Jacob A. Palmer III, Ph.D., of Annapolis was named president of the SSM Group Inc., the parent company of SSM/Spotts, Stevens and McCoy and SSM/Laboratories.

Palmer was the vice president of SSM's environmental and laboratory division where he managed the operations of the firm's seven specialized analytical groups and the division's industrial hygiene, site environmental, asbestos and air quality groups.

He formerly served as SSM's Baltimore subsidiary and has 14 yearsof management experience in the chemical industry prior to joining the company.