Leadership

Kenneth “Ken” Sharp is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for L3Harris Technologies. In this role, he leads the company’s global finance organization, including financial planning and analysis, investor relations, tax, treasury, corporate development, accounting, and internal audit. Ken is responsible for the company’s financial performance and capital allocation, internal and external financial reporting, and Securities and Exchange Commission and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.

Ken joined L3Harris from Peraton, Inc., where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, leading financial operations and strategy and government compliance, partnering closely with the Board to enhance portfolio performance and capital structure. During his tenure, he improved profitability, strengthened liquidity, and delivered significant working capital improvements.

Previously, Ken was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of DXC Technology. He began his career at Ernst & Young and has held senior finance leadership roles at Northrop Grumman, Orbital ATK, Leidos, and Computer Sciences Corporation, leading finance operations across multi-billion-dollar defense and technology enterprises, specializing in complex mergers and acquisitions and operational transformations. 

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Ken served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. 

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Maryland and an Executive MBA from The George Washington University, and he is a certified public accountant.

Christopher Aebli is President of the Communications & Spectrum Dominance (CSD) segment for L3Harris Technologies. 

In this role, he is responsible for business strategy, financial performance, successful execution, and growth for the CSD segment, leading more than 12,000 employees delivering an extensive portfolio of solutions, including communications and networking, electronic warfare, threat sensing and targeting, and integrated vision technologies.

Aebli joined L3Harris in 1991 and has held leadership roles across engineering, program management, sales and international business. Over the course of his career, he has served in a number of senior leadership positions, including Vice President of DoD Sales, Vice President of the U.S. DoD business, Vice President of the International business, President of the legacy Global Communication Systems sector, President of the legacy Tactical Communications sector, and most recently, President of the Mission Critical Communications sector.

Before joining L3Harris, Aebli was an engineer at the Naval Underwater Systems Center.

He serves on the boards of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes.

Aebli earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Connecticut. He also completed the Executive Program at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.

Lauren Barnes is President of the Space & Mission Systems (SMS) segment for L3Harris Technologies. 

In this role, she is responsible for business strategy, financial performance, successful execution, and growth for the SMS segment, leading more than 21,000 employees delivering advanced ISR, secure networks, open-architecture platforms, and end-to-end space capabilities across space, air, land, sea, and cyber domains.

Barnes joined L3Harris Technologies in 2023 as Vice President, Program Management and transitioned to President of the former Broadband Communications Systems business shortly after. She took on an expanded role as President of Spectrum Superiority, before being named President of Space & Mission Systems.

Prior to joining L3Harris, Barnes held several roles of increasing responsibility at The Boeing Company. Her most recent role was St. Louis 777X Program Manager where she led design, development and production for the composite wing. Other notable roles at Boeing include the T-7 Deputy Program Manager, Defense Logistics Services Program Manager, Chief of Staff for Government Operations in Washington, D.C. and Global Strike Strategy Manager.

Barnes has a Master of Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Tiffin University.

Kenneth “Ken” Bedingfield is President of the Missile Solutions (MSL) segment for L3Harris Technologies. In this role, he is responsible for the segment’s business strategy, financial performance, successful program and operational execution, and growth. Missile Solutions delivers advanced effects, space propulsion, missile propulsion systems, hypersonic capabilities, and adjacent munition technologies.

Bedingfield joined L3Harris in 2023 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In addition to his CFO responsibilities, he was subsequently appointed President of Missile Solutions, serving in a dual capacity to strengthen financial rigor and operational execution during a critical phase of the segment’s growth. He now serves full time as President of Missile Solutions.

As CFO, he oversaw all internal and external financial reporting, Securities and Exchange Commission and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, financial planning and analysis, capital structure, accounting, audit, financial services, tax, treasury, investor relations, contracts and corporate development. 

Bedingfield was previously Chief Executive Officer at Epirus, Inc., where he led the company from research and development through production of electronic components and directed energy systems and multiple successful fundraising rounds. Ken joined Epirus in 2020 as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

Prior to Epirus, Bedingfield spent eight years with Northrop Grumman, ultimately serving as Corporate Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He joined Northrop Grumman in 2011 as Chief Accounting Officer.

Earlier in his career, Bedingfield spent 17 years with KPMG, most recently as the national client leader of its U.S. Aerospace and Defense audit practice. 

Bedingfield earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Maryland, and he is a certified public accountant. 

Christoph Feddersen is Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary for L3Harris Technologies. In this role, Feddersen is responsible for the company’s legal, contracts and enterprise security organizations.

Feddersen joined L3Harris in 2024 as Vice President and General Counsel for Space and Airborne Systems, after more than 25 years of practicing law in-house and at international law firms in the United States and Europe. 

Previously, Feddersen served 17 years in various roles at RTX Corporation, most recently as the Vice President & General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Collins Aerospace, a position he held for nine years.

Prior to that, Feddersen held several positions of increasing responsibility at United Technologies Corporation (UTC), including as Vice President & General Counsel, Corporate Secretary for UTC Aerospace Systems.

Feddersen earned a Master of Laws from the University of Michigan Law School and a Doctorate in International Trade Law from the University of Hamburg. He was also an Emile Noël Fellow at Harvard Law School. He is admitted to the bars in New York, the District of Columbia and Germany.

Tania Hanna is Vice President of Government and Customer Relations for L3Harris Technologies. Hanna is responsible for the company’s relations with the U.S. Congress, the executive branch and Aerospace and Defense industry associations located in the Washington, D.C., area. She also oversees global business development and external communications, ensuring alignment of messaging to key external stakeholders with the company’s growth strategy. 

Hanna was Vice President of Government Relations for Harris Corporation, prior to the company’s merger with L3 Communications in 2019, and also worked as Vice President of Policy and Legislative Affairs, responsible for implementing and overseeing Harris’ engagements with the U.S. Congress and related organizations, and building the company’s international government-relations capabilities. 

Before joining Harris in 2003, Hanna served as Senior Associate with a DC-based law firm, Senior Attorney at the Federal Communications Commission and General Counsel for a small internet startup.  

Hanna earned a Bachelor of Science in International Politics from Georgetown University, a graduate degree from the University of Antwerp, Belgium, and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Norwich University. She also has a Juris Doctor from American University.

Melanie ("Mel") Rakita is Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for L3Harris Technologies. Rakita has responsibility for all human resources (HR) activities for the enterprise including talent acquisition, engagement and positive workplace culture, employee relations, career development, succession planning, performance management, compensation and benefits, and HR systems.

Mel is passionate about attracting top talent to L3Harris and providing opportunities to develop, advance, excel, and thrive. She's committed to creating an environment where people can both challenge the status quo and feel inspired to do their best work in support of our mission.

Rakita assumed this role in April 2023. Rakita joined the legacy Harris Corporation in 2015 as Vice President, HR for the former Harris Critical Networks segment. She subsequently served as Vice President, Talent Management, VP, HR – Space and Airborne Systems (SAS), and VP, HR – Integrated Mission Systems (IMS).

Rakita has more than 24 years of experience in HR management and leadership, including global talent management, staff development and employee relations.

Before joining legacy Harris, she was Director, HR at United Technologies Corporation (UTC) for Sikorsky Defense Systems & Services.

Previously, she served in HR positions with UTC, L’Oréal USA, and Colgate-Palmolive Company.

Rakita has a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, and she earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law. She is admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut.

Heidi Wood is Vice President, Chief Digital & Transformation Officer at L3Harris Technologies.

In this role, Wood leads the company’s transformation agenda, including the global information technology and shared services organization. She is responsible for advancing L3Harris’ digital transformation, modernizing technology infrastructure, and enabling a more connected, data-driven enterprise. 

Wood rejoined L3Harris in 2024 to lead LHX NeXt, a comprehensive initiative to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and drive sustainable cost savings across the enterprise. She previously served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Technology at L3 Technologies from 2016 to 2019, where she played a central role in planning and executing the merger between L3 and Harris, and subsequently co-led post-close integration planning.

Previously, Wood was Chief Executive Officer of 6P Color, Inc. She held various roles at CAE, including Executive Vice President, responsible for enterprise-wide business development and growth initiatives; President of CAE Healthcare, where she helped restore the division’s growth and profitability; and Interim Group President of Defense & Security.

Wood also served as Senior Vice President, Strategy for Spirit AeroSystems and contributed to its turnaround in 2013-2016. Earlier in her career, Wood spent 20 years on Wall Street, including 14 years as Managing Director and the global head of Morgan Stanley’s Aerospace & Defense equity research practice. She helped take Embraer, iRobot, Wesco and SAIC public and was nationally ranked as a top Wall Street analyst for 14 consecutive years.

She served on the Defense Science Board’s Summer Study program and was appointed by President Bush as a Commissioner on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry. Wood holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University.

David Zack is Vice President of Operations and Program Excellence at L3Harris Technologies. In this role, Zack leads program excellence, global manufacturing and facilities, quality and continuous improvement, and supply chain management to drive flawless execution and delivery to our customers. 

Since joining L3Harris in 2019, Zack has served as President of Integrated Mission Solution’s Maritime sector, President of Space & Airborne System’s Mission Avionics sector, and most recently lead operations and program excellence for the Communication Systems segment. In his role, he was responsible for performance assurance and achievement of optimum efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

Before joining L3Harris, Zack served as Corporate Executive Council Member and Vice President of United States Government Defense Systems and Services for Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, and was responsible for U.S. government and international military development, upgrades, production and aftermarket products and services. 

Zack earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Systems Engineering from the University of Connecticut, and a Master of Business Administration from Albertus Magnus College. He also completed executive certificate programs from University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and INSEAD’s International School of Business.

Edward “Ed” Zoiss is Vice President, Engineering & Innovation for L3Harris Technologies. He leads the company’s enterprise engineering and technology strategy, overseeing engineering standards and talent development, research and development investment, and innovation execution. He aligns corporate strategy, product management, and technology roadmaps to strengthen operational discipline and fuel long-term growth and mission success.

Prior to this role, Zoiss served as President of the Space & Airborne Systems (SAS) segment, leading strategy, performance, execution, and growth across an extensive portfolio of solutions in intelligence, surveillance, small satellites, electronic warfare, avionics, wireless solutions, and C4I systems. Previously, he was President of Harris Corporation’s Electronic Systems segment, which encompassed significant portions of his SAS portfolio prior to the 2019 merger with L3 Technologies.

Zoiss’ prior roles include Vice President and General Manager of the Defense business unit within Harris Government Communications Systems; Vice President of C4ISR Electronics; and Vice President of Advanced Programs and Technology, where he led division strategy, business development, marketing, and internal research and development.

He joined Harris in 1995 as a principal mechanical engineer and has built a career spanning engineering, advanced technology, business development, and executive leadership. Zoiss is the recipient of 13 patents.

Zoiss is a member of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Project Management Institute (PMI). He is also a member of the Florida State University Engineering Advisory Council, a board member of the Space Foundation, and a board member of Jariet Technologies. 

He earned a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from California State University, Northridge. Zoiss received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant.