Former DISA chief goes global again with EDS

Electronic Data Systems Corp. tapped retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Albert Edmonds, chief operating officer of the company's federal division in Herndon, Va., to spearhead the planned international expansion of its Government Global Industry Group.

Edmonds joined EDS Federal in 1998 after a 33-year tour capped by his command of the Defense Information Systems Agency, the Pentagon's global network and information systems management agency. Edmonds replaces George Newstrom as vice president of the EDS Government Global Industry Group. Newstrom now serves as the Hong Kong-based head of Asia-Pacific operations for EDS Information Solutions.

EDS President Jeff Heller said Edmonds' "vast experience and relationships with government agencies, along with his prior successes and strong information technology background, are invaluable to EDS as we grow our government business on a global basis."

"EDS Federal had a banner year in 1999," Edmonds said. "My new position will allow me to leverage this success in the government sector on a global basis. I am very excited about this opportunity and look forward to trying to replicate globally what EDS Federal accomplished during 1999."

Edmonds said he plans to apply the lessons learned EDS gains from developing a system in one country to develop similar solutions for another country. "We're going to leverage our experience and products and share them globally," Edmonds said.

EDS has an opportunity with its global government group to develop universal systems in such areas as service to the citizen, tax systems and even global command and control solutions.