[11-26-07 – Satellite Today] Cisco appointed retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Steven Boutelle, vice president, Global Government Solutions Group, the company announced Nov. 26.

Boutelle will lead Cisco’s efforts in support of the Internet Routing in Space (IRIS) program, an industry-government collaboration being managed by Intelsat General Corp. and intended to demonstrate the viability of conducting military communications through an Internet router in space. Cisco will provide commercial IP networking software for the on-board router.

“IRIS has the potential to help transform how government agencies and service providers are able to obtain IP-based network services to accomplish their missions,” Boutelle, said in a statement. “We also see the potential for delivering networking capabilities that will change the way people across the globe connect. I am extremely excited about this opportunity.”