The PolarisGov leadership team brings decades of combined experience in national security, defense contracting, cybersecurity, corporate operations, and small business advocacy. Each leader is committed to advancing national security missions through strategic expertise and operational delivery — the foundation of PolarisGov’s mission and every client engagement.
Paul Gaylord
Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Paul Gaylord is the Founder and CEO of PolarisGov and a U.S. Air Force veteran with over 20 years of leadership in federal acquisition, program management, and mission support services. He sets the company’s strategic direction, drives program performance, and champions compliance with ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 20000, and Cyber Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) standards. Under his leadership, PolarisGov has established itself as an SBA 8(a), SDVOSB-certified partner and a participant in the DoD Mentor-Protégé Program — positioning the company for long-term growth and scalable mission delivery. His commitment to operational precision and mission success has positioned PolarisGov as a trusted partner across the defense and intelligence sectors. He continues to lead the company’s expansion across national security programs, advancing its reputation as a mission-focused, high-performance small business.
Anthony Bell
Director, Federal Small Business Strategy
Anthony Bell is a nationally recognized federal acquisition leader with over 25 years of experience advancing small business policy, aligning procurement strategies with mission outcomes, and leading outreach initiatives across the Department of Defense and civilian agencies. At PolarisGov, Anthony is directly responsible for overseeing all small business program support, including current OSBP operations, and is leading efforts to expand these services to additional DoD components and civilian OSDBUs. His deep understanding of acquisition strategy, combined with decades of experience navigating federal policy and small business ecosystems, positions PolarisGov to serve as a trusted partner in complex procurement environments. He has briefed congressional staffers, supported presidential transitions, and shaped small business engagement strategies across multiple government portfolios. Anthony holds a Master of Science in Management from Florida Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Mason University.
Craig Gaylord
Director, Cyber Operations
Craig Gaylord serves as PolarisGov’s Director of Cyber Operations, where he leads the company’s newest strategic unit focused on classified cybersecurity delivery and expansion. He oversees technical execution across RMF, ATO sustainment, enclave compliance, and cyber readiness while also driving PolarisGov’s growth into new mission areas and federal clients within the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. With over a decade of experience supporting Army, Air Force, Space Force, NGA, and IC programs, Craig brings deep expertise in designing secure, mission-aligned solutions in both CONUS and OCONUS environments. His leadership ensures both delivery excellence and forward-leaning development of PolarisGov’s cyber portfolio. Craig holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity from Strayer University, maintains appropriate industry certifications, and is a trusted leader in managing cleared cyber operations for government clients.
Aaliyah Adderton
Director, Corporate Operations
Aaliyah Adderton serves as PolarisGov’s Director of Corporate Operations, where she leads the company’s internal infrastructure and ensures seamless alignment between people, processes, and policy. She is responsible for corporate operations spanning HR, recruiting, DoD and ISO security coordination, ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 20000, and CMMC compliance, onboarding, and contract administration. Aaliyah plays a key role in maintaining audit readiness, workforce accountability, and internal system performance across all programs. Her leadership enables PolarisGov to scale delivery while maintaining operational discipline and mission continuity. Aaliyah holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Ferrum College and is instrumental in ensuring PolarisGov’s infrastructure evolves in lockstep with client requirements and national security standards.
