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Dave Wajsgras: A Spotlight on Leadership and Seven Wash100 Awards
Dave Wajsgras is the Chief Executive Officer of Intelsat. A seven-time Wash100 winner, he was recognized multiple times during his tenure at Raytheon and Intelsat. Let’s dive deeper into his accomplishments and learn more about him here.
Who is Dave Wajsgras?
David Wajsgras brings 20 years of senior executive management level experience. He has provided operational, strategic, and financial leadership in commercial and defense industries. Before joining Intelsat, he served as the President of the Intelligence, Information and Services (IIS) business at Raytheon. Previously, he held executive positions at Lear Corporation and Honeywell International.
Wajsgras also serves on the board of directors for Martin Marietta Materials and holds positions on several advisory boards and councils, including Dreamscape Immersive and Altamira Technologies Corporation.
Dave Wajsgras’ Wash100 Awards
Dave Wajsgras has been consistently recognized for his leadership in innovation, government contracting, and modernization efforts. Here’s a recap of all the Wash100 awards he has won over the years.
2015
Dave Wajsgras was honored with the 2015 Wash100 award for his significant influence in the government contracting sector. He received this award when he was still Raytheon’s Senior Vice President and CFO, overseeing the company’s financial strategy. During his tenure, Raytheon achieved $23 billion in sales and employed 61,000 people globally.
Following this, Wajsgras assumed the role of president at Raytheon Intelligence, Information, and Services (IIS), where he led the company’s global cyber and security services division.
2016
Dave Wajsgras won the 2016 Wash100 award while serving as the president of Raytheon’s Intelligence, Information, and Services business. This award highlighted his work in the scarcity of American technology, engineering, and math talent, especially cybersecurity.
2017
Dave Wajsgras was awarded the Wash100 in 2017 due to his great work in cyber defense and his contributions to the intelligence and information services sectors.
As the President of Raytheon’s Intelligence, Information, and Services (IIS) business segment, Wajsgras played a key role in obtaining major contracts and advancing the company’s cybersecurity offerings. He focused on nurturing skilled talent in cybersecurity and using new technology to maintain national security, which made him stand out for the Wash100 award.
2018
Dave Wajsgras won the Wash100 Award in 2018 for his continued efforts to the U.S. government IT community. He was also credited for actively participating in cybersecurity discussions to solve the nation’s critical challenges.
Some of Raytheon’s most significant contracts during his leadership included modernizing the Air and Space Operations Center Weapon System for the U.S. Air Force and a $1 billion DOMino contract to enhance the security of government networks and critical infrastructure sectors.
2019
Dave Wajsgras earned the 2019 Wash100 award for leading ‘organic’ research and development and securing significant contracts as the President of Raytheon’s intelligence, information, and services segment.
His leadership resulted in the research and development of innovative products by Raytheon’s Intell, Information, and Services (IIS) unit, including insider threat offerings. Notable contracts were also secured during his leadership, such as the $1B cybersecurity contract and a $511M contract with the U.S. Air Force for the Cobra Dane ballistic missile radar system.
Related: What Are The Top Raytheon Government Contracts?
2020
Dave Wajsgras won the Wash100 award in 2020 for leading the tech development and modernization efforts for defense and federal customers. Under his leadership, Raytheon secured a $300 million contract with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a $197 million contract with the U.S. Air Force to develop and test new space platforms, flight software, and missile-warning architecture.
Raytheon’s creation of the Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) Mission Data Processing Application Framework (MDPAF) was a key part of these efforts as well. It was designed to support the modernization project by collecting data from various satellites and sensors to help operators interpret the information quickly.
2023
Dave Wajsgras won the 2023 Wash100 Award for his leadership in driving satellite communications innovation as the CEO of Intelsat. He has been recognized for facilitating seamless connectivity worldwide, marking the seventh time he has been hand-picked for this prestigious award.
Under his leadership, Intelsat expanded its executive team and announced plans for a $2 billion unified network, focusing on 5G and software-defined ground and space assets to transform global connectivity. Additionally, Intelsat collaborated with Partner2Connect Digital Coalition to provide broadband service to unserved populations using satellite connectivity.
Dave Wajsgras, CEO of Intelsat
Wajsgras has played a key role in Intelsat’s growth in the company’s highest growth markets: government, aviation, and data sectors. He has focused on expanding the networks or data vertical, marking the first growth in this area for Intelsat in over a decade.
Moreover, Wajsgras is dedicated to improving satellite communications technology. He’s working on upgrading Intelsat’s $2 billion network using 5G and software-defined tools. He’s also a part of deploying a new cloud service and reallocating the company’s C-band spectrum.
In 2023, Intelsat made big strides in building stronger customer relationships and delivering on their multi-orbit commitment. They formed new partnerships and won contracts globally: Japan Airlines chose Intelsat’s 2Ku service for aircraft upgrades; PBS picked Intelsat as its exclusive satellite provider; and Intelsat teamed up with Lintasarta to provide connectivity to remote areas in Indonesia.
Intelsat, led by Wajsgras, also teamed up with low Earth orbit (LEO) providers like OneWeb (now part of Eutelsat) to provide multi-orbit capabilities. The purpose of this partnership is to improve government capabilities and offer widespread and reliable connectivity.
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Category: Articles
Tags: Dave Wajsgras Intelsat Raytheon Wash100
