DynCorp’s Von Thaer appointed president and CEO of Battelle

Nonprofit science and technology development company Battelle has a new head as of last week, following the appointment of Lewis Von Thaer as the company’s president and CEO.

Von Thaer comes to the company from DynCorp International, where had had served as CEO since July 2015. He is replacing Jeff Wadsworth, who has led Battelle since January 2009, but now seeks retirement. Wadsworth will continue on in a sort of advisory role alongside Von Thaer until the end of the year.

“I am thrilled that we are able to welcome Lou to the Battelle family,” Wadsworth said. “He is an innovative problem solver who brings nearly 35 years of engineering and management experience in technology development and deployment to solve complex national security and societal issues. Lou has led large organizations and helped them succeed in rapidly changing environments.”

The search for Wadsworth’s replacement has been ongoing since 2016. The turn to Von Thaer as an external candidate was informed by his many years in leadership roles among the private sphere.

“I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead Battelle,” Von Thaer said. “This company has such a strong reputation for solving the toughest challenges of today and delivering world-class results for clients and I cannot wait to join this fantastic team.”

Von Thaer himself has spent years working for a variety of companies, from AT&T Bell Laboratories, to General Dynamics, Leidos, Inc. and DynCorp. He first rose to the position of president under General Dynamics, then served as President of Leidos’ National Security Sector. As CEO of DynCorp, he presided over a $2 billion company and 12,000 employees. He is also a member of the Defense Science Board, as well as the National Intelligence University Foundation and the Transition Assistance Program for Survivors.