"Brain drain" continues driven by CEO policy decisions - Engineer MITRE Employee Review

2.0
Mar 8, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

As a non-profit focused on solving technical problems for sponsor missions, there is a strong sense of purpose in much of the tasking. There are still many competent people who are wonderful to collaborate with.

Cons

The current CEO Jason Providakes has established a dangerous culture of senior management (primarily the VPs, though also several Directors) which focuses primarily on agreeing with and pleasing their supervisor rather than building / retaining a high quality workforce and work program. Abrupt policy decisions are made by the CEO without adequate consideration, and have resulted in financial problems (e.g., officer-driven initiatives losing millions of dollars, suddenly becoming aware of over-burning the overhead budget at the last minute and saying "running a company is hard", and reducing benefits such as vacation time). In addition to making bad decisions, they are communicated poorly, with a tone of disdain for employees. Senior leadership is often caught off guard when the CEO announces these changes. Sponsors have indicated they see a reduction in technical competence, and long-time employees note the significant loss of talent from the company as a result of the new officer culture and their decisions. Employees are held to a high standard of significantly or exceptionally exceeding expectations and meeting goals to earn a raise, yet the CEO and many VPs are clearly failing to meet their stated goals but are rewarded with large raises and promotions.

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5.0
Jul 5, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

autonomy, interesting work, supportive culture

Cons

Finding projects, building expertise in specific domains

3.0
Jan 23, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great diversity, quality of life and staff. Been with MITRE over 20 years.

Cons

Too many VP,s that are not held accountable. Company recently RIF'd 24 staff from FAA FFRDC, due to dropping gov't funding...yet company has significant number of VPs all sucking off of overhead. No attempt to manage money within the "leadership" ranks. Last year company went through a major business transformation...that failed...yet, VPs held staff accountable for reporting on a subpar system that lasted over 12 months. Could not even get business data to report to gov't for over 2 months, yet, person who was in charge of the business transformation is still at MITRE. If this happened to any other MITRE employee, they would've been gone. Oddly enough the person in charge of the business transformation is the CEOs brother. Amazing how that happens. He'll probably get a bonus because of his substandard performance. MITRE recently invested in opening up an office in Australia. All on company overhead. significant large numbers of VPs travelling out to "visit"...yet company has the audacity to reduce benefits as part of cost cutting measures. Company has now taken on a "for profit" mentality. It's all about delivery... so VPS and GMs can spend, spend, spend. Board of Directors should take a good look at what is happening and make some swift changes from the CEO on down. BOD should also implement an independent IG like entity to investigate what is seeming like waste, fraud and abuse by CEO, GMs and VPs. Time for the Fat Cats to get purged!!!

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