Leonardo DRS hires new technology chief

Leonardo DRS has hired a new chief technology officer in Dr. Phillip Perconti, formerly the Army’s lead executive for science and technology.

Perconti will lead the company’s overall research-and-development strategy and expand its partnership network to further push the innovation agenda, Leonardo DRS said Monday.

A three-decade defense veteran, Perconti was most recently both the Army’s deputy assistant secretary for research and technology plus chief scientist. He oversaw an organization encompassing 17 laboratories and engineering centers with nearly 12,000 scientists and engineers.

He is also a former director of the Army Research Laboratory and in that role led programs involving infrared and uncooled sensors, artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

Leonardo DRS’ own technology focus areas include advanced sensing, network computing, force protection, electronic warfare, power and propulsion, and “C5” (command, control, communications, computers and cyber).