Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) has appointed Theodore “Ted” Tanner Jr. as its new chief technology officer, effective January 5, 2026. Tanner, formerly chief technology and strategy officer at BigBear.ai, will succeed Jim Carlini, who served as Leidos CTO since 2019 and will continue as a senior advisor on national security matters.
“Ted is a high-impact leader who pairs entrepreneurial creativity with execution discipline to solve tough deep-technology challenges,” said Leidos CEO Tom Bell. “His track record delivering bold, disruptive tech to defense, government, and healthcare customers aligns perfectly with our NorthStar 2030 growth priorities.”
Driving NorthStar 2030 Through AI and Deep Tech
Leidos’ NorthStar 2030 strategy emphasizes leadership in space and maritime domains, digital modernization, full-spectrum cyber, mission software, managed health services, and energy infrastructure. AI is central to this vision, powering autonomous systems, mission-critical software, and cyber solutions.
“I’m thrilled to join Leidos as CTO,” said Tanner. “Together, we’ll propel this iconic powerhouse into an agentic AI leader, empowering developers to build autonomous systems that orchestrate critical missions across defense, healthcare, quantum computing, and more.”
Tanner brings deep experience in AI and machine learning. At BigBear.ai, he led AI development for U.S. Department of Defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies. He currently serves on the scientific advisory board of QuiverBioscience, applying AI to treatments for brain disorders.
A Track Record of Innovation
A veteran of Apple, Microsoft, and IBM Watson Health, Tanner holds 18 U.S. patents in AI, machine learning, and other advanced technologies. At Watson Health, he applied AI to genomics, pharmacology, and oncology. He is also a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded startups PokitDok and BeliefNetworks.
Leidos’ leadership sees Tanner as a key driver of its next-generation capabilities in AI, quantum, cyber, and mission-critical software, ensuring the company remains a top-tier partner for defense, government, and healthcare customers globally.
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