Every year Via Satellite, the most trusted news source for the global satellite and space communities, recognizes excellence in the industry with the Satellite Executive of the Year and Satellite Technology of the Year awards.
Who Is Shaping the Industry in 2026?
Tell us which leaders and which technologies made the biggest impact this year. Nominations are free and take just a few minutes.
Satellite Executive of the Year
Leaders recognized for outstanding contributions to the global satellite industry, from groundbreaking innovations and visionary leadership to advancements in technology, services, and advocacy.
Satellite Technology of the Year
The game-changing technologies transforming how we connect, communicate, and explore, recognized for their ability to meet market demand, improve quality of life, disrupt the market, and/or demonstrate a scientific breakthrough.
Satellite Executive of the Year
Since 1988, the Satellite Executive of the Year has been the most prestigious award in the industry. Nominees are evaluated based on their contributions to the global satellite markets, technologies, business practices, services, innovations, advocacy, or any combination of the aforementioned.
Nominees are evaluated specifically on their accomplishments during the year of the award.
Past Winners of Satellite Executive of the Year
2025Adel Al-Saleh
SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh moved decisively to acquire Intelsat and to chart a path forward for the combined company. That path is underpinned by the meoSphere concept, the O3b mPOWER rollout, and key partnerships across the space ecosystem.
2024Emile de Rijk
Emile de Rijk, CEO of SWISSto12, is disrupting the GEO satellite market with the HummingSat GEO satellite platform. De Rijk’s vision for the HummingSat is to strengthen the competitiveness and cost-effectiveness of GEO against increasing pressure from LEO constellations.
See our interview with de Rijk
2023Mike Greenley
In August, MDA won a $2 billion contract from Telesat to build its much talked about Lightspeed LEO constellation. A constellation of 198 satellites with the potential for another 100 more, it is the largest order in MDA’s history. It instantly catapulted MDA Space CEO Mike Greenley into the conversation for Satellite Executive of the Year.
See our interview with Greenley
2022Melanie Stricklan
Melanie Stricklan, CEO of Slingshot Aerospace, is a leading voice on coordination and space traffic management as co-founder and CEO of Slingshot Aerospace, a space situational awareness provider. Stricklan has led the company through a period of rapid expansion since taking on the role of CEO in February 2021.
2021Tina Ghataore
Tina Ghataore, Mynaric’s CCO and president of the company’s U.S. division, won the 2021 Satellite Executive of the Year award on the back of Mynaric’s impressive deal flow. Ghataore quickly signed on a host of government and commercial customers during one of the most challenging times for the industry.
2020Gwynne Shotwell
Now a two-time winner of Via Satellite‘s Executive of the Year award, Shotwell is widely admired in the industry for her dedication and leadership. She first won the award in 2017 for leading SpaceX through industry-changing milestones in rocket reusability.
2019Steve Collar
Steve Collar, CEO of SES, was named our Satellite Executive of the Year for 2019. Collar has been integral in the rejuvenation of SES and 2019 was a banner year for the company, including a ground-breaking deal with Microsoft, and much more.
2018Matt Desch
Matt Desch was Via Satellite‘s first two-time winner of the Satellite Executive of the Year (SEOTY) Award. The CEO of Iridium has overseen one of the most dramatic re-inventions that a satellite company has ever seen.
2017Gwynne Shotwell
Gwynne Shotwell won the 30th Satellite Executive of the Year award. She is one of the most admired and respected executives in our industry, and an inspiration for young women around the world. When it came to selecting our 30th Satellite Executive of the Year, there was really only one choice.
2016Stéphane Israël
When Stéphane Israël took over the reins of Arianespace in 2013, it was at a time when the company was facing unprecedented competition in the launch services market. As the winner in 2016, he talks to Via Satellite about a rollercoaster four years, and how the company has managed to maintain such a strong leadership position in this competitive market.
Earlier Winners
- 2015Michel de Rosen · Eutelsat
- 2014Dan Berkenstock · Skybox Imaging
- 2013Eng. Khalid Ahmed Balkheyour · ARABSAT
- 2012Thomas Choi · Asia Broadcast Satellite
- 2011Matt Desch · Iridium
- 2010Petra Mateos-Aparicio · HISPASAT
- 2009Peter Shaper · CapRock Communications
- 2008Pradman Kaul · Hughes Communications, Inc. Hughes Network Systems, LLC
- 2007Kengi Chen · Inmarsat; Kalpack Gude · Intelsat; John Lothian · SES
- 2006C. Patrick DeWitt · Space Systems/Loral
- 2005Jean-Yves Le Gall · Arianespace
- 2004John M. Kealy · iDirect Techologies
- 2003Mark Dankberg · ViaSat, Inc.
- 2002Hugh Panero · XM Satellite Radio
- 2001Romain Bausch · SES GLOBAL
- 2000Giuliano Berretta · EUTELSAT
- 1999John Connelly · GE American Communications, Inc.
- 1998Jean-Claude Husson · Alcatel Space
- 1997Robert Kinzie · Iridium LLC
- 1996Bernard Schwartz · Loral Space and Communications
- 1995Steve Dorfman · Hughes Space and Communications
- 1994Eddy Hartenstein · DIRECTV; Joseph Clayton · Thomson Consumer Electronics; Robert and Stanley Hubbard · USSB
- 1993Charles Bigot · Arianespace
- 1992Irving Goldstein · INTELSAT
- 1991Richard Thomas · COMSAT RSI
- 1990David Thompson · Orbital Sciences Corporation
- 1989Steve Petrucci · Hughes Communications, Inc.
- 1988Rene Anselmo · PanAmSat