Kelley still defending systems

David Kelley, who led the Defense Information Systems Agency through three difficult years, has joined Lockheed Martin Mission Systems to help government agencies protect their computer systems.

Kelley left DISA in June 2000 and retired as an Army lieutenant general the following month, capping a 34-year career that began in the Signal Corps. He served as DISA director for three years and vice director for the previous two years.

He joined Lockheed Martin Mission Systems in late January as vice president of information operations. He has been working with the military services and the Defense Department through Lockheed's Integrated Space Command and Control contract at Colorado Springs, Colo., and other programs.

Kelley said that civilian agencies are spending more money to protect their critical networks, so he also sees them as possible customers.

Kelley said that working at Lockheed provides a "different kind of pressure" from DISA, but that he's still working to defend the country's critical infrastructure using rapidly evolving technology.