Defense contractor Leidos Inc. announced last week the appointment of seasoned defense attorney Jerald Howe Jr. as executive vice president and general counsel. Howe, who joins the company on July 10, according to a company spokesperson, will bring more than 30 years of experience in aerospace, defense and intelligence to the Reston, Virginia-based giant.

Howe will join Leidos from firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson's Washington, D.C., office, where he leads the government contracts practice and focuses on government contracts litigation, investigations and bid protests, as well as mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions. Prior to Fried Frank, Howe held a handful of in-house roles. Most recently, he was senior vice president and general counsel at private defense contractor TASC Inc. and before that, he held the same title at intelligence and military contractor Veridian Corp.

“I am very excited to be rejoining the aerospace, defense and intelligence industry—and particularly to be joining Leidos, a tremendous company with great people and [one] that I know very well,” Howe said in an email.

Leidos CEO Roger Krone welcomed Howe in a June 8 announcement. “Jerry is an accomplished legal mind and a proven leader who brings substantial expertise in the aerospace, defense and intelligence sectors,” Krone said. “His broad skillset and keen understanding of the federal contracting arena will be an ideal addition to our talented leadership team.”

Howe will take over for Vincent Maffeo, who is retiring from his role as Leidos' top lawyer, effective July 15. Maffeo played a key role in Leidos' recent merger with global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin's IT business and he will continue as a company consultant.

Leidos, formerly known as SAIC Inc., is currently trying to fight off a lawsuit alleging the company omitted key information in securities filings. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in March.