HP announced today that Gregg Melinson would be taking over as Vice President of Global Government Affairs and Deputy General Counsel.  Mr. Melinson will be taking over for Larry Irving, and will work primarily from the company’s Palo Alto headquarters.

For the better part of the last two decades Mr. Melinson has been a partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, most recently serving as chief marketing partner.  Previously, he was chair of the Government Affairs Practice Group, where he advised on government and business interaction at all levels.

From 1995 to 1997, Mr. Melinson served as deputy general counsel to Gov. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania. Melinson represented Governor Ridge and other administration officials in federal and state court litigation, and provided oversight to several hundred lawyers in the Governor’s Office of General Counsel.

Ridge, who also served as the nation’s first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, spoke highly of Melinson:

“His keen legal advocacy, sound judgment and ability to build strong and lasting relationships were assets to my administration as governor of Pennsylvania, and I’m sure he’ll put them to good use on HP’s behalf.”