Fed brain trust formed

Entrust Technologies Inc., a provider of security products and services,

has created a federal advisory board that reads like a who's who of information

technology leaders in the federal market.

The move is the latest in Entrust's effort to boost its federal presence

and expertise.

"We are fortunate to have a group of executives of this caliber to provide

us with advice and counsel," said Sam Maccherola, vice president of Entrust's

U.S. Federal Markets Division. "My responsibility is to listen and learn

from their combined experiences."

The board's five member are:

* Daniel Young, vice chairman and chief executive officer at Federal

Data Corp.

* Michael Mestrovich, president and CEO at Unlimited Dimensions LLC.

* Bob Woods, president of Business Applications Solutions Co., a unit

of Affiliated Computer Services Inc.

* Renny DiPentima, president of SRA International Inc.'s government

sector.

* L. Kenneth Johnson, president of CACI Inc.

"Each one of the members has a different core competency," Maccherola

said. "Some with health care, some in DOD or in civilian government....

It's a balanced, well-rounded group."

Entrust acquired Washington, D.C.-based CygnaCom Solutions in March,

which provided the company with 50 skilled computer security and public-key

infrastructure consultants solely focused on federal customers.

DiPentima, who served as a deputy commissioner and chief information

officer at the Social Security Administration prior to joining SRA, said

he had been approached previously to serve on advisory boards but accepted

the Entrust position because of the service the company offers citizens.

"Connecting government to citizens, or e-government, is what I'm interested

in, and is an interest of my company," DiPentima said. "The central path

leading to e-government is security and PKI and all other messaging security...and

Entrust is a leader...in this field."

The board will hold its first strategy meeting next week during Entrust's

annual conference in Dallas.