With SpaceX adding aggressively to their developing constellation, Telesat securing funding and reaching final planning stages, Amazon announcing its Kuiper constellation and new facility, and the financing issues of OneWeb and LeoSat, planned LEO constellations are going through rapid changes. In addition to Amazon, Facebook and Apple are rumored to be eyeing these opportunities; with collective access to hundreds of billions available to deploy rapidly upon proof of a successful business model, this market is ripe for rapid expansion. Along with most industries, COVID-19 has put a wrench in plans and major supply chain issues, however, it has also caused a spike in demand for internet connectivity which is having a major impact on all broadband business models. Learn the latest updates on all of this companies, plans, specific supply chain issues, and market trends.
Steve Kaufman
A corporate partner and satellite practice co-head, Steve Kaufman uses industry knowledge and versatility to negotiate and close many types of deals globally.
For 18 of his 30 years at the firm, Steve served as outside general counsel for satellite clients, leading strategic joint ventures, “bet-the-company” contracts, financings, and M&A.
What Steve does best: understanding complex business issues and translating them into legal documents. If a client can describe something, Steve can draft it. Working from complicated to simple, he has many times reduced a lengthy contract into a few pages of bullet points, showing the client what it needs and how to obtain it. He has even written a business and financing model for parties in the form of an agreement. Many clients comment that the business guidance from Steve is as valuable as the legal advice.
Steve relies on his familiarity with issues common to satellite and communications companies to give him an edge in negotiations. This experience produces extra benefits when Steve deals with specialized satellite contract terms, targeted warranties, creative covenants, use of insurance to close gaps, license and spectrum issues, and even finance and accounting matters. According to Chambers Steve Kaufman is “a real authority and somebody who will always know the answer.”
In advising clients, Steve emphasizes practicality, striving to achieve the client’s business objectives for the transaction, whether economic, risk reduction, regulatory/compliance, or transaction speed. This carries over into deal management as well as negotiations, where he willingly takes the lead. Steve and satellite practice co-head Randy Segal are regulars at the satellite conferences, making connections among clients and even adverse parties. He is listed in Chambers, Super Lawyers, and Legal 500.
Dr. Dan Ceperley
Dan cofounded LeoLabs to accelerate the new commercial economy in LEO, protect satellite assets, and preserve the space environment. LeoLabs is the first commercial data source for tracking satellites and mapping LEO. Prior to co-founding LeoLabs Dan was a Program Director at SRI International where he supervised the Allen Telescope Array and developed advanced radar imaging technologies. Dan holds a Ph. D. from U. C. Berkeley in electrical engineering.
Tony Gingiss
Tony Gingiss is an Executive, Program Manager and Systems Engineer with over 25 years of experience in the satellite and telecom industries. Tony is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of OneWeb Satellites, appointed in Sept 2017. OneWeb Satellites is a joint venture (JV) between Airbus and OneWeb created to design the satellites for OneWeb’s low earth orbit constellation and manufacture over 900 of them at a production rate of 10+ satellites per week. In addition to enabling OneWeb, the JV’s mission is to provide low cost and high quality satellites to the market to revolutionize the economics of space. Prior to leading the JV, Tony served as OneWeb’s Vice President, Space Segment, responsible for satellite and launch vehicle procurement.
Prior to joining OneWeb, Tony was the Director of Strategic Integration for Boeing’s Satellite Systems in El Segundo, CA. He was responsible for overall innovation and integrating business strategy, across Government and Commercial markets and all organization functions. Prior to this, he was the Program Director of National Space Communications Programs (NSCP) and Advanced Systems Programs (ASP), portfolios of classified communications related programs with a combined scope of over $2B. During his 2011-2016 tenure in NSCP/ASP, Tony served as the Deputy Director and in program management roles for evolution studies, new business activities & campaigns, and a major development program.
From 2007-2011, Tony led the Systems Engineering organization for Boeing’s GPS (Global Positioning System) IIF. GPS IIF is the current generation GPS satellite system for the U.S. Air Force and included 12 new satellites and an updated ground segment, now fully deployed and operational. His organization included Space Vehicle System & Subsystems Engineering, Space and Ground Segment Integration, Flight Products, and Mission Operations Support. He led this organization through the first two launches in May 2010 and July 2011.
Tony started at Hughes Space and Communications (now Boeing Network & Space Systems) in 1992 as a Mission Analyst. He was the lead mission analyst for the first three DirecTV satellites and served in analysis and operations roles for more than 15 domestic and international commercial satellite programs. Tony worked his way up from a Mission Analyst into Ground Systems Engineering and Management and, ultimately, into Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, working Commercial, NASA, and DoD programs during all phases including concept/business development, design, I&T, delivery and on-orbit support.
During the dot-com boom from 2000 to 2003 Tony was the Director of Product Development for a small media and entertainment technology and telecommunications company. There he gained valuable technical and management experience in integrated hardware, software and networking product development and unique insight into the adoption of non-aerospace commercial practices and technologies to the aerospace industry. He rejoined Hughes/Boeing in 2003 as part of Boeing’s systems engineering team on the DoD TSAT Program.
Tony received his Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue in 1990. He was awarded a Charles Stark Draper Laboratories Fellowship at MIT and received his Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT in 1992.
Jonathan Hofeller
Jonathan Hofeller is SpaceX’s Vice President of Starlink and Commercial Sales. In this role, he leads business development efforts for Starlink, commercial launch, and private human spaceflight endeavors.
Hofeller joined SpaceX in 2007 and previously headed the company’s business development efforts in North America, Middle East and Asia— successfully expanding SpaceX’s customer base across the globe to include new launch customers in new regions and SpaceX’s entrance into the private astronaut sector.
Hofeller received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University, a Master’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern California, and a degree in Technology Commercialization from USC’s Marshall School of Business. He is also a graduate of the International Space University’s Space Studies Program. Prior to joining SpaceX, Hofeller worked at The Raytheon Company as a Senior Mechanical Engineer and designer on several satellite programs. He also serves on the Johns Hopkins University Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board.
Karl Kensinger
Karl A. Kensinger is a Deputy Chief of the Satellite Division of the Federal Communications Commission’s International Bureau. Mr. Kensinger’s experience and expertise covers a broad range of satellite policy and licensing matters, including licensing of small satellites and satellite constellations, international coordination of satellite networks, radio spectrum policy, and transfers of FCC licenses. He has been a primary FCC point of contact on orbital debris matters since 1995. Mr. Kensinger is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and the University of Chicago.