Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL) has established two business units that are focused on exploiting long-term and growing business opportunities in the satellite ground station market. These two new business units, each of which will have its own agile and nimble business structure, will formalize and improve Comtech’s ability to serve U.S. and allied governments as a defense contractor and will facilitate the establishment of a major innovation center for Comtech’s growing commercial, VSAT platforms.
Daniel Gizinski and Dr. Vagan Shakhgildian have been appointed Presidents of two, recently created, U.S. and Canadian-based subsidiaries, respectively.
“Our customers expect Comtech to apply expertise and state-of-the-art technology to address their complex challenges,” said Comtech Chief Executive Officer and President, Michael Porcelain. “This is especially the case for satellite and defense-related hardware and government contracts, both in the VSAT arena and more broadly. This organizational shift is the latest example of how Comtech is transforming itself to anticipate and meet the changing needs of our end markets. I congratulate both Daniel and Vagan for taking on these new roles and share a sense of 1 momentum as we move toward a very bright future.”
About Comtech Satellite Network Technologies, Inc. (a U.S. Corporation)
Daniel Gizinski will serve as President of this unit which will be based in the firm’s new, state-of-the-art, Chandler, Arizona high-volume manufacturing and technology facility as well as the existing Santa Clara, California facility. Mr. Gizinski will lead a team focused on providing integrated, satellite-based solutions for government and commercial customers who have a need to rely on technologies developed and manufactured in-house at Comtech’s facilities based in the United States. This business unit brings together a full range of Comtech’s satellite Earth station products, including EF Data and Radyne branded modem lines and all of Comtech’s XICOM branded, solid-state and traveling-tube wave satellite amplifiers.
About Comtech Satellite Network Technologies Corp. (a Canadian Corporation)
Dr. Vagan Shakhgildian will serve as President of this unit which will be based in a new technology center located in Montreal, Quebec. Dr. Shakhgildian will lead a team focused on streamlining, accelerating and capturing commercial networking opportunities for VSAT platforms and building out an innovation center for Comtech’s commercial satellite Earth station communications technologies. This business unit brings together Comtech’s VSAT products, including Heights™, UHP and Memotec branded, satellite networking solutions.
Daniel Gizinski first joined Comtech in August of 2019 and has served in a variety of senior management positions, including Vice President of Product and Strategy for Comtech Systems Inc., where he oversaw the rollout of the Comtech COMET™, the world’s smallest, over-the-horizon (OTH) microwave, troposcatter terminal. Prior to joining Comtech, Daniel held program management and leadership roles at L3Harris Technologies, Sierra Nevada Corporation and General Electric. Daniel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia and a Master’s degree from Duke University.
Dr. Vagan Shakhgildian first joined Comtech in March of 2021 as part of the acquisition of Canada-based UHP Networks. As the CEO of UHP Networks, he led the company from a virtual start-up to a market leader in high performance VSAT systems. Prior to that, Dr. Shakhgildian was the President and Chief Operating Officer of Advantech Wireless, Head of Research at Adaptive Broadband and held senior R&D positions with Motorola and Signal Processors. Dr. Shakhgildian holds advanced degrees in mathematics and electronic engineering, as well as an MBA from the London Business School.
Comtech Telecommunications Corp. is a leading global provider of next-generation 911 emergency systems and secure wireless communications technologies to commercial and government customers around the world. Headquartered in Melville, New York, Comtech designs, produces and markets advanced and secure wireless solutions.