22 Mar 2001
Ref: 039/2001
Washington, D.C.: BAE Systems North America announces the appointments of General Anthony Zinni (USMC Ret), Robert Prestel, previous Deputy Director of the National Security Agency, and Robert Fitch, Vice President, Marketing and Government Relations to its Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors serves as one of the guarantors and oversight bodies for the Special Security Agreement between the US government and the company on matters bearing on national security.
General Zinni has served in the Marine Corps for 30 years, his last active duty assignment being Commander, Central Command, responsible for all joint activities conducted in the Middle East.
Robert Prestel had a 34-year career at NSA, ultimately holding the senior civilian position presiding over the agency whose twin principal missions are the production of foreign signals intelligence and the protection of the communications and information systems of the U.S. government.
Robert Fitch is the current Vice President in charge of marketing and government relations for BAE Systems North America from its Washington office in northern Virginia.
“The addition of these excellent directors to our Board serves to emphasize the importance this company places on our national security,” said Mark Ronald, president and CEO, BAE Systems North America. “Additionally, I want this new Board to help us focus our business for the future, ensuring by their oversight that the direction that we set is consistent with the course laid out for national defense and maintaining our nation’s technological edge.”
The full Board of Directors is now constituted as follows: (bios available)
Mark Ronald, President and CEO, BAE Systems North America
John Weston, Chief Executive, BAE Systems plc
Mike Turner, Chief Operating Officer, BAE Systems plc
John Currier, General Counsel, BAE Systems North America
Robert Fitch, Vice President, Marketing and Government Relations
Richard Kerr, former Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
William Schneider, Jr, former Under Secretary of State for Security Assistance, Science and Technology
Dr. Robert Cooper, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Technology and Director for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
General Anthony Zinni, USMC ret, former commander, Central Command
Robert Prestel, former Deputy Director, National Security Agency
About BAE SYSTEMS:
BAE Systems is the truly global systems, defense and aerospace company. BAE Systems employs more than 120,000 people, in eight home markets around the world and has annual sales of some $18 billion. The company offers an unrivalled global capability in air, sea and land and space with a world-class prime contracting ability supported by a range of key skills. BAE Systems designs and manufactures civil and military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, space systems, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, guided weapon systems and a range of other defense products.
BAE Systems North America employs 22,000 people in the design, development, integration, manufacture and support of a wide range of advanced aerospace products and intelligent electronic systems for government and commercial customers.
