DRS Technologies, Inc. announced the appointment of Steven J. Cortese, an experienced executive with an extensive career in national security and legislative affairs both in government and private industry, as Executive Vice President of Washington Operations. He succeeds Vice Admiral Phillip M. Balisle, USN (Ret.), who is retiring from DRS. Cortese will be responsible for a range of DRS core activities, including government affairs, strategic planning and business development.

He will serve as the senior relationship manager with U.S. government customers in the Department of Defense and key federal agencies, international customers, and with business leaders in the defense industry. Before joining DRS, Cortese served as Senior Vice President, Government Relations and Corporate Communications, at ATK.