The new president of Astrium Government Services, Ed Spitler.

Spitler, who served as Astrium Services Government, Inc.'s chief operating officer since May 2012, brings more than 25 years of senior executive level experience in military, government and commercial satellite operations. He will be responsible for leading the development and execution of the company's overall business strategy.

Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, the company delivers a full portfolio of fixed satellite solutions (X-Band, UHF, C-Band, Ku-Band and Ka-Band) and mobile satellite solutions (Inmarsat, Thuraya and Iridium) to the U.S. government and military for their most critical missions.

Spitler is well known in the telecommunications and satellite communications industries and is often called upon for expert advice in U.S. government procurement practices. Spitler spent over a decade at ARTEL as vice president of managed network services. He served as the program director for the DISN Satellite Transmission Services-Global (DSTS-G) and Future COMSATCOM Service Acquisition (FCSA) Contract. He has also held key leadership positions at several major corporations, including ITT, Raytheon and MCI. He spent six years active duty in the U.S. Army as a cryptographic and telecommunications specialist.

Spitler is the recipient of numerous industry awards including the Washington Technology's Government Channel Leadership Award and is a recipient of Intelsat's Partnership Award. He is a three-term officer on the Mid-Atlantic Chapter for the Society of Satellite Professionals International and currently serves as its president.

"Ed's background with the Department of Defense along with his extensive knowledge of government procurement will be a tremendous asset as we continue to expand our business in support of military requirements," said Michael Kostelnik, president of Astrium Americas.

"As the only commercial owner and operator of secure military hardened satellites with our fleet of Skynet 5 spacecraft, Ed's appointment comes at a time when the U.S. government is increasingly reaching out to commercial satellite operators to provide unique and tailored solutions for the ultimate in secure SATCOM," said Simon Kershaw, executive director of government communications for Astrium Services.

For U.S. government customers, Astrium Services Government, Inc. provides communications services through a one-stop-provisioning agreement. The company's solutions are cost-effective, secure and scalable with quality of service that support's the most critical missions including communications-on-the-move, asset tracking, troop welfare, infrastructure design and operation and civil security.