Cherokee Federal Names Ex-Serco CEO Tom Watson as President
Tulsa, Okla. – September 18, 2026 -- Cherokee Federal, the federal contracting division of Cherokee Nation Businesses, has named Tom Watson as president, effective Oct. 1, to lead a $1 billion-plus portfolio of tribally owned federal contracting companies employing more than 5,000 people.
Watson brings 30 years of federal contracting leadership to the role
Watson spent seven years at Serco, most recently as CEO of its $2 billion North American business, where he oversaw more than 10,000 employees serving defense and federal civilian customers. Before becoming CEO in 2022, he served as senior vice president of Serco's Defense Services business. He joined Serco in 2018 after 22 years at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), where he rose to senior vice president and general manager of SAIC's Navy and Marine Corps Business Unit, leading roughly 4,000 employees and more than $1 billion in annual revenue.