By Light Executive and Leadership Team

September, 2026

Leadership Overview

By Light has 9 executives leading key functions including strategy, operations, marketing, revenue, finance, and technology.

Focused on delivering advanced systems engineering for government networks, By Light maintains a commitment to excellence in classified and unclassified infrastructure design while driving innovation across the defense and civilian sectors.

Leadership Roles at By Light

  • Chief Executive Officer - Robert Donahue
  • President & Chief Executive Officer - Nichelle Christian
  • Chief Financial Officer - Kylie Allen
  • Chief Operating Officer - Mike Bowser
  • President - Brian Donahue
  • Chief Marketing Officer - Diane Hockenberry
  • Chief Revenue Officer - Michael Hatcher
  • Chief Technology Officer, Cyberspace Operations - Billy Smith
  • Chief Technology Officer, High Fidelity Solutions - Robert Milchenski
  • Robert Donahue - Chief Executive Officer

    Robert Donahue, the Chief Executive Officer at By Light, directs the overarching corporate strategy and long-term vision for the organization. By overseeing the integration of complex systems engineering solutions, the Chief Executive Officer ensures that all government network implementations meet rigorous security and performance standards. This leadership role involves constant collaboration with the Board to align business objectives with the evolving needs of the DoD and civilian marketplaces. Robert Donahue maintains a focus on scaling the company's technical capabilities to support large-scale infrastructure projects across North American operations. By fostering a culture of engineering excellence, the Chief Executive Officer drives the firm toward sustained growth and market leadership. Through the management of high-level partnerships, the Chief Executive Officer secures the necessary resources to maintain a competitive edge in the specialized field of classified network management and systems design.
    Robert Donahue

    Nichelle Christian - President & Chief Executive Officer

    Nichelle Christian, the President & Chief Executive Officer at By Light, manages the daily operational execution and strategic direction of the enterprise. By coordinating cross-functional teams, the President & Chief Executive Officer ensures that systems engineering projects align with the specific requirements of government clients. This leadership role involves optimizing internal processes to improve the delivery of classified and unclassified network solutions. Nichelle Christian drives the expansion of service offerings by identifying emerging opportunities within the defense sector. By maintaining strict oversight of project lifecycles, the President & Chief Executive Officer guarantees that all technical implementations adhere to the highest quality benchmarks. Through the alignment of departmental goals with the broader corporate mission, the President & Chief Executive Officer fosters an environment of efficiency and innovation, ultimately strengthening the company's position as a premier provider of professional IT services for government agencies.

    Kylie Allen - Chief Financial Officer

    Kylie Allen, the Chief Financial Officer at By Light, manages the fiscal health and financial planning of the organization. By overseeing budgeting, forecasting, and capital allocation, the Chief Financial Officer ensures that the company maintains the resources required to support complex systems engineering projects. This leadership role involves monitoring financial performance metrics to identify areas for cost optimization and operational efficiency. Kylie Allen drives the development of financial strategies that support the firm's long-term growth objectives in the defense and civilian markets. By maintaining rigorous compliance with government contracting regulations, the Chief Financial Officer protects the company's financial integrity. Through the management of financial reporting and risk assessment, the Chief Financial Officer provides the executive team with the insights needed to make informed decisions regarding investments in new technologies and personnel, ultimately ensuring the firm's continued success in the competitive federal IT services landscape.

    Mike Bowser - Chief Operating Officer

    Mike Bowser, the Chief Operating Officer at By Light, directs the internal operations and project delivery frameworks that support the company's systems engineering services. By streamlining workflows and optimizing resource allocation, the Chief Operating Officer ensures that all network implementation projects meet client deadlines and quality standards. This leadership role involves managing the day-to-day activities of the engineering teams to maintain high levels of productivity. Mike Bowser drives the implementation of operational best practices that enhance the firm's ability to handle both classified and unclassified government contracts. By fostering collaboration between technical departments, the Chief Operating Officer ensures that project execution remains consistent with the company's high standards. Through the continuous improvement of operational processes, the Chief Operating Officer supports the firm's ability to scale its services, effectively meeting the complex demands of government clients across various regional operations.

    Brian Donahue - President

    Brian Donahue, the President at By Light, manages the strategic execution of the company's business units and service delivery models. By overseeing the alignment of departmental goals with the firm's core mission, the President ensures that all systems engineering projects are delivered with maximum efficiency. This leadership role involves coordinating with the executive team to drive growth and maintain the company's competitive position in the government IT services market. Brian Donahue directs the development of internal talent and the optimization of project management frameworks to support large-scale network implementations. By fostering a culture of accountability and technical excellence, the President ensures that the firm consistently meets the needs of its DoD and civilian clients. Through the oversight of key business operations, the President supports the company's ability to adapt to changing market conditions while maintaining a focus on delivering high-quality, secure network solutions.

    Diane Hockenberry - Chief Marketing Officer

    Diane Hockenberry, the Chief Marketing Officer at By Light, architects the brand strategy and market positioning for the firm's specialized IT services. By analyzing trends within the DoD and civilian marketplaces, the Chief Marketing Officer develops targeted campaigns that highlight the company's expertise in systems engineering and network management. This leadership role involves managing external communications and industry outreach to build strong relationships with key government stakeholders. Diane Hockenberry drives the creation of value-driven messaging that differentiates the company from competitors in the federal contracting space. By overseeing the alignment of marketing initiatives with business development goals, the Chief Marketing Officer ensures consistent growth in market share. Through the strategic deployment of resources, the Chief Marketing Officer enhances the visibility of the firm's technical capabilities, effectively supporting the broader mission of delivering secure and reliable network infrastructure to government clients.
    Diane Hockenberry

    Michael Hatcher - Chief Revenue Officer

    Michael Hatcher, the Chief Revenue Officer at By Light, directs the sales strategy and revenue generation efforts across all government sectors. By identifying new contract opportunities and managing client relationships, the Chief Revenue Officer ensures a steady pipeline of projects related to systems engineering and network implementation. This leadership role involves coordinating with the executive team to price services competitively while maintaining high margins. Michael Hatcher drives the expansion of the company's footprint by targeting high-value government programs that require specialized technical expertise. By optimizing the sales funnel and improving bid win rates, the Chief Revenue Officer directly impacts the financial health of the organization. Through the implementation of data-driven sales processes, Michael Hatcher secures long-term revenue stability, allowing the firm to continue investing in the advanced technologies necessary for supporting classified and unclassified government network operations.

    Billy Smith - Chief Technology Officer, Cyberspace Operations

    Billy Smith, the Chief Technology Officer, Cyberspace Operations at By Light, architects the technical strategy for the company's cybersecurity and network defense initiatives. By overseeing the development of advanced security protocols, the Chief Technology Officer, Cyberspace Operations ensures that all government networks remain resilient against evolving digital threats. This leadership role involves guiding the engineering teams in the design and implementation of secure infrastructure for classified environments. Billy Smith drives the integration of cutting-edge cyber technologies into the firm's service offerings, maintaining a focus on proactive defense and threat mitigation. By collaborating with other C-suite leaders, the Chief Technology Officer, Cyberspace Operations aligns technical capabilities with the specific security requirements of DoD clients. Through the continuous evaluation of emerging cyber trends, the Chief Technology Officer, Cyberspace Operations ensures that the company remains at the forefront of secure network management and cyberspace operations.

    Robert Milchenski - Chief Technology Officer, High Fidelity Solutions

    Robert Milchenski, the Chief Technology Officer, High Fidelity Solutions at By Light, directs the technical innovation and development of high-fidelity simulation and modeling tools. By overseeing the engineering of advanced systems, the Chief Technology Officer, High Fidelity Solutions ensures that the company provides precise and reliable solutions for complex government network design. This leadership role involves managing the research and development of new technologies that enhance the firm's systems engineering capabilities. Robert Milchenski drives the application of high-fidelity solutions to solve unique challenges in both civilian and defense-related infrastructure projects. By ensuring that all technical outputs meet the highest standards of accuracy, the Chief Technology Officer, High Fidelity Solutions supports the company's reputation for excellence. Through the strategic application of advanced modeling, the Chief Technology Officer, High Fidelity Solutions enables the firm to deliver superior results in the design and implementation of critical government networks.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding By Light Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads By Light?
    By Light is led by Robert Donahue (Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as Nichelle Christian (President & Chief Executive Officer) and Kylie Allen (Chief Financial Officer).
    Who is part of By Light’s executive team?
    The executive team of By Light includes leaders such as Robert Donahue (Chief Executive Officer), Nichelle Christian (President & Chief Executive Officer), Kylie Allen (Chief Financial Officer) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does By Light have?
    By Light has 9 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in By Light’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of By Light includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer, President & Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, President.