AMERICAN SYSTEMS Celebrates 50 Years of Supporting our Nation’s Priorities

Celebrating our Past, Present, and Future

2025 marks an important milestone for AMERICAN SYSTEMS, as we celebrate 50 years of supporting our Nation’s Priorities this year. We have designated March 5 as the official “birthday” of AMERICAN SYSTEMS in honor of company founder H. Thomas "Tom" Curran’s birthday. Curran, who passed away in 2014, founded AMERICAN SYSTEMS (formerly American Communications Corporation) in 1975 with a focus on providing technicians to telecommunications firms. In 1976, Curran joined forces with Forrest “Woody” Ramsey, and the company's initial focus was expanded to include systems engineering for U.S. submarines.

Today, AMERICAN SYSTEMS, under the leadership of President and CEO John Steckel, is a 100% employee-owned leading provider of mission essential and information engineering services to federal customers in support of national priorities and has grown to include approximately 1,600 employee-owners.

From our early years supporting the U.S. Navy, the company has expanded its strategic business areas to include virtually every federal agency in the areas of Defense, Intelligence, Federal Law Enforcement, U.S. Outreach, and Healthcare. The company now supports several hundred programs globally, with a diverse workforce at 30 locations in the U.S. and overseas.

 
 
John Steckel Photo
““For a half century, AMERICAN SYSTEMS has focused on delivering services and solutions that exceed our customers’ expectations in a cost-efficient manner while building a culture of employee ownership that rewards accountability and promotes growth in our workforce. As we move forward, we expect to build on that legacy with our customers and employees. And build on fifty years strong.””
— John Steckel, President and CEO
 
 

Employee-Ownership Drives our Success

Later this year, AMERICAN SYSTEMS will celebrate another important milestone. In 1990, AMERICAN SYSTEMS established an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). AMERICAN SYSTEMS is now one of the largest 100% employee-owned ESOP companies in the U.S. and will be celebrating its 35th anniversary as an employee-owned company during National Employee Ownership Month in October of this year.

Award-Winning, Top Veteran-Friendly Company

AMERICAN SYSTEMS is recognized as an employer of choice and a top veteran-friendly company, and has earned numerous accolades that validate this. The company has been named a Top Workplace USA by Energage for the past four years, with similar regional honors throughout the country. Our veteran-related honors are all-encompassing, from the prestigious HIRE Vets Gold Medallion from the Department of Labor to numerous top honors from Military publications. We understand and appreciate ‘the value of a veteran.’

 
 

50 Years Strong: Our History

1975

  • Founded as American Communications Corporation by Tom Curran
  • Opened headquarters in Annandale, VA

1976

  • Woody Ramsey joins Company as President
  • Secured first Government Contract Called TRIDENT – Submarine Program

1980

  • Company is renamed American Systems Corporation
  • Won first Government Infrastructure contract for U.S. Department of State

1987

  • Moved company headquarters to Chantilly, VA

1990

  • Established Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
  • Became 30% ESOP-owned

1993

  • Surpassed $50M in annual revenue

1997

  • World-wide roll-out of Cabling Capability
  • Became majority owned ESOP Corp.
  • Elliot Needleman named President and CEO

2000

  • Surpassed $100M in annual revenue

2001

  • Acquired Integrated Computer Engineering Corp.
  • Assisted in Pentagon Recovery Effort after 9/11

2002

  • Acquired Thoughtmill Corp.

2003

  • Acquired Business Plus Corp.
  • Surpassed $150M in annual revenue

2004

  • Acquired Digital Access Corp.
  • Acquired True North Systems
  • Surpassed $200M in annual revenue

2005

  • Bill Hoover named President and CEO
  • Earned ISO 9001:2000 registration

2007

  • Named "Government Contractor of the Year" $75M to $300M revenue category

2009

  • Earned ISO 9001:2008 registration
  • Recognized on Federal 100 list for second time in three-year period

2011

  • Won first Northern Virginia Family Services CARE award

2012

2013

  • Surpassed $300M in annual revenue
  • Named GSA Mentor of the Year

2014

  • Peter Smith named President and CEO
  • Named to List of Top 100 ESOP Companies
  • Named 2014 "Government Contractor of the Year" in greater than $300M revenue category
  • First time named to Top 50 Government Technology Contractors list by Washington Business Journal

2015

2017

  • First year named an Official Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Certified Company

2018

2019

  • Received Cisco Gold Partner Certification
  • Won first HIRE Vets Gold Award from the United States Department of Labor
  • Ninth consecutive year to win Northern Virginia Family Services CARE Award

2020

  • Celebrated 30 years of employee-ownership, and 45 years as a company
  • Surpassed $400M in annual revenue

2021

  • Achieves Certification to ISO 27001:2013 and ISO 20000-1:2018 Standards
  • Named to America's Best Employers list by Forbes
  • First year named to Top Workplaces USA list by Energage

2023

  • John Steckel named President and CEO
  • Won $165M NAVAIR SEDSS Contract—largest contract to date
  • Fifth consecutive year to win HIRE Vets Gold Award from the United States Department of Labor

2024

  • Programs Appraised at CMMI Maturity Level 3 for Development and Services expands across all Strategic Solutions
  • 10th consecutive year being named to Top 50 Government Technology Contractors list by Washington Business Journal
  • Eighth consecutive year being named an Official Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Certified Company
  • Fourth consecutive year being named to the Top Workplaces USA list by Energage
 

Find YOUR career at AMERICAN SYSTEMS