SAIC taps former AF chief of staff to succeed Havenstein

Science Applications International Corp.'s board of directors picked one of its own to succeed Walt Havenstein as CEO, tapping board member and retired Air Force Gen. John Jumper to take over on March 1, 2012.

Jumper joined SAIC's board as director in June 2007. From September 2001 to November 2005, he was Air Force chief of staff, responsible for the organization, training and equipping of active-duty, guard, reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he functioned as a military adviser to the secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the president.

Havenstein, who has led the company since September 2009, announced his retirement last October.

Jumper, who will remain a member of the SAIC board, retired from the Air Force in 2005 after nearly 40 years of service. He earned his commission as a distinguished graduate of Virginia Military Institute's Air Force ROTC program in 1966. A command pilot, Jumper has more than 5000 flying hours, including 1,400 combat flight hours.

He has also served at Defense Department as deputy chief of staff for air and space operations, as the senior military assistant to two secretaries of defense, and as special assistant to the chief of staff for roles and missions.

Jumper holds a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the Virginia Military Institute and a master’s degree in business administration from Golden Gate University. He is a graduate of both the Air Command and Staff College and the National War College.

After an exhaustive search of candidates the board viewed Jumper as uniquely qualified to lead SAIC at this time, A. Thomas Young, chairman of the board, said in the Feb. 21 announcement. “He knows our business and the industry extremely well and we are confident he will continue our 43-year tradition of success, outstanding customer satisfaction and superior performance," Young said.

Young added that Havenstein “has taken SAIC to new levels during his tenure. Thanks to his leadership, today we're an $11 billion company, with strong positions in our markets and I am optimistic about our future. The board and I are very grateful to Walt for his acumen, vision and stellar management."

SAIC, of McLean, Va., ranks No. 6 on Washington Technology’s 2011 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors.