By Gus G. Sentementes, The Baltimore Sun Baltimore Sun

2:56 p.m. AKDT, October 3, 2012
Sourcefire Inc., a Columbia-based provider of cybersecurity technology to government and commercial clients, said its CEO retired earlier this week after taking a medical leave to be treated for colon cancer.

John C. Burris, 57, led Sourcefire since 2008. Company officials credited Burris, a former top executive with Citrix Systems, Lucent Technologies and AT&T, with helping it achieve profitability and expand its product offerings. Burris had been on medical leave since July.

Martin Roesch, Sourcefire's founder and chief technology officer, is serving as the company's interim CEO until a successor for Burris can be found.

According to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Sourcefire accelerated its retirement agreement with Burris, vesting a portion of his stock-based compensation worth approximately $3.7 million. The company also agreed to pay the premiums on his life insurance policy — about $4,000 a year — until he turns 65, the SEC filing said.

Gus.sentementes@baltsun.com

Twitter.com/gussent

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