6 New Faces at SATELLITE 2024

This year’s SATELLITE show brings together the people behind some of the most interesting stories developing in the industry — from new leaders at some of the most well-known companies to the end users driving demand. Here are six new faces audiences will see on stages and panels at this year’s show.

Adel Al-Saleh, CEO, SES

Steve Collar’s departure from his role as SES CEO came as a shock to many, in the middle of the O3b mPOWER launch campaign, and shortly before news broke that SES and Intelsat were no longer in talks to merge. SES’s new CEO, Adel Al-Saleh, will take the stage during Tuesday’s Opening General Session less than two months after starting in his new role in February. Al-Saleh joins SES after serving as CEO of T-Systems International, the integrated IT services provider and subsidiary of telecoms company Deutsche Telekom (DT). He is credited with leading the company’s transition from an IT and outsourcing business to an integrated IT services and digital solutions provider. It will be interesting to hear Al-Saleh share his perspective on SES's future. How will SES, one of the largest Geostationary Orbit (GEO) operators, evolve in a changing industry? — Tuesday Opening General Session, 9 a.m., Ballroom A/B

Jessica Rosenworcel, FCC Chairwoman

Jessica Rosenworcel is far from a new face to the satellite industry, but this will be her first time speaking at the show as FCC chairwoman. Rosenworcel has been an FCC commissioner since 2012 and has led the FCC as chairwoman since 2021. Rosenworcel is passionate about promoting access to affordable broadband connectivity. She understands the satellite industry’s impact and moved to start a new Space Bureau to improve how the FCC regulates satellite. Under her leadership, the FCC is engaging on key issues like satellite-to-cell policy, orbital debris, and in-space manufacturing. She will appear alongside Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Doreen Bogdan-Martin in a panel moderated by Isabelle Mauro, director general of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA). — How Public-Private Partnerships Will Build a Worldwide Network of Meaningful Connectivity, Tuesday, 1:45 p.m., Room 147

Tom Mueller, CEO, Impulse Space

When propulsion expert and founding member of SpaceX Tom Mueller started his own propulsion company with backing from Founders Fund and Lux Capital, it caught the industry’s attention. Mueller led the development of propulsion systems at SpaceX for the Falcon 1, Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship launch vehicles and the Dragon line of spacecraft. His company, Impulse Space, is working to power in-space transportation for the future space economy. Impulse Space has moved quickly in the area of orbital transfer vehicles in Low-Earth Orbit, with its first spacecraft already in orbit. Now, the company has its eyes on Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and beyond — recently unveiling the Helios kick stage that could shake up the GEO launch business. Mueller will appear in fireside chat on Thursday morning. With his critical role in reusable launch technology, it’s no leap to wonder how his own company will disrupt the industry further. — Fireside chat on Thursday, 9:45 a.m., Via Satellite Exhibit Hall Theater

Stephanie Bednarek, VP of Commercial Sales, SpaceX

SpaceX has seen some changes in its top leadership over the last few months. Tom Ochinero, senior vice president of Commercial Business, recently left the company, and Jonathan Hofeller, former vice president of Starlink Commercial Sales, moved to the role of vice president of Private Astronaut Recruitment. This brings a new face to SATELLITE this year: Stephanie Bednarek, SpaceX vice president of Commercial Sales. She has been with the company for more than 15 years and now oversees SpaceX’s global relationships with launch customers and satellite manufacturers and is responsible for domestic and international commercial space launch business. She will represent SpaceX on the launch panel. — Launch Services: Executives Respond to Supply and Demand Forecasts, Monday at 2 p.m., Room 147

Ryan Krogh, Global Combine Business Manager, John Deere

John Deere made a splash in the satellite industry in 2022, calling for a solution to connecting thousands of tractors with always-on connectivity. Fast-forward to 2024, and Deere recently announced it will be partnering with SpaceX and its Starlink constellation for the solution. The satcom solution will start out with a limited release in the U.S. and Brazil starting in the second half of this year, and the company said the satcom solution will enable autonomy, real-time data sharing, and machine-to-machine communication. Ryan Krogh, John Deere Global Combine business manager, will give the opening keynote on Wednesday morning before the Opening General Session to talk about the importance of this partnership and how Deere plans to bring satellite connectivity to farms around the world. The company has a goal of connecting 1.5 million machines by 2026 as part of its plan to feed the growing global population. — Keynote on Wednesday at 9 a.m., Ballroom A/B

Paul Jacobs, CEO, Globalstar

Globalstar has been at the center of one of the impactful satellite partnerships in recent years, supplying the satellite connectivity for Apple’s emergency messaging on the iPhone 14 and 15. In August of 2023, the company named a new CEO, tapping former Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs to lead the company. Jacobs previously served as chairman and CEO of XCOM Labs, now renamed Virewirx, after founding the company in 2018. He was CEO of Qualcomm from 2005 to 2014 and director from 2005 to 2018. During his time at Qualcomm, Jacobs spearheaded efforts to develop and commercialize fundamental mobile technology breakthroughs that fueled the wireless internet and smartphone revolutions. Globalstar, a once-sleepy satellite operator, has seen a massive boost in revenue from the Apple deal and is now going through a constellation upgrade. Jacobs is focused on the convergence between satellite and terrestrial networks, and the company recently unveiled a new private networking solution for indoor venues like stadiums and warehouses. — Wednesday Opening General Session: Are Satellite and Cellular Worlds Converging or Colliding? 9:30 a.m., Ballroom A/B VS