Lightwave magazine is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Ron Brown, secretary of the U.S.

Lightwave magazine is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Ron Brown, secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Lightwave extends its condolences to the Brown family and to the families and friends of the industry and government officials who were also killed in the accident. Ron Brown, who was involved in the telecommunications community, helped advance U.S. industries and connect U.S. companies to the world market. According to Matthew J. Flanigan, president of the Telecommunications Industry Association, "He had a strong interest in telecommunications and considered it an essential sector in economic development." Brown`s interest extended to fiber optics technology, but in a December 1993 letter to Lightwave, he explained his unwillingness to designate fiber as the preferred technology: "Whatever choices we make, when we make them, should be based on human needs instead of technological mandates."

Michael J. Breslin has been named vice president of sales, transportation systems at MFS Network Technologies, Omaha, NE. He will oversee all worldwide sales activities for the company`s intelligent transportation systems and solutions. Breslin`s 25-year career includes senior management positions at Amtech, Geostar Corp., Schneider National, Polaroid Corp. and R.J. Reynolds. Mark Berner has been appointed vice president and chief financial officer at MFS Network Technologies, where he is responsible for all accounting, financial and administrative functions. Berner joined the company in 1993 and has served as controller since that time. Former employers include Peter Kiewit Sons Inc., Arthur Andersen and PKS Information Services Inc.

Peter F. Volanakis has been named executive vice president of operations at Siecor Corp., Hickory, NC. He spent 13 years at Corning Inc., most recently as managing director and general manager of the company`s European automotive emission control business, located in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Wayne Lasson has been appointed group vice president for the Access Business Unit and Manufacturing at Telco Systems, Norwood, MA. He was most recently associated with Compression Labs Inc., where he managed product distribution in both domestic and international sales channels. Before joining Compression Labs, Lasson held senior management positions at Northern Telecom.

Edward R. Olson has been named president and chief operating officer of Porta Systems Corp., Syosset, NY. He is president and one of the founders of KPMG Bay Mark Strategies LLC, an independent company that is in a strategic alliance with KPMG Peat Marwick LLP. Olson will continue in this position while serving at Porta Systems.

Steve Necessary has rejoined Scientific-Atlanta Inc. of Norcross, GA, as vice president and general manager of analog subscriber systems, after a four-year association with Antec Corp. Necessary had been with Scientific-Atlanta for more than nine years, most recently as vice president of marketing in subscriber systems. Earlier in his career, he was with Procter & Gamble.

Lynn J. Davis has been named president of the broadband connectivity group at Minneapolis-based ADC Telecommunications Inc. The group includes copper- and fiber-based systems for end-to-end network connectivity, and AOFR Pty. Ltd., Australia, a manufacturer of fiber-optic components. Frederick D. Lawrence has been appointed president of the company`s transmission group, which includes the enterprise networking group, comprising ADC Kentrox and ADC Fibermux; ADC Video Systems; Access Platforms Systems Division; Network Services Division; Wireless Systems Division and Shanghai ADC Telecommunications Equipment Co. Ltd. James C. Granger has been appointed president of the Access Platforms Systems Division and William L. Martin has been named president of the Network Services Division.

Richard Sahara has been named senior engineer for analog and electro-absorption modulated distributed-feedback lasers at Burlington, MA-based Lasertron Inc. He is a senior member of the engineering team that characterizes, designs and manufactures high-power these lasers. Sahara was previously em ployed at Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. of Atsugi, Japan, where he performed research on electro-absorption modulators for monolithic integration.

Marvin Nelson has been named vice president of technical programs for The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers, Exton, PA, which he joined in 1991. He oversees all technical aspects of the society`s operations, including supporting the development of standards.

Donald W. Sinnar has been appointed general manager of telecommunications products at Anaheim, CA-based Odetics. He is responsible for managing the company`s synchronization and precision time business for the telecommunications industry and traditional timing markets. Sinnar plans to introduce next-generation synchronization products that address wireline and wireless communications markets. Former employers include Efratom, First Pacific Networks and United Technologies Communications.