Chris Messina has landed a key role on the upcoming season of Damages.

The actor will portray a high school acquaintance of Ellen's and a former soldier. When the series picks up this summer, Messina's character will be working for a private security firm in Afghanistan.

The fourth season of Damages premieres this summer and will air solely on DirecTV.

It will center on a wrongful death suit involving a Blackwater-type company. John Goodman and Dylan Baker have already signed on for recurring roles on the Glenn Close-anchored drama.