Defense and security contractor Ionatron Inc. of Tucson, Ariz., a developer of laser-guided energy weapons, today announced that Dana A. Marshall has joined the company as president, CEO and a member of Ionatron's board of directors. Thomas Dearmin, a co-founder of the company, will assume the role of vice chairman and continue to assist in strategic planning initiatives. Marshall has more than 20 years experience with laser and optics technologies in the aerospace and defense industries. Most recently, he was responsible for operations, growth and performance of four high-tech operating units while serving as vice president, Optical Systems SBU of Zygo Corp. He has served as CEO and president of Cutting Edge Optronics, a company he founded and turned into a manufacturer of high-power solid-state and semiconductor lasers before selling it to TRW Inc. (now operating as a division of Northrop Grumman Corp.). Before that, Marshall was program manager of the Lasers and Electronic Systems Div. of McDonnell Douglas Corp. He started his career at General Dynamics Corp., where his responsibilities included special planning manager for its missiles, electronic lasers and submarine divisions, the strategic and operating plan for the Quincy Shipbuilding Div. and integration of that company's laser systems division.