Draper appoints LaPlante as new CEO

Nonprofit research-and-development organization Draper Laboratory has appointed former Air Force acquisition chief and three-decade defense veteran William LaPlante as president and CEO.

LaPlante will officially start in the role Oct. 7 and succeed interim CEO Francis Kearney, Draper said Thursday.

Most recently, LaPlante was senior vice president and general manager for the national security sector at another nonprofit research arm Mitre Corp. since 2017. He rejoined Mitre in 2015 after his service as assistant secretary for acquisition at the Air Force.

Kearney will resume his role on Draper’s board of directors, a seat he has held since 2015, and continue to serve in his capacities as president of Inside-Solutions-LLC, and senior advisor at Thayer Leader Development Group.

Draper specializes in the design, development, and deployment of technology solutions for programs in national security, space exploration, health care and energy.