Our discussions on potential Satellite Executive of the Year nominees always include suggestions that pique one’s interest but don’t quite meet the criteria for inclusion.

Our first rule for determining potential nominees, is that we focus on accomplishments during the year, and that we identify a mix of innovation and business. For 2010, there were a few nominees that easily met the innovation component, but were too early in their efforts to really provide any business success. While those officials did not quite rise to the level of nominee, their efforts are too fascinating not to discuss — and we make sure to pay close attention to how they build on their work in 2011.

One example of this kind of situation is Greg Pelton, general manager of Cisco’s Internet Router in Space (IRIS) program, who led the company’s efforts to transform space-based communications. Cisco placed IRIS in orbit in November 2009 aboard the Intelsat-14 satellite as part of a joint effort between Cisco, Intelsat and the U.S. military. Cisco says the program will extend Internet protocol-based technology to space, and IRIS already passed a U.S. Department of Defense test for use of next-generation satellite-based IP services and communications from space.

Cisco now is working full-time on commercial operations and demonstrations with IRIS, with Pelton responsible for creating a suite of space-ready products and developing the business plans and market strategies for IRIS.

In October, Cisco and Astrium demonstrated IRIS services such as multicasting, which enables the delivery of information to a group of destination computers simultaneously in a single transmission. In December, Cisco completed a VoIP call using IRIS and also made the first software upgrade of an IP router aboard a commercial satellite while in orbit.

Another hot topic in 2010 was 3-D TV, and while the business case remains far from certain, Chuck Pagano, ESPN’s executive vice president, technology, is responsible for the sports network being recognized as one of the 3-D technology leaders.

ESPN launched its 3-D efforts with the World Cup in June, and received praise for its production and delivery of the event.

While ESPN executives have called their 3-D efforts to date “a science experiment,” from which the company is still learning,” the network is on pace to produce nearly 100 3-D events in its first 12 months of operations. Along with developing the 3-D efforts, Pagano and his technical team also have oversight of 19 networks, 52,000 annual transmission feeds and ingest about 200 to 300 hours of video content daily.

And while analysts remain cautious about the business growth of 3-D TV, ESPN is ramping up efforts for its 3-D TV platform, with plans to begin airing content 24 hours a day beginning in February.

The Cisco IRIS program and ESPN’s 3-D efforts got off to promising starts in 2010 that generated great attention — as well as more than a few questions about future potential. If either executive can build on these promising starts throughout 2011, they become strong contenders for future award consideration.