Terry Jennings, PeopleTec, Inc. Co-Founder and CEO: "Culturally, it has always been our belief that if we take care of our employees, our employees can focus on taking care of the customer, and together, we all can take care of the Warfighter"

In the rapidly evolving world of defense technology, few companies embody the principles of innovation and dedication quite like PeopleTec, Inc. Founded in April 2005, PeopleTec has grown into a formidable force within the defense community, driven by a unique people-centric approach. With a tagline that proudly states, "People First. Technology Always.” this employee-owned small business has seamlessly merged technical excellence with an unwavering commitment to customer and employee satisfaction. At its core, PeopleTec is built on the philosophy that putting people first—whether they are employees or customers—leads to superior outcomes. This belief is not just a corporate mantra but a lived reality within the company. By nurturing an environment that attracts top talent, PeopleTec has cultivated a workforce of over 500 skilled professionals who are not only experts in their fields but are also deeply committed to the company’s mission.

The company’s dedication to its employees is reflected in its various initiatives aimed at professional development and ethical practices. PeopleTec’s focus on innovation extends beyond its technological solutions; it permeates the company culture, encouraging employees to continuously improve internal processes for greater efficiency and agility. This culture of excellence and innovation translates directly into the high-quality services provided to their customers, particularly the Department of Defense (DoD) and Civilian Federal sectors.

Pioneering Emerging Technologies

PeopleTec stands at the forefront of several cutting-edge technologies crucial to modern defense strategies. Their expertise spans a range of critical areas, including hypersonics research, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, command, control, and communications (C3), autonomy and counter-AI, as well as high-performance and cloud computing.

One of PeopleTec’s notable achievements in AI is the development of an advanced tool for insider threat detection. Utilizing sophisticated AI and machine learning algorithms, this tool effectively identifies and isolates potential threats within organizations, providing timely notifications to enhance security. Additionally, PeopleTec’s subject matter expertise in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), data analytics, and condition-based maintenance showcases their comprehensive capabilities in addressing diverse technological challenges.

Investing in the Future: Digital Engineering

In response to the DoD’s increasing focus on digital engineering, PeopleTec has made significant investments to support the Warfighter through this transformative approach. Digital engineering leverages software tools to support system development, modeling, and validation testing, reducing the need for early physical infrastructure and accelerating the development of emerging technologies.

The DoD’s endorsement of digital engineering, highlighted by the approval of instruction 5000.97 in December 2023, underscores the importance of this methodology across the lifecycle of defense acquisition programs. PeopleTec’s expertise in deploying digital engineering tools and strategies plays a pivotal role in this modernization effort. By facilitating digital acquisition, PeopleTec helps the DoD create flexible, consistent, and detailed approaches to system development, significantly enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of defense programs.

Overcoming Challenges in Digital Transformation

Transitioning from traditional engineering processes to a digital environment is not without its challenges. Organizations often struggle with software tool selection, integration, and workforce training. PeopleTec addresses these issues through comprehensive organizational change management, ensuring a smooth transition to digital methodologies. By managing the disruptive changes associated with digital transformation, PeopleTec helps organizations adapt their business processes, technology, culture, and workforce to embrace the new digital paradigm.

The shift towards an all-digital environment, championed by the DoD, aims to create virtual prototypes before investing in physical demonstrators. This approach has already yielded positive outcomes in programs such as the US Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA). By promoting the use of digital representations and artifacts, the DoD’s digital engineering strategy aims to enhance the design and sustainment of critical defense systems.

Looking Ahead

As PeopleTec continues to innovate and expand its capabilities, the company remains steadfast in its commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. By staying at the cutting edge of technological advancements and maintaining a people-centric approach, PeopleTec is poised to play a critical role in the future of defense technology and beyond. The company’s journey from its founding in 2005 to its current status as a leader in digital engineering and defense solutions is a testament to the power of putting people first while always prioritizing technological innovation.

In a world where the defense landscape is constantly evolving, PeopleTec’s dedication to innovation, integrity, and excellence ensures that they remain a trusted partner for the DoD and other federal agencies. As they continue to navigate the complexities of modern defense challenges, PeopleTec’s focus on “People First. Technology Always.” will undoubtedly drive their success for years to come.

Meet the leader behind the success of PeopleTec, Inc.

Terry Jennings, Co-Founder and CEO

Ms. Terry Jennings co-founded PeopleTec, Inc. in 2005 as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). She is passionate about providing a fulfilling workplace that delivers exceptional support and services to U.S. Government and civilian sector customers. Terry is relentlessly committed to fostering a people-first environment, providing excellent infrastructure, delivering motivational learning programs, and “shining the light” on the best and brightest employees. Under her leadership, PeopleTec has grown from 3 to over 550 employees and annual revenues from 0 to more than $100M.

Terry brings almost four decades of experience providing support and excellence to customers and stakeholders. Before co-founding PeopleTec, she was Corporate Vice President of Administration at SAIC, where she managed administrative operations for the southeast region. Before joining SAIC, Terry was the Chief Administrative Officer at Quality Research and a member of its Board of Directors.

Terry co-founded PeopleTec with the vision of creating a company where people enjoy coming to work and supporting the Warfighter. Attesting to Terry’s successful efforts as CEO of a people-first company, PeopleTec has been recognized for its distinctive corporate culture with the following awards Best Place for Working Parents (a Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Foundation award) and Great Place to Work’s Best Workplace for Millennials (a national award). Her leadership excellence is evidenced by her selection as an honoree of the “2022 Women Who Shape the State”.

She has maintained PeopleTec’s focus on the Warfighter by having an employee-owner base that is composed of 37% Military Veteran employee-owners. The success of the Warfighter support goal is indicated by the receipt of the U.S. Department of Labor’s HIRE Vets Platinum Award for employing, retaining, and supporting veterans.

The award that she is proudest of is PeopleTec’s induction into the Huntsville/Madison County's Best Places to Work Hall of Fame (voted by employees as the Best Place to Work for eleven years).                                                      

“Our commitment to People First is our top priority and the essence of the PeopleTec culture. This commitment is the foundation of our promise to support the communities that have helped PeopleTec thrive.”