Federal 100 winner: Earl Stafford

Earl Stafford

Former chairman and chief executive officer

Universal Systems and Technology Inc.

Stafford founded Unitech in 1988 after a career in the Air Force. Recently acquired by Lockheed Martin Corp., the company grew from a small professional services firm into a provider of robust business and technical solutions.

Stafford gained fame when he spent $1 million of his own money to host a People’s Inaugural gala this year for 300 disadvantaged people, terminally ill patients and wounded veterans. He said the purpose was “to bless those who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to be part of the great celebration.”

Ralph Everett, president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, said Stafford “is a can-do kind of person. Whatever he sets his mind to, he knows how to corral people, to make them work together, to make his dreams come true or to make a project come true.”