United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) (“UTC”) announced on Thursday that Christopher Kearney, currently a member of the UTC Board of Directors, will serve as executive chairman of Otis moving forward. Judy Marks, who was previously appointed president & chief executive officer of Otis, will join the board as will current UTC director Terry McGraw.

The nine-member board will also include independent directors Jeffrey Black, Kathy Hopinkah Hannan, Shailesh Jejurikar, Margaret Preston, Shelley Stewart, Jr. and John Walker.

“I’m pleased to announce this important milestone as we prepare Otis to become an independent public company and continue the company’s industry leadership,” said Greg Hayes, UTC Chairman and CEO.

The new board, which becomes effective upon the completion of Otis’ planned separation from UTC in 2020, is comprised of deeply experienced executives from a diverse range of companies in sectors including high-tech manufacturing, asset management, consumer products, professional services and transportation.

“I want to welcome each new member of the Otis board of directors and express our appreciation to Chris and Terry as they transition to Otis’ board. These directors’ impressive collective experience and expertise will deliver strong governance and support the company’s priority of delivering superior returns to shareowners through economic cycles,” Hayes added.

About United Technologies Corporation

United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries.  By combining a passion for science with precision engineering, the company is creating smart, sustainable solutions the world needs.

Bob McCord has been appointed as president and chief operating officer of CNSI to strengthen market position and growth for the company, CNSI announced on Thursday. 

CNSI CEO and 2019 Wash100 Award winner Todd Stottlemeyer said, “Bob has built an impressive track record of leading innovative organizations to achieve strong growth. His experience serving federal, state and commercial healthcare markets will be invaluable to CNSI’s growth and execution focus.”

McCord brings over three decades worth of experience in healthcare, technology and operations to CNSI’s executive team. His vast knowledge and leadership will be essential during a period of rapid growth for the company. 

Most recently, he served Octo Consulting Group as its president and COO from Aug. 2015 through May 2019. During his tenure, McCord managed the company’s budget, specialized in health information technology, military health, public health, health research, veteran health and fraud detection.

McCord worked for Acentia as its president and COO between April 2009 and June 2015. He has also served in various senior leadership roles with SAIC, Pearson Government Solutions, AdvanceMed, IBM and additional organizations since 1987. 

Regarding his hiring, McCord said, “CNSI already has industry leading solutions and talented staff. I am excited and honored to join the outstanding management team Todd has assembled.”

About CNSI

CNSI delivers a broad range of health information technology enterprise solutions and customizable products to a diverse base of state and federal agencies. We align, build, and manage innovative, high-quality, cost-effective solutions that help customers achieve their mission, enhance business performance, reduce costs, and improve the health for over 50 million Americans.

With locations throughout the U.S. and in India, CNSI employs a world-class team of technologists, healthcare subject-matter experts and program managers, all of whom have experience with large scale mission-critical information technology implementations. CNSI’s website is: http://www.cns-inc.com.

Battelle announced on Thursday that Paula Mabee, professor with the University of South Dakota (USD), has been appointed as chief scientist and observatory director for the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). She will assume her role on Feb. 3rd once her responsibilities to USD have been fulfilled. 

In her new position, Mabee will be charged with leading NEON, which Battelle manages on behalf of the National Science Foundation (NSF), to better understand how ecosystems are changing across the U.S. 

“Paula has been a strong advocate for NEON and brings experience from a long and successful academic career in the life sciences and big data,” said Mike Janus, vice president for Environment and Infrastructure at Battelle.

Mabee has served the University of South Dakota as a professor in the Department of Biology since 1997. Throughout her decorated tenure with USD, she’s received numerous accolades and awards, including the President’s Award for Research Excellence and the American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellowship. 

She has authored more than 60 research publications and received nearly $7 million in research grant awards from the NSF and National Institutes of Health (NIH). In addition, Mabee has served as president of the Society of Systematic Biologists, and the Board of Governors for the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

“It’s an exciting time for the program with new and more ecological data being generated every day now that the observatory is fully operational,” Mabee said regarding her new position. “The complex environmental challenges of our time require exactly the type of data that NEON is producing and the convergent scientific approaches that the broader science and engineering community brings,” she added. 

About Battelle

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. 

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle makes the world better by commercializing technology, giving back to our communities, and supporting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. For more information, visit www.battelle.org

Robert Pearce, the acting associate administrator of NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, has been appointed to assume his role on a full-time basis. He oversees the strategy moving NASA’s research across multiple aeronautical areas such as airspace operations, aviation concepts and integrated aviation systems, the space agency said Tuesday.

“Bob is a visionary leader with a deep understanding of the current and future aeronautics environment,” said Jim Bridenstine, NASA administrator.

Pearce has been ARMD’s acting associate administrator since September, following Jaiwon Shin’s retirement from the office in late August. The newly appointed ARMD leader also formerly served as the directorate’s deputy associate administrator and director for strategy, architecture and analysis.

He also served as deputy director of the joint planning and development office for the Federal Aviation Administration’s Next Generation Air Transportation System, a program that aims to modernize the country’s air transportation by 2025.