TRAVERSE CITY–Officials at the Traverse City-based satellite ground operations software provider Atlas Space Operations announced John Williams as the company’s new CEO.
“John Williams is a remarkable leader who embodies the qualities of a team builder and visionary,” said Brad Bode, co-founder and CTO of Atlas. “His experience and deep understanding of the space industry make him the ideal fit for leading Atlas into an exciting and prosperous future. With this addition, we are confident that Atlas will continue to excel in providing innovative satellite communication solutions and further strengthen our position as an industry leader.”
Prior to joining Atlas, John served as the vice president of realtime Earth at Viasat, where he led the development of the ground-station-as-a-service business. With a focus on innovation and strategic vision, Williams has successfully held leadership positions at other renowned organizations including Booz Allen Hamilton, ATK Space Systems, and Universal Space Network (now SSC). He also had a diverse 21-year Air Force officer career in roles ranging from operations, acquisition, budgeting, strategic planning, and command.
Said Williams in a news release: “Atlas has built a strong foundation throughout the growth of the company, set the industry standard for ground station software, and earned recognition through numerous accolades and awards, all while being involved in the communities they serve. Atlas is poised for a very bright future–and I look forward to being part of achieving that with the team.”
In early 2023, ATLAS announced its partnership with Viasat Real-Time Earth to include Viasat’s ground antenna network in the Atlas Global Federated Network. Additionally, Atlas and Viasat collaborated on the NASA Near Space Network bid, showcasing a solid and mutually-beneficial partnership. Under Williams’s leadership, the partnership will continue to flourish and strengthen, further enhancing the services provided to Atlas clients.
Atlas Space Operations is the leading provider of “Ground Software as a Service” in the space communications industry. The company has been recognized by the World Teleport Association as one of the fastest-growing teleport operators in the world for the past three years. For 2023, Atlas’ Freedom software was recognized as a finalist for Technology of the Year by both Via Satellite and World Teleport Association. Atlas also ranked No. 30 on Fortune magazine’s America’s Most Innovative Companies. More at atlasspace.com.