September 6, 2023 – Chantilly, Va. – AMERICAN SYSTEMS, a leading provider of cutting-edge engineering and IT solutions, today announced that former President and CEO Peter Smith has been elected Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors. Smith, who resigned from his position as the company’s President and CEO earlier this month, now fills the Chairman position vacated by Bill Hoover. Hoover had served as Chairman of the Board since 2015.
Smith joined AMERICAN SYSTEMS in 1980 as a test engineer and held a series of technical and management positions of progressing responsibility throughout the company, culminating in his appointment in 2014 to President and CEO. During his tenure as President and CEO, Smith oversaw significant growth across the company, including the acquisition of two businesses.
“After spending my entire professional life in various capacities with AMERICAN SYSTEMS, I am both humbled and honored to be able to continue my association with this highly engaged employee-owned company as its Chairman of the Board,” said Smith. “I want to thank Bill Hoover for his past leadership and service and look forward to building on his legacy.”
During his term as President and CEO, Smith served in several industry leadership roles, including the Professional Services Council Executive Committee and Board of Directors and the Northern Virginia Technology Council Board of Directors. In January 2018, Smith was named to the Wash100 list of influential leaders in the Government Contracting community by GovCon Executive for the third time since 2015. And in August 2020, Smith was named to Virginia Business Magazine’s inaugural Virginia 500 – The 2020 Power List.
The Board of Directors also announced that John Steckel, who was named the company’s new President and CEO effective September 6, has been elected Vice Chairman of the Board. Steckel joined AMERICAN SYSTEMS in 2018 as VP, Business Development, and has been instrumental in aligning the company’s business development and delivery of strategic solutions with customer needs. In 2022, Steckel was promoted to VP, Corporate Development, adding oversight of the company’s legislative affairs and merger and acquisition initiatives to his business development responsibilities.
