Derrick Pledger is the Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO) at Maximus, responsible for establishing and executing digital transformation efforts, leveraging technology and innovation to optimize processes, operations, and, in partnership with our business segments, achieve the mission outcomes of the customers we serve. He is a transformational leader with over 20 years of experience in digital modernization, technology management, and strategic leadership, which is instrumental in driving our company’s growth strategy forward.

Before joining Maximus in January 2024, Derrick was the CDIO at Leidos, where he successfully led a global delivery team responsible for managing a secure and resilient digital ecosystem supporting a $14 billion corporation with more than 47,000 employees. He has a demonstrated and exceptional leadership skillset and a deep understanding of the intersection between customer mission, business objectives, and technology. Derrick’s technical expertise spans a wide range of areas, including cloud computing, software and application development, system integration, data fusion, and data analytics.

He is a U.S. Army Veteran who served multiple tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa in uniform and as a defense contractor. Derrick earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech.