- Leidos has added an AT&T executive to its board of directors
- The appointment expands the Leidos board to 11 members
- Jeff McElfresh will serve on two board committees
Leidos has named Jeff McElfresh, chief operating officer at AT&T, to its board of directors, effective Oct. 1.
The company said Thursday McElfresh’s appointment increases the size of its board to 11 members. He will serve on the board’s technology and information security committee and corporate governance and ethics committee.
What Did Leidos Executives Say About McElfresh’s Appointment?
“I’m very much looking forward to working with Jeff on our board of directors as we advance our NorthStar 2030 growth strategy,” said Tom Bell, CEO of Leidos and a three-time Wash100 awardee. “His insights will be invaluable as we develop the critical technologies underpinning our service to national security and other customers.”
Bob Shapard, chair of the Leidos board, noted that McElfresh’s background will reinforce the board’s independent oversight role as the company pursues its strategic vision.
Who Is Jeff McElfresh?
McElfresh is a telecommunications executive who has spent more than three decades at AT&T. In his current role as COO, he leads the company’s $250 billion effort to transform its advanced connectivity infrastructure across the U.S.
His previous positions at AT&T included oversight of the company’s data management, cybersecurity efforts and laboratories. Before joining AT&T, McElfresh worked as a defense technology engineer supporting aerospace and maritime projects.
What Other Moves Has Leidos Made Ahead of the Latest Board Appointment?
McElfresh’s appointment follows several leadership and portfolio moves at Leidos. In May, the company named Luke Thomas vice president of veterans affairs, tasking the federal healthcare growth executive with expanding its VA-focused business efforts.
On the energy front, Leidos completed its $2.4 billion acquisition of ENTRUST Solutions Group in March, a deal that doubled its presence in the energy infrastructure market and aligns with its NorthStar 2030 strategy, which identifies energy infrastructure as a core growth pillar.
In defense, the company secured a $2.7 billion Army contract for hypersonic weapons production in May, an award that supports its NorthStar 2030 defense strategy.
Josh Salmanson, vice president and defensive cyber practice lead at Leidos, discussed embedding cyber resilience into modernization efforts from the start in a GovCon Conversation video interview, explaining that the company integrates defensive cyber across practice areas such as cloud, networks and AI.
Most recently, the Transportation Security Administration awarded Leidos a contract worth up to $672.5 million to deploy checkpoint screening equipment at airports across the country.
