Thales Defense & Security, Inc., the proxy organization for Thales’ U.S.-based defense company, on Tuesday said it has added three new board members, including retired Marine Commandant Gen. James Jones, to help strengthen the business.
The company also appointed Ray Johnson, an international business consultant and executive in residence with the private equity firm Bessemer Venture Partners, and Alan Kessler, a corporate adviser and former CEO of Thales’ cyber security business.
“The addition of General Jones, Dr. Johnson and Mr. Kessler marks a new era for Thales’ defense activities in the U.S.,” Mike Sheehan, CEO of Thales Defense & Security, Inc., said in a statement. “I am pleased to welcome them and glad they have recognized the potential of Thales.”
Thales is headquartered in France.
Jones is the president of his own strategic advisory firm, Jones Group International, and also served as former President Obama’s National Security Adviser and was a special envoy for Middle East Regional Security during the Bush administration. Johnson previously was chief technology officer for Lockheed Martin [LMT] and was an executive with Science Applications International Corp. [SAIC]. Kessler was president and CEO of the cyber security firm Vormetric, which was acquired by Thales, and also has worked at other corporations and is considered a cyber security expert, Thales said.
The board of Thales Defense & Security guides business operations, is responsible for safeguarding classified information of the U.S. government, and helps establish strategic partnerships for the development of defense technologies.
With the new additions, the board of the U.S. defense business consists of nine members.