Jmar Technologies Inc., a San Diego laser technology developer, has appointed Neil Beer as its new president and CEO and Charles Dickinson a chairman of its board. Beer, who replaces Ron Walrod, has been a Jmar director for 15 years. He is a former Air Force General and business executive with more than 20 years of experience developing and commercializing defense and industrial software and process control technologies. Dickinson, who has been a Jmar board member since 2001, is also chairman of LeCroy Corp., a Chestnut Ridge, N.Y.-based provider of oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers and related test and measurement technology. Dickinson replaces Vernon Blackman, who will continue to be a Jmar board member. Jmar makes laser-based equipment for imaging, analysis and fabrication at the nanoscale. The company said it is targeting the nanotechnology, bioscience and semiconductor industries with its BriteLight laser; x-ray light source; compact x-ray microscope, for three-dimensional visualization of single cells and polymers; and x-ray nanoprobe. Jmar also makes the BioSentry microorganism early-warning system, and it said it maintains a strategic alliance with FemtoTrace Inc. to develop the READ chemical sensor, which can be used by electric utilities to detect hazardous conditions such as PCB contamination and power transmission-line fluid leakage. This ultrasensitive organic material sensor has applications in the homeland security, environmental monitoring and utility infrastructure markets. "Beer brings critical team building skills and leadership to the company at a time when its BioSentry water detection systems and its alliance with the FemtoTrace Corp.'s hazardous material detection systems are poised for installation at various industrial, pharmaceutical, cruise ship and homeland security sites," Jmar said in a statement Wednesday. "As previously announced, test versions of BioSentry have been installed at customer locations." Beer said, "In addition to accelerating the development of BioSentry, Jmar will continue its microscopy and nanotechnology programs, identifying potential partners and profitable markets for these products." For more information, visit: www.jmar.com