Booz Allen names new national security head

Booz Allen Hamilton elevates a three-decade veteran of the firm to lead its national security business.

Booz Allen Hamilton said Friday it has promoted 31-year company veteran and Executive Vice President Judi Dotson to lead the national security business.

She will succeed Christopher Ling, who is retiring at the end of this year after a 29-year career at the McLean, Virginia-based company. Dotson will take the post on April 1.

In its release, Booz Allen said Dotson will also “join a leadership team that already consists of a majority of women” – a number that steadily increased over the 2010s, as well as representation on the board of directors.

With Dotson's promotion, seven of the 11 positions on the Booz Allen senior leadership team will be held by women. Five of 12 board members are women as well.

Dotson currently heads Booz Allen’s Joint Combatant Command account that includes clients across the Defense Department’s technology community such as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Defense Information Systems Agency and DOD’s chief information officer.

Her career at Booz Allen includes leadership roles for teams that have worked with both defense and civilian clients.