Fran Pierce
AWE Board Member
CEO, Data Systems Analysts, Inc.
With over forty years’ domestic and international experience, both in the commercial and government sectors, Ms.
Pierce began her information technology career with Ford Aerospace in 1963, where she spent six years working on the
design and implementation of a backbone data communications network. She was later employed by the RCA Corporation
in the area of communications product development.
In 1971, Fran joined DSA as a System Design Analyst for a large-scale data switching system. Promoted to chief
engineer and overall technical manager in 1975, she became Program Manager in 1976.
Appointed Vice President and Technical Director in 1979, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the New
Jersey Operation in 1985, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Washington, D.C. Operation in 1986,
Fran became President and Chief Executive Officer in 1991. She has served on the DSA Board of Directors since 1980
and became Chairman of the Board in 1991.
Fran was a member of the Board of Directors of Chestnut Hill College from 1993 to 1999. She was a finalist for the
Ernst & Young 2006 and 1998 Greater Philadelphia Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Technology Services and was the
recipient of the Women's Fund of New Jersey Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Technology in 2002.
A past Associate Director of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), Fran served as
president for its Philadelphia Chapter and headed the chapter’s efforts to award scholarships to deserving young
candidates pursuing a career in communications and security. For her efforts, she received the AFCEA Educational
Foundation Award.
She served on the Advisory Board of The Secretary of the Army's National Science Center.
She co-chaired the 2001 National Association of Computer Consultant Businesses (NACCB) annual conference in Los
Angeles, and is a founding member of The Open Door Education Foundation, the NACCB's not-for-profit, charitable arm.
The mission of this foundation is to help talented young people with limited financial resources get the training
and skills necessary to keep the United States in the technological lead.
In 2003, Fran was selected as a Woman of Distinction by the Philadelphia Business Journal and the National
Association of Women Business Owners; an award based on commitment to professional excellence and community
involvement.
She was a finalist (one of three) for the Technology Council of Maryland’s 2004 Executive of the Year Award, a
unique recognition by the high technology community.
Fran was named to the board of The International Eye Foundation in 2004. This organization is dedicated to the
promotion of peace through the prevention of blindness. In 2007, she was appointed as Treasurer and Chair of the
Finance Committee for this organization.
She has recently been appointed to the Dean’s Advisory Council for Rowan University School of Engineering, and the
Women’s Investment Network’s Board of Directors.
Professional memberships include: National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), Drug Information Association
(DIA), Forum of Executive Women, Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), the Association of
the United States Army (AUSA), the ESOP Association, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE),
Vistage (formerly The Executive Committee), Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), National
Association of Computer Consultant Businesses (NACCB), Eastern Technology Council, New Jersey Technology Council,
Northern Virginia Technology Council, Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), Potomac Officers’ Club, Sunday
Breakfast Club, Women in Defense (WID), Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), the Union League of Philadelphia, and the
National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA).
Fran received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Chestnut Hill College and attended graduate school at
Temple University.
