President Donald Trump adds interim NASA administrator to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s title, replacing acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro, who remains Kennedy Space Center director … Chris Griffiths, ex-Cube3.AI, joins ISP solutions provider Plume as chief technology officer, a new position.
X CEO Linda Yaccarino steps down, no reason given … Changes in Comtech's satellite and space communications unit: Ex-General Dynamics executives Steve Black and Brent Norman named COO and CFO, respectively; Mark Dale advanced to chief technology officer ... Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, appoints John Etue, ex-office of Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, as his chief of staff ... ISP Gigstreem promotes Brent McCutchin to COO and Florencio Bulanhagui to CTO, new positions ... Flynn Rico-Johnson, former policy adviser to FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, joins Nvidia as director of government relations for telecom.
Mark Pugerude, formerly Ericsson, joins embedded wireless provider Ezurio as CEO, replacing Bill Steinike, who continues as adviser … Digital infrastructure provider Cirion Technologies promotes Santiago Londono to CEO for connectivity and Nelson Fonseca to CEO for data centers, replacing Facundo Castro, who steps down as CEO and joins the board … Novaspace names Zack Hester, ex-Bluestone Investment Partners, head of its U.S. office, replacing Natalia Larrea Brito, who joined the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics as senior director for space.
Sinclair appoints Narinder Sahai, ex-Arcis Golf, as executive vice president and CFO, replacing Lucy Rutishauser, who steps down as CFO and continues as executive vice president until her retirement later this year, when she becomes senior adviser … Henry Liu, formerly FTC, rejoins Covington as co-chair of its antitrust and competition law practice group … NTCA General Counsel and Vice President of Policy Jill Canfield stepping down at the end of August after 27 years, plans unannounced ... MVPD Comporium promotes David Barnes to president and CEO, replacing Bryant Barnes, retiring but remaining as board chair.
Hudson Institute names former FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington a visiting fellow at the Center for the Economics of the Internet … Changes at DirecTV following its sale by AT&T to TPG: Tony Vinciquerra, formerly Sony Pictures Entertainment, joins the board; AT&T board appointees Thaddeus Arroyo, Lori Lee and Jamie Barton step down, as does independent director Steve McGaw … Sara Cicero, ex-Cisco, joins fiber-optics manufacturer AOI as head of communications.
TechNet names Andrew Wood, ex-Colorado Legislative Strategies, as executive director for Colorado and the central U.S. region, replacing Ruthie Barko, who joins OpenAI's global affairs unit for state and local policy … The joint venture Gigapower taps Donna Rattley Washington, formerly Boundless Broadband, as head of strategy, a new position … ISP GeoLinks appoints Sanyogita Shamsunder, ex-NextNav, as chief technology officer, replacing co-founder Ryan Hauf, who continues as strategic technology adviser … SpinLaunch names Massimiliano Ladovaz, ex-SatOne, as CEO, replacing David Wrenn, who becomes chief innovation officer ... The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission promotes Leah Mohr to executive director, replacing Patricia Van Gerpen, retiring after 41 years in state government.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr names Katie McAuliffe, ex-Information Technology Industry Council, as a policy adviser in his office, overseeing coalitions and external affairs … Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) selects Commissioner Marissa Paslick Gillett to serve another two-year term as chair of the state's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority … Telecom infrastructure services provider TriStruX taps Tom Prestwood, formerly InSite Telecom, as CEO, replacing interim CEO Gene Callahan, who remains as a strategic adviser and member of the board of managers ... Correction: Next-generation 911 technology provider NGA adds Ricardo Villafana, formerly AT&T, as field engineer, a new position (see 2506160041).
Changes at the FCC: Chairman Brendan Carr names Eduard Bartholme, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, and Jonathan McCormack, Broadband Data Task Force, co-chairs of the Broadband Data Task Force, replacing Jean Kiddoo, retiring; Hillary DeNigro, Media Bureau, tapped as chair of the Incentive Auction Task Force, also replacing Kiddoo; Jill Coogan, Public Safety Bureau, retires; Patricia Goff, Office of Engineering and Technology, retires; Commissioner Olivia Trusty appoints Krista Senell, Office of Engineering and Technology, as her chief of staff/senior counsel; William Holloway, Broadband Data Task Force, and Jessica Kinsey, Enforcement Bureau, as acting legal advisers; and Andi Roane, office of former Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, as acting confidential assistant ... National Emergency Number Association board elects: Lee Ann Magoski, Monterey County (California) Emergency Communications Department (president); Roxanne Van Gundy, Lyon County (Kansas) Emergency Communications Center (first vice president); Cassie Lowery, Rutherford County (Tennessee) Emergency Communications District (second vice president); Melanie Jones, Guilford (North Carolina) Metro 911 (immediate past president); Mark Fletcher, RapidSOS; Leah Hornacek, Aurelian; Stephanie Johnson, Ada County (Idaho) Sheriff’s Office; Holly Barkwell, Barkwell Holland Group; and Karin Marquez, RapidSOS … Nokia Chief Legal Officer Esa Niinimaki will serve as interim chief people officer, replacing Lorna Gibb, leaving to pursue another opportunity; recruitment has begun for Gibbs' successor ... CTIA adds Vijesh Mehta, EZ Texting, to its board.
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy names Elena Hernandez, ex-YouTube, chief of staff ... New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) appoints Jeffrey Lopez, formerly office of Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., as director of the state Office of Broadband Access and Expansion and Alex Trujillo, who previously served at OBAE, as deputy director ... Jodi Goldberg, ex-Sheppard Mullin, joins Pillsbury as a partner in its space and satellite practice.
Alan Davidson, formerly NTIA, joins Databricks as head of government affairs ... Changes at Tegna: Carol Fowler and Julie Wolfe promoted to vice presidents of content for the Mid-South and West, respectively; Chris Pena, formerly Blue Engine, added as vice president of content for the Midwest … Logix Fiber Networks names Chris Bach, ex-LiveOak Fiber, CFO … The National Emergency Number Association names John Provenzano, ex-Publix, CEO, replacing Brian Fontes, who is retiring but remains as a consultant, effective July 14 ... Washington State Broadband Office Director Aaron Wheeler leaving Friday to return to work with the Suquamish Tribe; Deputy Director Erica Henry will lead the office during the next BEAD round ... The Government Wireless Technology & Communications Association adds Ira Grossman, Public Safety Consulting, Dave Statter, STATter 911 Communications, and Susan Berning, World Portico, to its board.