General Dynamics has announced that Thomas W. Kirchmaier has been elected Vice President of the corporation and appointed as President of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, reporting to David K. Heebner, Executive Vice President of the company’s Information Systems and Technology group. Kirchmaier succeeds Lewis F. Von Thaer, who resigned in April.

Kirchmaier, 56, has been the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Intelligence Solutions division of General Dynamics Information Technology since 2007, leading a worldwide organisation with more than 4,600 professionals which provides high technology solutions for the US intelligence community, selected DoD commands and agencies, their coalition partners and NATO. Previously, he was Senior Vice President of General Dynamics Information Technology’s Global Information Services, providing network and IT solutions to commercial, public safety and international customers. He joined General Dynamics through the acquisition of GTE Government Systems in 1999.

With a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering from Cornell University and a master’s degree in business management from Pepperdine University, Kirchmaier is also a graduate of the Defense Acquisition University’s Federal Acquisition Management and Program Management School.