Christina Payne Named CHRO of the Year at the 2026 WashingtonExec Chief Officer Awards

LEXINGTON PARK, MD – June 3, 2026 – Precise Systems is proud to announce that Chief People Officer Christina Payne has been named CHRO of the Year at the 2026 WashingtonExec Chief Officer Awards, recognizing her exceptional leadership and lasting impact on workforce strategy, employee engagement, and organizational growth.

As Chief People Officer, Payne has transformed the role of HR into a strategic driver of business success, aligning talent, culture, communications, facilities, and security under a unified people-first vision. Her leadership has been instrumental in guiding Precise through a period of significant growth and integration while ensuring employees remained at the center of every decision.

“Christina leads with authenticity, vision, and an unwavering commitment to our people,” said Scott Pfister, CEO and President of Precise Systems. “She has built a culture where employees feel valued, connected, and empowered to do their best work. This recognition reflects the extraordinary impact she has made across our organization.”

Throughout 2025, Payne helped successfully integrate multiple acquired organizations, bringing together teams, systems, and cultures while preserving the values that define Precise. Her focus on listening, transparency, and engagement contributed to a 91% employee satisfaction score, reinforcing a workplace culture built on trust and shared purpose. Under her leadership, Precise welcomed 410 new employees, achieved 22% workforce growth, and created meaningful opportunities for career development and advancement across the enterprise.

Payne has also championed programs that strengthen employee growth, recognition, and connection. Through investments in professional development, education benefits, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and employee recognition programs, she has helped create an environment where employees can thrive while supporting complex national defense missions.

Her leadership has contributed to Precise earning numerous employer-of-choice distinctions, including #1 Military Friendly® Employer (Less than $500M category), #1 Best for Vets Employer in Maryland, the HIRE Vets Gold Medallion Award, and VETS Indexes 5-Star Employer.

The WashingtonExec Chief Officer Awards celebrate the most impactful and innovative executives across government and industry. Payne’s recognition as CHRO of the Year underscores her role in shaping a culture where people, mission, and performance advance together.

About Precise Systems:

Precise Systems delivers integrated, mission-ready solutions that advance warfighter readiness and strengthen our nation’s most critical defense programs. Through the power of our combined capabilities, we provide deep expertise in Advanced Engineering; Digital Transformation; Electromagnetic Warfare; Interactive Training & Simulation; Physical Sciences Research; Platform Lifecycle Support; and Foreign Military Sales. Unified by decades of trusted performance and expanded through strategic growth, our team applies innovative technologies, engineering rigor, and customer-focused execution to solve complex challenges and accelerate mission success. Guided by our commitment to partnership, precision, and performance, we deliver the scalable solutions and technical excellence our customers depend on—today and into the future.