Prior departs ManTech for new EVP position

Lawrence Prior III, whose resignation as president and chief operating officer of ManTech International Corp. was announced today, is joining BAE Systems as executive vice president, according to a BAE announcement today.

Lawrence Prior III, whose resignation as president and chief operating officer of ManTech International Corp. was announced today, is joining BAE Systems Inc. as executive vice president, according to a BAE announcement.

Prior will report to Linda Hudson, president and chief executive officer of BAE Systems.

In his new position, Prior will build and strengthen senior-level customer relationships, develop market strategies, execute integrated company business plans, and drive productivity improvements, the announcement said.

This leadership role was established with the recent strategic realignment of BAE Systems to support the priorities of the Defense Department and other federal agencies, enhance responsiveness, and improve cost competitiveness and organizational agility, BAE explained.

Also, as one of the three executives who make up the Office of the President and CEO of BAE Systems Inc., Prior joins the BAE Systems Executive Committee, providing leadership to the global enterprise.

Prior served as president and COO at ManTech International for the past year. Before that, he was an executive at SAIC Inc., serving in a variety of leadership positions.

In a brief statement, ManTech officials said only that Prior had submitted his resignation and the company had accepted it.

Pending a decision on a successor, ManTech International Chairman and CEO George Pedersen will assume the responsibilities of president. The three current operating group presidents will assume the COO duties for their respective operations, the statement said.

“We thank Larry for his contributions over the past year and wish him well in his future endeavors,” Pedersen said in the statement.

Prior also served as chief administrative officer for the County of San Diego and has more than a decade of experience as an intelligence officer with the Marine Corps.

BAE Systems Inc., of Rockville, Md., ranks No. 15 on Washington Technology’s 2010 Top 100 list of the largest federal contractors. ManTech International ranks No. 31 on the same list.