Samuel L. Vernallis has been named director...

Samuel L. Vernallis has been named director of programs at California Amplifier Inc., a Camarillo manufacturer of microwave telecommunications products. Vernallis was previously vice commander and commander of the Pacific Missile Test Center, the Navy’s largest weapons test and evaluation center.

Thomas L. Lee, chairman and chief executive of the Newhall Land & Farming Co., has been elected 1994 chairman of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.

Lee joined the Valencia real estate development company in 1970. He became president and chief executive in 1987, and in 1989 he was named chairman.

The Los Angeles Area Chamber serves the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura.

Also elected as a new director for the chamber was Terry Hartshorn, president and chief executive of the Burbank health-care concern UniHealth America.

Underwriters Reinsurance Co., a Woodland Hills provider of reinsurance for property and casualty insurers, has named Kathryn Grant vice president of claims.

Grant joined the company in 1987 and has more than 20 years experience in the property/casualty claims field.

In addition, Jas Chima was appointed assistant vice president. Chima returned to Underwriters Reinsurance after working for four years in San Francisco.