Via Satellite is thrilled to announce the official nominees for both the prestigious 2018 Satellite Executive of the Year Award and the inaugural 2018 Satellite Technology of the Year Award. For the first time in the history of the award, Via Satellite readers and SATELLITE 2019 attendees will be able to vote for the winner of the award.

Our 2018 Satellite Executive of the Year nominees were chosen based on nominations submitted by leaders in the industry and chosen for their durable contributions made to the global satellite market including innovative technologies, best practices, important services, or any combination of these.

2018 Satellite Executive of the Year nominees include: Curt Blake, CEO, Spaceflight Industries; Matthew Desch, CEO, Iridium; Jean-Loïc Galle, CEO, Thales Alenia Space; Victor Nelson, President and Founder, Sector Microwave Industries (SMI), and Peter Platzer, CEO, Spire Global.  You can find additional information on each nominee, here.

“The honoree for the 2018 Satellite Executive of the Year will join the ranks of the best of the best. Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX was honored in 2017, Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace was honored in 2016, and the 2015 honoree was Michel de Rosen, CEO of Eutelsat.  We’re looking forward to welcoming another notable satellite industry leader to this already impressive group,” said Mark Holmes, Editorial Director, Via Satellite.

Nominees for the 2018 Satellite Technology of the Year Award were based on nominations from the satellite and connectivity industry and chosen based on the technology’s innovation, benefit to the industry, and overall disruption to the satellite landscape.

The 2018 Satellite Technology of the Year nominees include: Airbus Defense and Space – Starling Monitoring Service; Intellian – v240MT Tri-band Antenna System; Morehead State University – Space Science Center; ND Satcom – SKYWAN Router; QuadSAT – SATCOM Drones, and Ursa Space Systems – Global Oil Monitoring SAR Data Platform. You can find additional information on each nominee, here.

“Via Satellite is dedicated to recognizing the technology breakthrough that has changed the way the satellite and connectivity industry worked in 2018 and for years to come,” said Mark Holmes. “We’re proud to offer this award and recognize the technology as part of our ongoing commitment to the global satellite industry.”

The winner of each award will be determined by a combination of the Via Satellite editorial team and votes that come directly from industry. Beginning April 19 at 9:00 a.m. ET, the public can vote for the nominees of their choice online, or onsite at the SATELLITE 2019 event, which takes place May 6-9 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.  There will be stations for attendees to vote at the Via Satellite booth (#543 on the show floor).

Voting closes at noon ET on Tuesday, May 7^th. The winner will be announced at a special Awards Luncheon, sponsored by Peraton, at SATELLITE 2019 on Wednesday, May 8, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.  Tickets for the Awards Luncheon can be purchased through SATELLITE 2019 registration.  SATELLITE 2019 will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, located at 801 Mt Vernon Pl NW, Washington, D.C. 20001.

For more information on the awards, or to vote for a nominee, please visit https://www.viasatellite.com/vote