Jordan Tesfay has lived a lot of life before arriving where he is today. Born in the Washington, D.C. area, he grew up across Wisconsin and Minnesota before eventually landing in Saint Francisville, Louisiana. Jordan was raised with a restless sense of possibility and a deep belief in this country. He was the first in his family to serve in the military, a decision that came not from a family tradition of uniforms, but from something more personal: a genuine love of country and a lifelong goal of serving it. "I'm a patriot," Jordan says simply. "I believe in this country and every single human being within it."
That drive didn't come out of nowhere. Jordan's father, Haile Tesfay, was born in Eritrea, then still part of Ethiopia, and came to the United States with nothing but ambition and an unshakeable belief in what was possible. He worked his way through Marquette University, earning two bachelor's degrees and a master's in engineering, and built a career at some of the most respected companies in his field. Growing up, Jordan would ride along on early morning school drop-offs that first stopped at his father's workplace. "I wanted to be exactly like him," Jordan recalls. That same relentless work ethic, that same belief that hard work makes anything possible, became the foundation Jordan built everything else on.
He enlisted in the Army and spent more than 12 years serving, rising to the rank of Captain (O-3). His path took him from Fort Sill, Oklahoma for Basic Training to Officer Candidate School at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and through multiple assignments that shaped him into a well-rounded leader. He served as a Platoon Leader, Battalion S2 Staff Officer, Company Executive Officer, and twice as a Company Commander—the role he admits he dreaded most going in, and loved most coming out.
His approach to leadership evolved significantly over that time. He came in thinking authority was about rank. Experience taught him otherwise. "I eventually realized that true influence has nothing to do with the rank on your chest," Jordan says. "Sometimes you can just order a soldier, employee, subcontractor, or client to do something. Sometimes you just can't. Sometimes you have to inspire people, make them believe in you, and make them believe in themselves and the bigger mission." That shift from command-and-control to collaborative influence is something he carried into civilian life.
Jordan’s transition into civilian life came with its own set of challenges. While still serving in the reserves, he attended a demanding military school during a pivotal time in his career and while his family was growing. When he returned, his supervisor immediately put him on a job.
But that moment stayed with him. It was a small act that revealed something much bigger about Performance Contractors: a culture built on trust, respect, and understanding.
Today, Jordan serves as Business Unit Lead for Mission Critical & AI at Performance, overseeing all data center and advanced technology projects across the United States. It's a long way from those early morning rides to his father's office — and in some ways, it's exactly where those rides were always pointing. Construction, like engineering, is a field that builds things people depend on. That connection isn't lost on him.
The values he carries from his military service are practical and hard-won. Not everything is black and white. You get exactly what you put into something. Speak up if you believe in it. The harder thing and the right thing are usually the same thing. Never take the path of least resistance. The other Army values—loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, personal courage—Jordan is quick to note were instilled in him long before the Army ever got the chance.
Outside of work, Jordan’s favorite role is being a dad. He lives in League City, Texas, just outside Houston, where he enjoys taking his daughter to voice lessons and watching her perform. And if you ask him about the ultimate family vacation, his answer hasn’t changed: Disney World, carrying on the same dream his dad had for their family.
To veterans considering a career at Performance, Jordan's advice is direct: "Do it. Very good company and very good place to learn."
