COPT Defense Properties, a publicly traded owner of more than 20M SF of national security-focused office and data center assets, has named a new chief operating officer.

The Columbia, Maryland-based company hired Britt Snider, a longtime D.C.-area development executive who most recently worked as principal at Redbrick LMD, as executive vice president and COO. He plans to start Dec. 1.

Snider previously spent over a decade with The JBG Cos. and JBG Smith from 2006 to 2019, serving as executive vice president of commercial asset management. After that, he had a one-year stint with Boston-based WS Development before moving to Redbrick in 2020.

While at JBG, Snider worked on the company's development in L'Enfant Plaza, including the deal to build the new the International Spy Museum and the 121K SF lease with Urban Institute that kicked off construction of a new office building. The vision for these projects was to create a better connection between the National Mall and The Wharf, Snider said at a Bisnow event in December 2017.

"Britt has a proven track record of success in development and asset management on both the public and private side, as well as a robust network of relationships in the Washington, D.C. area," COPT Defense CEO Stephen Budorick said in a release. "Britt’s leadership experience, strong financial acumen, and proven ability to create shareholder value, make him a great fit for the company."

COPT Defense in September announced a rebrand, shifting away from its former Corporate Office Properties Trust name to reflect its increased emphasis on buildings near national security hubs leased to defense-related tenants. The company has ramped up its data center portfolio this year, partnering with Blackstone in January to purchase a 90% interest in a five-property data center portfolio valued at $278M.

The REIT also owns the massive Columbia Gateway business park, located near the National Security Administration's headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland. And it still owns some traditional downtown office assets, including prominent Baltimore towers at 250 West Pratt St. and 100 Light St.