Maxar Names Heather Wilson to Board of Directors

Maxar Technologies has appointed former Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson to its board of directors, with a term set to expire at the company's 2021 annual meeting of stockholders. 

Wilson, a past Potomac Officers Club event speaker and two-time Wash100 winner, has served as the president of the University of Texas at El Paso since 2019. She was the secretary of the Air Force from May 2017 through May 2019, Maxar said Tuesday. 

“We are extraordinarily pleased to welcome Dr. Wilson to Maxar’s Board. Her knowledge and experience from a distinguished career of service to this nation will be incredibly valuable as we provide oversight and guidance for Maxar's next phase," said Maxar Chairman Howell Estes III. 

For 11 years, Wilson represented Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the House of Representatives. She was a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and chair of the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence. 

She also served on the boards of Peabody Energy and Raven Industries before she took on her role in the Air Force. Wilson is currently a member of the National Science Board and chairs the Women in Aviation Advisory Board of the Federal Aviation Administration. 

She earned a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy and master's and doctoral degrees from Oxford University. 

Maxar CEO Dan Jablonsky said Wilson's deep understanding of the national and intelligence communities is valuable for growing the company's Earth intelligence and space infrastructure capabilities.

“We are also passionate about and committed to creating an inclusive environment and building the workforce of the future, and Dr. Wilson’s experience leading the University of Texas at El Paso gives her a unique and valuable perspective in that regard," Jablonsky added.