Tenia Mackall

Founder & CEO, Pendleton Solutions

Tenia Mackall is the visionary Founder and CEO of Pendleton Solutions, a premier provider of multidisciplinary security services dedicated to protecting the nation’s most critical assets. With over two decades of experience supporting the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community, Tenia is a recognized security expert with deep expertise in personnel, physical, cybersecurity, industrial, and program protection disciplines.

Tenia’s career has spanned some of the most sensitive and high-impact missions in national security. She served in the Pentagon as a Physical Security Specialist in the Secretary of Defense Communication Office, where she was responsible for reviewing secure designs and construction of classified spaces supporting the SECDEF and other senior leaders. As Lead International Security Specialist for the F-35 Joint Program Office—the Department of Defense’s largest acquisition program—she managed security protocols for international partners supporting over 20 countries, and advanced program protection efforts. Her commitment to national security also took her overseas, where she supported deployed troops in Qatar at the Coalition Operational Command as a Contractor Special Security Officer, ensuring the protection of sensitive operations in a forward environment.

Tenia holds two Master’s degrees from the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)—a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master’s in Cybersecurity—and is currently pursuing her third Master’s degree in Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence. Her educational path reflects her belief in continuous learning and the strategic role of emerging technologies in modern security.

Under her leadership, Pendleton Solutions has grown into a dynamic company known for integrity, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to people. By offering top-tier talent while maintaining low wrap rates through disciplined financial management, Tenia has positioned Pendleton Solutions as a trusted partner capable of scaling with mission needs.

She is also the force behind Pendleton’s R&D Tech Hub and Pendleton University, forward-leaning initiatives that foster innovation, workforce development, and next-generation security capabilities. Tenia’s passion lies in building opportunity, leading with purpose, and protecting what matters most—at every level and in every environment.