Satellite Relay Operator SpaceLink Makes Key Executive Appointments

McLean, Va., January 19, 2021–Satellite relay operator SpaceLink announced key executive appointments including Tony Colucci as Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer, Larry Rubin as Chief Operating Officer, Rob Singh, formerly of Maxar Technologies, has joined as Chief Technology Officer, and David Lihani, formerly of Astrolabe Enterprises, was named General Counsel.

“I joined SpaceLink knowing that a superior executive team would be supporting me in my role as CEO,” said David Bettinger, Chief Executive Officer at SpaceLink. “Tony, Larry, Rob and David all have stellar lists of accomplishments developing communications satellite networks around the world. They understand the value of our substantial bandwidth in MEO and are driving the design and construction of an advanced communications network that will serve both commercial and government spacecraft in near Earth orbit,” he added.

The company is building a satellite relay system for secure, continuous, high-capacity data relay service between Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and the ground to meet pent up demand for fast and affordable access to the growing flood of data available from space.

Anthony J. (Tony) Colucci, Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer

Tony is a global business strategy executive with more than 35 years’ experience in satellites and space. He has held key leadership roles in two international satellite start-ups. His previous roles included VP of Business Development at Space Systems Loral and Deputy Chair of KACOMM, responsible for Loral’s equity investment. He also held senior posts at Hughes, now Boeing,  and Rockwell International. Tony has a BS in Astrophysics from the University of New Mexico, and an MBA from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.  

Larry Rubin, Chief Operating Officer

Larry is a highly experienced program management and operations executive with more than 35 years in the space industry. He spent 22 years at Space Systems Loral where he directed more than 20 innovative spacecraft programs, and before that he directed Commercial Systems Engineering at Hughes, now Boeing. Larry has a BS in Physics from the University of Michigan and completed the Management Development Program at UCLA Anderson School of Business. He was awarded a NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal for leading the Galileo Probe systems engineering team.

Rabindra (Rob) Singh, Chief Technology Officer

Rob specializes in innovative satellite communications solutions and their integration into existing and emerging 5G networks. As VP of Strategy Initiatives and Chief Architect at Maxar Technologies, he developed business strategy and technology roadmaps for disruptive solutions. And prior as executive director of Communications and Payload Systems, Rob was responsible for payload design, build and test on more than 60 geostationary satellites currently operational in orbit.  He holds bachelors and masters engineering degrees from the University of Waterloo, Canada and a LEAD Corporate Innovation Certificate from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

David Lihani, General Counsel

David brings over 25 years of space experience with a focus on corporate governance, commercial transactions, trade compliance, risk management, and national security. His career includes roles at Astrolabe, Maxar, and Virgin Galactic and he was outside counsel to the UAE Space Agency. He also worked at SES, Lockheed Martin, and SAIC and law firms in NY and DC. He began his career as a flight officer in the U.S. Navy and earned a BS from the U.S. Naval Academy. He holds an MA from the University of Maryland, and a law degree from George Washington University.

SpaceLink is a subsidiary of Electro Optic Systems of Australia (EOS) and benefits from resources, financing, and advanced technology from its corporate parent, including advanced optical communications. The relay system will optimize access to imagery from Earth observation satellites and will provide continuous communications for human spaceflight. It will provide a secure connection for the defense and intelligence communities and fast data transfer for space agencies.