Elbit Systems of America names new executive focused on innovation

Elbit Systems of America last month named Douglas Sandklev vice president of technology and innovation, tasked with finding new ideas and cutting-edge small companies.

Raanan Horowitz, chief executive of the company, told Inside Defense during an interview at the Association of the United States Army conference in Washington earlier this month the company has refined the process of importing technology from its Israeli parent company.

But Elbit Systems of America, headquartered in Fort Worth, TX, is also focused on finding new technological advancements and new potential partners, he said. Horowitz pointed to the hire of Sandklev, previously an executive at Lockheed Martin, as a way to make those inroads.

Horowitz said Elbit Systems of America is also hoping to "crowdsource" ideas within the company, meaning it will turn to its own employees for their innovative approaches and provide funding for some vetted proposals. Additionally, the company last month participated in SwitchPitch, an event that gave defense contractors a chance to pitch to start-ups.