Boeing’s Dawn Harms and DataPath’s David Myers Named Chairperson and President of SSPI

New York City, May 18, 2017--- The Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) today announced the appointment of Dawn Harms, Vice President of Business Development, Boeing Satellite Systems International, as its new Chairperson, and David Myers, President & CEO, DataPath, as President of its Board of Directors through March 2018.

SSPI also announced the election by its worldwide membership of seven new directors. Stuart Baillie, Vice President, Distribution Technology & Affiliate Services, Viacom, Ariane Cornell, Business Development & Strategy, Blue Origin, Jonathan Crawford, President & CEO, The SPACECONNECTION, Jonathan Hofeller, Vice-President of Commercial Sales, SpaceX, Jason Juranek, CEO and CFO, Globecomm, Nathan Kundtz, Chief Executive Officer and President, Kymeta Corporation, and Richard Leshner, Ph.D., Vice President, Government Affairs, Planet, were elected to serve three-year terms beginning March 9. Ed Giovannini, Vice President, Media Sales, Ericsson, was elected to serve a second term as Treasurer.

SSPI’s Board of Directors represents a cross-section of the commercial satellite business, from manufacturing to launch to services. The SSPI Board of Directors include:

  • Dawn Harms, Vice President of Business Development, Boeing Satellite Systems International (Chair)
  • David Myers, President & CEO, DataPath (President)
  • Ed Giovannini, Vice President, Media Sales, Ericsson (Treasurer)
  • Stuart Baillie, Vice President, Distribution Technology & Affiliate Services, Viacom
  • Ariane Cornell, Business Development & Strategy, Blue Origin
  • Jonathan Crawford, President & CEO, The SPACECONNECTION
  • Mike Donovan
  • Christine Ehrenbard, Director, Broadcast Distribution, CBS
  • Gary Hatch, CEO, ATCi
  • Jonathan Hofeller, Vice-President of Commercial Sales, SpaceX
  • Jason Juranek, CEO and CFO, Globecomm
  • David Kagan, Chief Operating Officer, Speedcast
  • Nathan Kundtz, Chief Executive Officer and President, Kymeta Corporation
  • Richard Leshner, Ph.D., Vice President, Government Affairs, Planet
  • Dave Rehbehn, Vice President, International Sales, Hughes Network Systems
  • Kurt Riegelman, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Intelsat
  • Thomas Van Den Driessche, Chief Executive Officer, Newtec
  • Ric VanderMeulen, Vice President and General manager, Government Satcom, ViaSat
  • Bill Weller, Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Space Systems Loral
  • Alan Young, Chief Operating Officer, Crystal
  • Elias Zaccack, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Americas, SES

John K Hane of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman serves as General Council.

“I am pleased to welcome the new SSPI board members who represent a diverse and impressive cross section of leaders operating during this dynamic and exciting time in the satellite industry,” said Dawn Harms, vice president of global sales and marketing, Boeing Satellite Systems International. “Working with the board members, SSPI looks to advance its important missions including future leader development and to promote the contribution of satellites to commerce, STEM education, communication and human welfare.”

“The SSPI Board will be focusing much of the next year on a strategic initiative to become more inclusive of the emerging ‘New Space’ sector of the industry,” said David Myers, President of the Board. “We will soon be announcing plans for enhancing the association’s membership, events and brand to benefit both new space and satellite professionals.”