Satellite Executive of the Year Awards
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. The Via Satellite editorial team reviews nomination submissions and selects the nominees. Nominees will be announced in mid-February. The winner is chosen by a combination of editorial and public vote and will be announced during SAT Show Week.
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. See 2024 nominees.
Nominations are officially OPEN!
NOMINATE HERE
Nominations close December 5, 2025.
Visit Satellite Technology of the Year page.
Past Winners of Satellite Executive of the Year
2024 – Emile de Rijk, CEO, SWISSto12
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 Rijk here.
2023 – Mike Greenley, MDA Space
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 here.
2022 – Melanie Stricklan, Slingshot Aerospace
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. See our interview with Stricklan here.
2021 – Tina Ghataore, Mynaric
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. See Via Satellite‘s conversation with Tina here.
2020 – Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX
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. See Via Satellite‘s conversation with Gwynne here.
2019 – Steve Collar, SES
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, included a ground-breaking deal with Microsoft, and much more. Learn more about the 2019 Satellite Executive of the Year winner here.
2018 – Matt Desch, Iridium
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. Read about Desch’s reaction to his second win and his work at Iridium here.
2017 – Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX
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 . Read her conversation with Via Satellite here.
2016 – Stéphane Israël, Arianespace
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. Read the conversation here.
2015 – Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat
2014 – Dan Berkenstock, Skybox Imaging
2013 – Eng. Khalid Ahmed Balkheyour, ARABSAT
2012 – Thomas Choi, Asia Broadcast Satellite
2011 – Matt Desch, Iridium
2010 – Petra Mateos-Aparicio, HISPASAT
2009 – Peter Shaper, CapRock Communications
2008 – Pradman Kaul, Hughes Communications, Inc. Hughes Network Systems, LLC
2007 – Kengi Chen, Inmarsat; Kalpack Gude, Intelsat; John Lothian, SES
2006 – C. Patrick DeWitt, Space Systems/Loral
2005 – Jean-Yves Le Gall, Arianespace
2004 – John M. Kealy, iDirect Techologies
2003 – Mark Dankberg, ViaSat, Inc.
2002 – Hugh Panero, XM Satellite Radio
2001 – Romain Bausch, SES GLOBAL
2000 – Giuliano Berretta, EUTELSAT
1999 – John Connelly, GE American Communications, Inc.
1998 – Jean-Claude Husson, Alcatel Space
1997 – Robert Kinzie, Iridium LLC
1996 – Bernard Schwartz, Loral Space and Communications
1995 – Steve Dorfman, Hughes Space and Communications
1994 – Eddy Hartenstein, DIRECTV; Joseph Clayton, Thomson Consumer Electronics; Robert and Stanley Hubbard, USSB
1993 – Charles Bigot, Arianespace
1992 – Irving Goldstein, INTELSAT
1991 – Richard Thomas, COMSAT RSI
1990 – David Thompson, Orbital Sciences Corporation
1989 – Steve Petrucci, Hughes Communications, Inc.
1988 – Rene Anselmo, PanAmSat