Woolever to head Harris homeland security

Harris Corp. has hired a retired Coast Guard admiral to help grow the homeland security business of Harris Government Communications Systems. Rear Adm. Gerald Woolever is based in the division's Falls Church, Va., office that contains the civilian and information technology services units.

Woolever, whose title is senior executive account manager for the Homeland Security Department programs area, previously was senior vice president of the field offices division at Innovative Logistics Techniques Inc., where he was responsible for three business units serving the departments of Defense and Homeland Security and the public sector. He also has been program executive at Boeing Co. for Coast Guard initiatives.

He will be Harris' liaison with DHS, and will be responsible for customer relationships, identifying growth opportunities and supporting programs, Harris said.

"Jerry has more than 35 years of experience in operations and program and project management with industry and the U.S. Coast Guard, including major acquisitions oversight, logistics systems development, human resources and government relations in both the public and private sectors," said Jeremy Wensinger, group president, Harris Government Communications Systems. "We are extremely pleased that he has joined Harris. His knowledge and background will be valuable assets in expanding our business opportunities with DHS."

While in the Coast Guard, Woolever served as assistant commandant for human resources; commander of the 9th District, with responsibility for operations on the northern maritime border of the U.S.; director of Coast Guard streamlining; chief of acquisition; and commander, maintenance and logistics command Pacific.

Woolever has a bachelor's degree in engineering from the Coast Guard Academy, a master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Rochester and an MBA from the University of South Florida.

Harris of Melbourne, Fla., ranks No. 21 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.