Boeing [NYSE:BA] announced that Matthew Ganz has been named president of the company's Phantom Works advanced research and development unit, effective Feb. 22. Ganz comes to Boeing from HRL Laboratories in Malibu, Calif., where he was president, chief executive officer and general manager.

Ganz will report to John Tracy, Boeing chief technology officer and senior vice president of Engineering, Operations & Technology. "Matt's impressive background in technology development and leadership, along with his familiarity with Boeing technology, make him uniquely suited for this key leadership position," Tracy said.

Jointly owned by Boeing and General Motors, HRL Laboratories conducts R&D for a variety of commercial and government customers, as well as Phantom Works, which is chartered to provide technology solutions primarily to meet the mid- to long-term needs of Boeing's commercial and defense business units and open potential new business opportunities.

Ganz succeeds Bob Krieger, who retired Dec. 31, 2007. In addition to HRL, Ganz has held several other senior technology leadership positions, including sector vice president of Strategy and Technology at Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems; managing director and CEO of Navigator Technology Ventures, a seed-stage venture fund; vice president of Technology and vice president of Programs at the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory; and director of the Sensor Technology Office at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Ganz, 48, holds bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in electrical engineering from The Ohio State University and has been a member of various corporate and government boards, including the Defense Science Board and the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board.