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, you’re not just choosing a service provider, but a committed, steadfast team with a culture designed to excel.

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
Globe
Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Photos from Cornerstone Defense's post ... See MoreSee Less

Image attachment
Image attachment
Image attachment
Image attachment
Image attachment

Meet our newest recruiter, Steven! Steven is a results‑driven Talent Acquisition Specialist bringing over 7 years of full‑cycle recruiting experience across corporate and federal environments. With a proven track record of aligning hiring strategies to organizational needs and partnering closely with leadership to deliver top‑tier cleared talent, this is someone who knows how to find the right people for the right mission. Welcome to the team, Steven!

So, you know we had to ask some fun “get-to-know-you” questions!

👀 Want to know:
✨ What song sets the vibe for the “walk into the office” moment?
💼 What part of joining Cornerstone Defense is most exciting?
🎨 Which skill he’d instantly master if he could?
And more!

Swipe through to see all of his answers — and help us give Steven a warm welcome!
... See MoreSee Less

Image attachment
Image attachment
Image attachment
Image attachment
Image attachment

3,000 followers on LinkedIn!? Thank you for dancing into this new era with us! 💃🏻💥

We love that so many of you engage with our content and have followed along with our team and our story as we’ve changed and grown over the years. We like to think of our social media presence as less of an advertisement and more of a place to build community — full of feedback, authenticity, and real conversation. 💬✨

GovCon and Recruiting can often feel myopic and transactional, but one of our core goals is to ensure that whether you’re a prospective, current, or future employee, that is not the experience you have with Cornerstone Defense. From our industry expertise to our cultural engagement and community-building, we work hard to set ourselves apart as a choice employer in the GovCon space — a place where our employees can grow alongside the company. 🚀🤝

Thank you again for following along. If you enjoy our content, have questions about working with us, or have ideas for what you’d like to see more of, drop us a comment or send us a DM. Let’s keep the conversation going — we’re so happy you’re here! 🌟💛
... See MoreSee Less

📌✨ Good news travels fast… especially on sticky notes!
💛 WE ARE HIRING!
📍 Cleared positions in the DMV
🎉 Amazing culture + benefits
💥 Work that matters
If this feels like your kind of place, let’s chat! ➡️ Reach out today! [🙂]
... See MoreSee Less

Fun Fact Friday! We want to use this series to drop you some interesting tidbits about our company, philosophy, history and culture. Starting with — one of the favorite phrases of our CEO, Pat Palmer, is, “You can’t boil the ocean!” 🌊🔥 It’s a simple reminder to focus on what matters most, set realistic scope, and ship value in stages rather than trying to tackle everything at once.
 
What it means in practice:
Prioritize ruthlessly. Define the smallest high-impact slice you can deliver now, then iterate. 📌
Clarify the outcome. Make success measurable and time-bound so the team knows when “done” is done. 🎯
Protect momentum. Smaller wins build confidence, reduce risk, and surface learnings earlier. 🚀
Avoid analysis paralysis. Big, amorphous problems get easier when you break them into chunks. 🧩
 
Do you agree or not?
Drop your take below: Have you seen “not boiling the ocean” help a project move faster—or do bold outcomes sometimes require boiling oceans? Let’s debate! 👇💬
 
#FunFactFriday #Focus #Prioritization #OperationalExcellence #CornerstoneDefense
... See MoreSee Less

Image attachment
Image attachment
Image attachment
Load more