A former Intel executive has been slotted into the revolving door that is CIA-backed In-Q-Tel's CEO post.

The spooky venture capital firm this week announced that Intel VP Chris Darby will become its CEO in late September. Darby will replace interim CEO Scott Yancey and former CEO Amit Yoran.

Yoran only stayed at In-Q-Tel for a few months after having arrived in January from the Department of Homeland Security where he was head of cyber security. The exec apparently departed for personal reasons, saying he didn't like to travel all that much.

Travel, however, is the name of the game when you're a venture capital firm based in Washington D.C. The In-Q-Tel staff try to find start-ups that will boost the US's national security mission or at least help the CIA spy on citizens with some really, really flash gear.

In-Q-Tel also has a Silicon Valley office but refuses to reveal its exact location. Google, however, pegs the office at 2500 Sand Hill Road - Suite 113 (http://www.google.com/search?q=in-q-tel+menlo+park&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official).

At Intel, Darby headed up the middleware division, which is the first proof we've seen that Intel has a middleware division. More importantly for the snooping at hand, Darby used to run security and XML networking firm Sarvega and internet security consulting outfit @stake.

"As an energetic and experienced entrepreneur with a deep understanding of technology, Chris brings to In-Q-Tel the qualities we were seeking in a leader to build on In-Q-Tel's large and growing base of portfolio companies and our top priority: delivering leading-edge solutions to pressing challenges confronting the CIA and other members of the Intelligence Community," said In-Q-Tel's chairman Lee Ault.

For the curious, In-Q-Tel does in fact derive its name from James Bond's crafty technology helper. ®

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