Community Foundation of Harford County Elects SAIC’s John Ferriter to Board of Directors

From the Community Foundation of Harford County:

Community Foundation of Harford County elected John M. Ferriter to its board of directors. He will serve a three-year term.

Ferriter, a Bel Air resident, is senior vice president for strategic program development for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) [NYSE: SAI], where he focuses on key markets. Previously, he was senior vice president and general manager of the Homeland Protection and Preparedness Business Unit within the company’s Infrastructure, Logistics and Product Solutions Group.

Prior to joining SAIC in 2005, Ferriter was chief operating officer for GEO-CENTERS, Inc., a technology, research and development firm.

Ferriter retired in 2004 as a member of the Senior Executive Service after a 33-year career with the U.S. Government. Initially an engineer supporting the binary chemical weapons program, he later served as the director for munitions, director for detection, director for research and technology, and director for engineering at the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center and the director of operations for the Chemical Materials Agency.

Ferriter holds a doctorate of science in engineering administration from George Washington University and two master’s degrees from The Johns Hopkins University—a master of science in management science and a master of science in environmental engineering. His bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering was awarded by the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

In addition, he is retired from the Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel in the Chemical Corps.

“John Ferriter’s background in the defense community brings a new perspective to the Community Foundation of Harford County,” said Tamara W. Zavislan, the foundation’s executive director. “With the recent growth at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Dr. Ferriter’s perspective can help us better understand how to reach out to the defense and military communities to continue with our mission of making Harford County an even better place to live and work today and in the future.”

Community Foundation of Harford County (CFHC) is a nonprofit organization supported by the community through donations, enabling individuals, families and businesses to leave a legacy to benefit the causes about which they care. Charitable gifts are used to make Harford County stronger through grant-making to local nonprofits and through scholarships. In 2011, the foundation distributed nearly $70,000 to nonprofits in Harford County. CFHC is one of 14 community foundations in Maryland and one of 700 across the country.