Parsons has appointed Dr Rida Hamza as VP for Business Development, Critical Infrastructure Protection. According to Parsons, he will be responsible for international growth and operational excellence in critical infrastructure protection and large-scale physical and cyber security project delivery.

Hamza will focus on the Middle East and Africa (MEA), as well as other high-growth regions. He joins Parsons from Thales, where he was the head of civil business. Parsons notes that Hamza has extensive experience in leadership and security and says that he was a key technical contributor for several integrated security solutions and leading industrial, government, and commercial contracts.

“The need for cyber and physical security continues to increase, and Parsons provides full-spectrum security solutions to customers around the globe. We’re pleased to welcome Rida to our team,” said Carey Smith, Parsons’ federal president.

Hamza holds both a Management of Technology MBA and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota in the United States. He is an alumnus member of the Development of Technological Leadership Network at the University of Minnesota and an active member of the advisory board for the American University in the UAE on the Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering Graduate Program.

“We are very excited to welcome Rida on board. His valuable, hands-on experience across all sales operational areas and execution strategies will help expand Parsons’ ability to deliver information and critical infrastructure protection,” said Gary Adams, Parsons’ MEA president.