De Lune Corp is proud to announce that its President and Founder, Gaddafi Ismail, has been named the 2025 GovCon Leader of the Year by the Washington Business Journal (WBJ). The prestigious award was presented on December 4 at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C., during WBJ’s annual CEO of the Year Awards, one of the most respected recognitions of executive leadership.
This year’s honorees represented a distinguished group of leaders shaping the economic, social, and strategic landscape of Greater Washington. The cohort included standout figures—such as D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Bob Buchanan of Bob Buchanan Partners, and Matthew Cooper of Capital One Financial Corp. who led the Discover Acquisition—recognized for their measurable impact on their organizations, industries, and communities. Being named among them underscores the significance of Ismail’s leadership during one of the most turbulent years federal contractors have faced in recent memory.
“Being recognized alongside such exceptional leaders is profoundly humbling,” said Ismail. “This year demanded more from all of us in government contracting than any year I’ve seen. When pipelines slowed and uncertainty grew, our responsibility didn’t change. The mission didn’t pause. People still depended on us. I led the way I did because small businesses, federal workers, farmers, and communities across this country needed continuity, not retreat. This award reflects the choices of our team during a difficult year, and the belief that we rise by standing together—as one workforce and one nation.”
Leading through the most challenging year in GovCon
The 2025 federal contracting environment was defined by extraordinary uncertainty—from prolonged procurement delays and shifting agency priorities to evolving policy frameworks and tariff instability—that reverberated across federal programs. Small businesses were disproportionately affected as opportunities contracted amidst shrinking pipelines and tightening budgets. Nowhere has this impact been felt more than in the Washington metropolitan region, home to some of the biggest and brightest in the government contracting ecosystem, where billions of federal dollars are fiercely contested each year.
Against this backdrop, Ismail made deliberate choices that reinforced De Lune Corp’s commitment to service and mission continuity. Instead of scaling back operations or reducing staff, he preserved the company’s full workforce, sustained GovCon operations, and stayed closely engaged with federal partners navigating constantly changing conditions. His approach reflected a deeply rooted leadership philosophy: Show up for partners even when the system pauses.
Throughout the turbulence, De Lune Corp continued advancing critical work across multiple verticals. In IT and cybersecurity, the company expanded its capabilities through its joint ventures, including Cyber Intelligence Alliance (CIA) and DLSA Tech, enabling the delivery of mission-critical solutions in cybersecurity, digital modernization, and data-driven innovation. The company’s Healthcare Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) practice grew into a comprehensive service offering that integrates electronic health records and billing solutions to support healthcare providers nationwide. At the same time, De Lune Corp’s Agribusiness and Logistics divisions remained robust, continuing to support U.S. producers and reinforce American supply chains amid fluctuating trade conditions and tariff pressures. The company was also selected to join two USDA agribusiness trade missions just this year—to Taiwan and Mexico.
Yet the company’s success is equally defined by its commitment to community. Under Ismail’s guidance, De Lune Corp’s flagship initiative, Sharing the Love, supported 1,000 food-insecure families across the DMV region in 2024 and continues to grow annually. Internationally, the Riaz Ismail Scholarship Fund and the Faika & Hamdoon Endowment for the Restoration of Sight continue to fund scholarships, cataract surgeries, and free eye camps in Sri Lanka.
Building for tomorrow, not just today
Shahina Zahir Ismail, Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of De Lune Corp, said of this momentous achievement, “This recognition reflects a year of disciplined focus, resilience, and responsible decision-making. Gaddafi led with steadiness when the industry was anything but steady. He protected our people, he supported our federal partners, and he made decisions that prioritized long-term responsibility over short-term convenience. I am proud of his leadership and proud of what our team accomplished together during a remarkably challenging year.”
From its humble beginnings in the basement of Ismail’s Virginia home in 2016 to becoming one of the region’s most trusted and agile 8(a)-certified contractors, De Lune Corp’s growth story reflects his unwavering belief in mission-driven business. The company has executed over 300 prime contracts; earned ISO 9001, ISO 20000, and ISO 27001 certifications; all while staying true to its founding values of excellence, agility, and community impact.