Top DHS researcher leaves; new execs at AT&T, Perot

A week after the White House announced it would seek a 31 percent reduction in budget authority for the Science and Technology Directorate, the Homeland Security Department's top research and development director, Charles McQueary, announced he would resign effective March 25.

McQueary, undersecretary for science and technology, said that he has fulfilled his goals since joining the agency at its formation in March 2003. He was in charge of the Homeland Security Research Projects Agency that funds anti-terrorism technical research in the private sector.

Government units at AT&T Government Solutions Inc. and Perot Systems Corp. are getting new presidents. At AT&T in Vienna, Va., Don Herring takes the reins from Lou Addeo on March 1. Herring has been with the company for 20 years. Addeo, president since 2003, is retiring.

Jim Ballard was named president of Perot Systems Corp.'s government services unit, replacing Greg Bedner, who is taking what the company calls a "senior leadership" position to direct long-range government business development.

Ballard and Bedner came to Perot Systems with the purchase of ADI Technology Corp., which formed the base of what is today the government unit.

Michael Sledge has stepped up to the post of president and chief operating officer of Robbins-Gioia LLC of Alexandria, Va. The promotion ? from president for civilian agencies and homeland security ? came the day after former Robbins-Gioia president and CEO James Leto left the company to take the same position with GTSI Corp. Leto will remain on Robbins-Gioia's board, the company said.

The Senate confirmed Eric Edelman as the Defense Department's new undersecretary for policy, and Donald Rumsfeld's chief policy adviser on a variety of issues, including the war on terrorism. Edelman, who succeeds Douglas Feith, had served in the position since August under a recess appointment that was set to expire in January 2007.