfast team with a culture designed to excel.
โ€

Vision & Mission

Meet The Team

Reilly Leonard

Chief Operating Officer

Reilly Leonard

Chief Operating Officer

Patrick Palmer

Chief Executive Officer

Patrick Palmer

Chief Executive Officer

Brian Sammons

Chief Financial Officer

Brian Sammons

Chief Financial Officer

Darcelle Wilson

VP of Human Resources

Darcelle Wilson

VP of Human Resources

Brandon Altmann

Chief Growth Officer

Brandon Altmann

Chief Growth Officer

Michelle Allen

Director of Systems and Security, FSO

Michelle Allen

Director of Systems and Security, FSO

Virginia Blair

Director of Marketing & Operations

Virginia Blair

Director of Marketing & Operations


Kaitlin Krywy

Managing Director, Aerospace & Defense

Kaitlin Krywy

Managing Director, Aerospace & Defense

WHERE CAN WE HELP?

To find out more information on where we can help you, services we provide,

joining or partnering with our team, please select one of the links below!

WHAT WE DO

We bring together a unique blend of cutting-edge capabilities, specialized expertise, and a remarkable company culture that focuses on the recruitment and retention of highly-sought-after employees.

Learn More

WORK WITH US

Search through all of our open positions.

Learn More

GET IN TOUCH

Contact Us
  • Virginia
    13454 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 100
    Herndon, VA 20171
    Maryland
    2288 Blue Water Blvd, Suite 330
    Odenton, MD 21113
  • eFAX
    443.769.1559
  • Phone
    703.691.5100
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Our latest edition of the โ€œAround the Cornerโ€ Newsletter just dropped! ๐Ÿ“ฐโœจ
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And this month, we asked our leadership team one burning question:
๐Ÿ‘‰ โ€œWhat does AI actually mean to Cornerstone?โ€
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The answers? Diverse and unfiltered! ๐Ÿ’ฅ
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We arenโ€™t just looking at AI as a buzzword. We are looking at it through the lens of human potential, ethics, operational scaling, and the future of work.
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Here is a sneak peek into how 5 of our team members view the artificial intelligence revolution shaping our industry. ๐Ÿ‘‡
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A few examples of how youโ€™ll feel when we help you score this job! ๐Ÿ”ฅ Are you an HPC Software Engineer, or do you know one who might be a good fit? Check out the highlights of the job description, below, and reach out to us ASAP to get interviewing! ๐Ÿ‘‡
๐Ÿ“ The Details
โ€ข Role: HPC Software Engineer (Mid-Career) ๐Ÿ’ป
โ€ข Location: Colorado Springs, CO (On-site) ๐Ÿ”๏ธ
โ€ข Clearance: Active TS/SCI with Polygraph ๐Ÿ”’
โ€ข Salary: $140,000 - $230,000 ๐Ÿ’ฐ
๐Ÿš€ The Mission: Technical User Support (TUS)
โ€ข Time to Science: Help HPC users port, optimize, and parallelize codes. โฑ๏ธ
โ€ข Solutions: Design workflows, modeling, and simulation tools. ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ
โ€ข Mentorship: Guide junior engineers and lead code-review sessions. ๐ŸŒŸ
โ€ข Training: Deliver workshops and tutorials on coding standards. ๐ŸŽ“
๐Ÿ“š What You Need (Basic Qualifications)
โ€ข Degree: Bachelorโ€™s in a STEM discipline. ๐Ÿ”ฌ
โ€ข Experience: 10+ years professional, 5+ years in modeling & simulation. ๐Ÿ“†
โ€ข Languages: Fortran, C, and/or C++. ๐Ÿ”ค
โ€ข Scripting: BASH and Korn. ๐Ÿš
โ€ข OS: Deep Linux operating system proficiency. ๐Ÿง
๐ŸŒŸ Bonus Points (Desired Skills)
โ€ข Tools: Git, CMake, Makefile, and JIRA. โš™๏ธ
โ€ข Languages: Python and Perl. ๐Ÿ
โ€ข Advanced Tech: GPU programming (CUDA/OpenCL) and AI/ML. ๐Ÿค–
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Ever scan the horizon looking for your next big opportunityโ€ฆ only to have it literally appear in front of you? โ˜๏ธโ›…๐Ÿ˜‚ We hope this caught your eye like it caught ours! ๐Ÿ‘€๐Ÿ‘€๐Ÿ‘€ If youโ€™re searching, check out some info on one of our hob jobs, this week, below!

Hot Job Highlights โ€“ Systems Engineer (TS/SCI + Poly Required):
Location: Chantilly, VA

Why Cornerstone Defense:
โ€ข Employer of Choice across Intelligence, Defense, and Space
โ€ข Culture built around supporting you while you support the mission
โ€ข Work/life balance, real impact, real growth
Benefits Snapshot:
โ€ข Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision
โ€ข Generous PTO
โ€ข 401(k), HSA/FSA options
โ€ข Tuition Reimbursement + Training
โ€ข Fitness Reimbursement
โ€ข Referral & Leads Generation Programs
โ€ข Lifelock, Travel Assistance, Legal & Financial Planning perks
Role Overview โ€” Systems Engineer:
โ€ข Modernize and redesign a weekโ€‘long Systems Engineering training program
โ€ข Lead technical refresh of outdated course content
โ€ข Partner with instructional designers, multimedia, graphics, and SMEs
โ€ข Convert complex engineering concepts into engaging adultโ€‘learning materials
โ€ข Support exercises, case studies, scenarios, assessments, and practical examples
โ€ข Coordinate requirements across technical teams and stakeholders
โ€ข Refine instructor guides, student guides, slide decks, job aids, and supporting documentation
Required Experience:
โ€ข Active TS/SCI + Poly
โ€ข 10+ years Systems Engineering experience
โ€ข Intelligence Community background
โ€ข Strong systems engineering lifecycle & requirements coordination experience
โ€ข Ability to translate complex technical concepts clearly
โ€ข Communication, collaboration, and organization skills
Bonus Points:
โ€ข Experience developing or delivering SE training
โ€ข Adult learning / instructional design familiarity (ADDIE, SAM, etc.)
โ€ข Modernizing technical training content
โ€ข Scenario-based learning experience
โ€ข Background in model-based SE, architecture frameworks, or requirements tools
โ€ข Prior instructor, SME, or course developer experience
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Intern series, part 2! ๐ŸŒŸ Our other two interns, Rachel and Grier, are making the most of their summer experience.
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Here is what they are looking forward to:
Rachel: Applying her school knowledge to real business scenarios across accounting, finance, and contracts. ๐Ÿ“ˆ
Grier: Networking with highly qualified government contracting candidates and discovering how a business operates behind the scenes. ๐Ÿค
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๐Ÿ‘‰ Scroll through the photo slides to learn more about them and what brought them here! Donโ€™t forget to drop a ๐Ÿ‘ in the comments to give them some intern appreciation!
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Summer is heating up, and so are our amazing internship projects! โ˜€๏ธ๐Ÿ’ผ We are absolutely thrilled to spotlight two of our fantastic summer interns, Zach and Katherine.
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From day one, their fresh perspectives and drive to learn have brought so much energy to the team. ๐Ÿš€ We canโ€™t wait to see the impact theyโ€™ll continue to make!
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Curious about what they are working on, their favorite coffee orders, and what brought them here? ๐Ÿ‘‡
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๐Ÿ‘‰ Swipe through the pictures to get to know Zach and Katherine better, and drop a ๐Ÿ‘ in the comments to give them some intern appreciation!
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