Andrea Maleter
Some leaders of our industry do their best work in the glare of the spotlight. Some make their most valuable contributions out of public view. When it comes to mentoring the next generation of satellite professionals, Andrea Maleter has been described as an exceptionally influential presence behind the scenes: "She has a feel for who is good at what,” said one of her nominators, "and she makes sure the ‘who’ and the ‘what’ meet.” In an industry career that began at Comsat, where she served on the Intelsat Board, and took her to Intelsat and Futron Corporation, Andrea has worked tirelessly to support and promote the careers of her colleagues. The list of those proud to claim her as a mentor is long. It includes Hamadan Toure, Director General of the ITU; Maury Mechanick of White and Case (the last Chairman of Intelsat’s Board of Governors); Eric Beranger of EADS and Patricio Northland of SatMex. Promise Award winner Eileen McGowan cites Andrea as a mentor, as does Jeffrey Foust, Futron employee and increasingly recognized space journalist. Andrea’s mentorship has also reached far beyond her own employer. She is keenly aware that our industry will only be as strong as the next generation of satellite professionals. She devotes many hours as a volunteer to support satellite industry organizations, including service as a Board member and President of SSPI’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter, and as President of the Washington Space Business Roundtable. In this work, she continually encourages young people to become involved in the organizations so as to expand their knowledge and extend their career prospects. It is through her encouragement that the SSPI Mid-Atlantic Chapter Board gained Eileen McGowan as its current president. For those who have worked with Andrea, she is highly regarded as a constructive collaborator, a knowledgeable spokesperson, and a reliable colleague always willing to help.