Leadership
Faizan Zia
Founder & CEO
Faizan Zia is the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Connsci. Faizan started his career working in sales/business development for various technology companies, ultimately working his way up to senior leadership positions in Product Management, Product Marketing and Training & Enablement. Faizan received his B.S. in Public Health, with a Minor in Organizational Leadership from The University of Maryland, College Park, and also obtained an MBA from The University of Maryland Global Campus. Faizan also holds various certifications in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Learning & Development and Product Management.
With over 20 years of Information Technology and Government experience, Faizan founded Connsci in 2017, with a mission to support organizations with their IT needs by delivering innovative and cost-effective solutions. Throughout his career, Faizan has received numerous accolades and has consistently been recognized as a top performer by his peers, clients and partners.
In his personal life, Faizan loves spending time with his family and friends. Faizan is passionate about contributing to and making a change in his community and is involved in various children’s health causes, due to the health challenges he experienced as a child. Faizan works with many non-profits, hospitals and children’s health organizations to support their missions and impact the lives of those in need. Faizan is also involved in various workforce development programs in the DC Metro Area that serve unemployed and underemployed individuals by helping them obtain or advance their careers in Information Technology.
Sean Kelley
President
Sean W. Kelley is a Partner and the President of Connsci, where he drives strategic growth across Federal and State markets. With over 25 years of IT and leadership experience spanning the Military, Federal Government, and Private Sector, Sean brings a unique blend of operational expertise, innovation, and mission focus to Connsci’s portfolio of Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Health IT, and Digital Transformation services.
Sean previously served in the Senior Executive Service (SES) at both the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where he led large-scale IT Modernization initiatives and Cybersecurity programs. He is also an accomplished P&L executive (COO), having managed operations in both startups and Fortune 500 companies with a consistent record of performance and results.
A retired U.S. Navy officer, Sean completed a distinguished 20-year military career, including pivotal roles within Navy Medicine. He served as CIO for the USNS Comfort during humanitarian missions such as the Haitian earthquake response, as well as CIO for Navy Medicine Corporate Headquarters, Director of Navy Medicine’s Enterprise IT PMO, and IT Manager for the Office of the Attending Physician to Congress (OAP).
Beyond his Government and Military service, Sean has built and led cutting-edge Health IT and Cybersecurity offerings for multiple firms, earning a reputation as a trusted executive advisor and independent board member to both Public and Private Sector organizations. He also serves on several non-profit boards, reflecting a deep commitment to service and community impact.
Sean holds multiple professional credentials, including Fellow of the American College of Health Data Management, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and Project Management Professional (PMP). These designations underscore his dedication to excellence and staying ahead in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.
Sean’s leadership at Connsci ensures the company remains a forward-thinking partner to its clients, delivering secure, scalable, and mission-aligned solutions that strengthen national IT infrastructure and healthcare systems.
Jason Washington
Vice President, Health IT
Jason Washington is the Vice President of Health IT for Connsci, bringing over 27 years of experience as a Health IT Executive in business development, capture management, system engineering, and healthcare IT. As the Vice President of the Health IT Portfolio at Connsci, he leads strategic initiatives to advance Health Technology solutions for Federal Agencies. With a strong background in Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems, Cybersecurity, and Program Management, Jason has played a key role in developing and implementing large-scale Healthcare IT programs, ensuring interoperability between Federal and Military Health systems. His expertise in contract acquisition, stakeholder engagement, and enterprise solution design has contributed to the successful execution of numerous Federal projects.
Before joining Connsci, Jason held leadership roles at Sparksoft Corporation, Vecna Technologies, ASRC Federal, SeKON, and Deloitte, where he managed business development and technical operations for Federal Health IT programs. His work has encompassed everything from overseeing Risk Management Framework (RMF) compliance to leading software development teams and securing multi-million-dollar contracts. He has a proven track record in proposal execution, team leadership, and fostering strategic partnerships to drive growth. His ability in navigating complex federal procurement landscapes and delivering innovative IT solutions has positioned him as a trusted leader in the industry. Jason’s career reflects a deep commitment to advancing Healthcare IT, ensuring seamless interoperability, and strengthening Cybersecurity frameworks across Government Health systems. His expertise in managing technical teams, negotiating teaming agreements, and driving Digital Transformation has made a significant impact on Federal Healthcare modernization efforts. With a foundation in Systems Engineering and business development, he continues to lead Connsci’s Health IT initiatives, shaping the future of Government Health Technology solutions.
Lauren Masi
Vice President, Defense
Lauren Masi is the Vice President of Defense for Connsci, bringing over 20 years of experience in federal business development, program management, and strategic growth. She specializes in expanding Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence portfolios, leading high-performance teams to deliver innovative IT and operational solutions, that make sense to support the mission. As a solution-focused business and operations executive, Lauren has developed new and established programs, divisions, and congressionally mandated initiatives for the DoD and small to mid-sized businesses. She has been instrumental in growing national and global programs, driving high-visibility strategic initiatives for federal agencies. Notably, she led the development of a Gold Standard Program for the DoD, setting a new benchmark for operational efficiency and long-term mission impact.
An active Pennsylvania State University alumna and association life member, Lauren holds Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), and IT Service Management (ITIL) certifications. Her experience as both a contractor and civilian for the DoD has strengthened her ability to navigate processes, people, procurements and deliver innovative solutions, positioning her as a trusted leader and advisor in the industry.
Lauren's professional accolades and achievements reflect her commitment to serving others, prioritizing people, and paying it forward—principles that guide her approach to both life and business. In addition to her professional career, she has been actively involved in volunteer activities, dedicating her time to supporting veterans' organizations, mentoring young professionals, and participating in community outreach programs focused on physical wellness and mental health.
Salman (Sal) Rana
Vice President, Solutions Engineering
Salman (Sal) Rana is the Vice President of Solutions Engineering for Connsci, bringing a wealth of experience in healthcare data exchange and interoperability. Throughout his career, Sal has focused on the design, architecture, and implementation of HL7, X12, and custom interfaces for both public agencies, including the CDC and VA, and private-sector innovators such as Orion Health and Medecision. He also honed his expertise as an interface engineer at Alamance Regional Hospital—recognized as one of the “most wired” hospitals within North Carolina’s Cone Network.
Most recently, Sal led groundbreaking technology initiatives at HHS/ACF, where he advanced Health IT, AI integration, and social care interoperability. A Lean Kanban expert, he has guided teams in deploying full-stack health information exchanges nationwide. Sal’s passion lies in leveraging Health IT to address interoperability challenges across the U.S. healthcare landscape.
He holds a BSBA in Management Information Systems from Auburn University and studied French Culinary Arts and Management at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.
Chetan Gulati
Vice President, Delivery
Chetan Gulati is the Vice President of Delivery for Connsci, bringing over 25 years of experience in federal government contracting, supporting both civilian and DoD agencies. He has led enterprise-wide initiatives, overseen multimillion-dollar portfolios, and managed cross functional teams in high-stage environments. His passion lies in driving organizational growth and building the operational foundation needed for companies to scale.
Chetan brings a unique blend of strategic leadership, technical acumen, and financial insight. He has successfully negotiated and managed vendor contracts, driven modernization initiatives in partnership with emerging technology providers, and developed high-performing teams across operations, program management, and delivery. His experience includes building backend infrastructures from the ground up to support strategic growth and readiness for larger federal contracts.
He has a strong track record of increasing project revenue, strengthening stakeholder relationships, and expanding support across agencies. Chetan also mentors project managers, providing training and oversight to elevate performance. He is proficient in developing and refining corporate PMO policies and processes, including scope, budgeting, and resource allocation, and has forged strategic industry partnerships to enhance competitiveness in large-scale federal bids.
Chetan earned a degree in Information Systems from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and holds multiple certifications including PMP, CSM, Blockchain Certified Expert, ITIL, CMMI Associate, and AI and Career Empowerment from the Robert H. Smith School of Business.