McNellis to lead L-3 Integrated Systems Group

L-3 Communications Corp. has appointed John McNellis, a seasoned aerospace industry executive, to serve as a senior vice president and president of the Integrated Systems Group.

He succeeds Robert Drewes, who retired earlier this year. McNellis will report to Michael Strianese, L-3's chairman, president and chief executive.

McNellis has 30 years of executive and program management experience in a broad array of domestic and international defense projects, L-3 officials said in an announcement today. He joined L-3 in 2003 as president of the Link Simulation and Training unit.

Previously, McNellis held executive positions at various government contractors, including Lockheed Martin Corp., Loral Space and Communications and IBM Corp.

McNellis holds a master's degree in physics from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a master of business administration degree from the University of Santa Clara.

L-3 Integrated Systems, based in Greenville, Texas, specializes in fleet management, assistance with signals intelligence, and support for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance special-mission aircraft and airborne surveillance systems. Other capabilities are contractor logistics support and life cycle maintenance services such as aircraft maintenance and depot work.

L-3 ranks No. 8 on Washington Technology's 2008 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.