Peter Platzer, CEO, Spire Global
In 2017, Spire launched four dozen satellites and brought its Spire Sense maritime product up to par with the competition. Spire secured a $70 million Series C financing round in November, leading to the opening of a new European headquarters in Luxembourg. Via Satellite has selected Platzer as a SEOTY nominee.
Howard Lance, CEO, Maxar Technologies
Lance navigated MDA through one of the most significant acquisitions in the history of commercial space, combining SSL, MDA, DigitalGlobe and Radiant Solutions into a single powerhouse. Since debuting on the New York Stock Exchange in October, Maxar’s share prices have already ballooned 16 percent.
Explore the January/February 2018 Issue
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Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO, SpaceX
Shotwell led SpaceX through an incredible year with 18 successful launch missions. SpaceX made history in March 2017 by becoming the first launch company to fly a reused rocket segment. Shotwell also raised $449.9 million in working capital for SpaceX, boosting the company value to $21.5 billion.
Rick Ambrose, Executive Vice President, Lockheed Martin Space Systems
In 2017, Ambrose broke ground on a new $350 million state-of-the-art satellite assembly facility in Denver, and introduced a new line-up of nanosat and high-powered satellite buses. Lockheed Martin Space Systems completed the first GPS 3 satellite and launched the SBIRS GEO 3 satellite.
Steven Volz, Assistant Administrator, NOAA NESDIS
In 2017, Volz established a new strategic commercial engagement plan and initiated multiple industry engagement events. He supervised the launch of NOAA’s JPSS 1 satellite and brought GOES 16 into full operation for the National Weather Service.
Pierre-Jean Beylier, CEO, Speedcast
Speedcast completed the Harris Caprock acquisition in January 2017, and acquired UltiSat to accelerate growth in the government sector. The company is on course to more than double revenues in 2017 compared with 2016. VS
