Whittaker Xyplex Appoints Thurk CEO

Whittaker Corp. has announced the appointment of communications industry veteran Michael C. Thurk as head of the Whittaker Xyplex communications division.

Thurk, 43, a former executive at Digital Equipment Corp. and most recently senior vice president at General DataComm, was named to the position of chief executive officer of Whittaker Xyplex.

Thurk will work from Whittaker Xyplex headquarters in Littleton, Mass. Whittaker Corp. is based in Simi Valley.

Thurk began his career at GTE as a software manager and later a program manager before taking a position at DEC. In 1991, he became one of the youngest vice presidents at DEC.

He left Digital in 1994 to become senior vice president of General DataComm Industries in Middlebury, Conn.

At Whittaker Xyplex, Thurk will head an organization of about 700 people located at the company’s two principle locations, Littleton and Santa Clara, Calif.

Whittaker Xyplex produces communications products.

Whittaker Corp. provides products and services with a high-technology or engineering content to the aerospace and communications markets.