From the pages of Washington Technology

IBM has named Anne Altman, former vice president and managing director of IBM’s U.S. Federal division, to be general manager of the company’s mainframe platform technology business. Altman’s new role is part of a yearlong general transformation to make IBM’s Systems and Technology Group more client-focused, the company said. This is the largest such realignment in 15 years, said Lia Davis, an IBM spokeswoman. Altman will be responsible for developing, creating and marketing IBM’s System z, an advanced mainframe business computer, Davis said. IBM also announced that David Ramsey has replaced Altman. Most recently, Ramsey led the company’s Global Government and Education organization. He served as vice president of IBM’s Federal Systems Division during the 1990s. He was vice president and general manager of IBM’s Government Industry, Asia/Pacific in Singapore for two years. L-1 Identity Solutions plans to acquire Bioscrypt for $43.7 million in an all-stock deal. The company specializes in access control technologies. The acquisition will give L-1 a significant boost in the realm of physical and logical access controls, the Stamford, Conn.-based company said. The purchase increases the company’s presence in complementary commercial markets, such as transportation, banking and finance and health care, according to L-1. Bioscrypt has more than 400 customers worldwide and an installed base of more than 260,000 access control units. Barry West, former Commerce Department chief information officer who had a 25-year career in government, has joined Strategic Enterprise Solutions as executive vice president. Known as SE Solutions, the Reston, Va.-based company provides management consulting services and technology solutions to a variety of government customers. West will focus on enterprise architecture, strategic planning and performance management. He also will work on electronic government and lines-of-business initiatives, information technology security and other emerging areas of government IT. West ended his government career in January. He held similar CIO positions at the National Weather Service and Federal Emergency Management Agency. West also worked at the Census Bureau, National Technical Information Service and the General Services Administration. The previously announced merger of the Professional Services Council and the Contract Services Association of America took effect Jan. 3. The two federal government services industry associations will operate as PSC. PSC President Stan Soloway is now president and chief executive officer. Alan Chvotkin, PSC senior vice president, is the executive vice president and counsel. CSA senior vice president Colleen Preston rounds out the new leadership team as senior vice president of public policy and operations. Mike Shelton, CSA chairman and president of Emcor Government Services, and Jim O’Neill, PSC chairman and president of Northrop Grumman Information Technology, are serving as co-chairmen of the merged organization for this transition year.