Carefully selected for their experience and contributions to the industry, the Universal Space Network (USN) team leads with confidence and skill. We’ve created a system where individuals can excel, ideas can take flight and bureaucracy has been purposely left out.
John E. Williams
President & CEO
Mr. Williams joined Universal Space Network in November 2011 as President and Chief Executive Officer. He is responsible for leading the growth of USN's mission critial services to government and commercial customers world-wide and further developing its National Security Space presence.
Mr. Williams has over 32 years of highly successful aerospace and defense experience gained through extensive military and private industry careers. He currently serves as the Eastern Region Vice President for the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Space Division and on the executive committee of the NDIA Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Workforce Division.
In the private sector, Mr. Williams enjoyed a two year term with ATK Aerospace Systems as Director, Business Development for Spacecraft Systems & Services. In this role he was responsible for strategic direction, competitive intelligence, business development and proposals. Prior to ATK, Mr. Williams spent nine years with Booz Allen Hamilton leading a hand-picked, high profile, special projects team specializing in the national security space and industrial base arenas.
Mr. Williams is a retired U.S. Air Force officer, having serviced 21 years in a variety of naitonal security space-related roles such as Commander of the Air Force Satellite Control Network, The Air Force's space force programmer, and aide-de-camp to the Air Force Chief of Staff (CSAF).
Mr. Wiliams is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Computer Science, and earned a M.S. in Space Operations from the Air Force Institute of Technology.
Anita M. Primo
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Primo joined Universal Space Network in July 2010 and serves as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In this role, she leads the company's finance and administration functions that support overall business operations.
Ms. Primo has over 20 years of highly successful financial management experience in both the public and private sectors. Prior to USN, Ms. Primo served as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for SEDONA Corporation, a publicly-traded software development company. In addition, Ms. Primo spent 9 years as the senior financial executive for Action Manufacturing, a precision ordinance defense contractor serving the U.S. and international governments and numerous domestic and international commercial firms. Ms. Primo’s experience also includes serving as the Vice President of Finance and Administration for the Zoological Society of Philadelphia where she managed financial operations, directed business affairs and provided strategic financial planning.
Ms. Primo received a B.S. Degree in Accounting and a B.S. Degree in Business Law from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.
Thomas M. Pirrone
VP Customer Development & Chief Customer Service Officer
Since joining USN in early 1997, Mr. Pirrone has been instrumental in leading the company's marketing, business development and customer service functions. His activities as an industry-catalyst for commercial satellite TT&C services has helped USN achieve a leadership position in the commercial and civil space markets. Prior to joining USN, he served as general manager of GDP Space Systems, a ground station products manufacturer serving NASA, the commercial space industry and the DoD. Prior to joining GDP Space Systems in 1991, Mr. Pirrone held engineering, sales and management positions at the Aydin Corporation (now L-3 Communications), where he played a critical role in the design and implementation of satellite ground station equipment for NASA and the DoD. Most notably, Mr. Pirrone is credited with the design of ground-based data processing equipment for the NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) and for the DoD's F-14, F-16 and B-2 flight test programs. In addition, as international applications manager at Aydin Monitor Systems, Mr. Pirrone was directly responsible for the sale, implementation and installation of Euro-fighter and Tornado aircraft flight test ground stations in Germany, Italy, England, Spain and Finland.
A.J. "Nino" Polizzi
Vice President, Customer Integration
In leading our customer integration team, Mr. Polizzi is responsible for supporting integration and test efforts for new customers utilizing the USN network. Prior to joining USN in 2000, Mr. Polizzi served 18 years with McDonnell Douglas/Boeing, where he gained extensive experience in aerospace design, test, manufacturing and technical management. He held key positions on several major programs, including cognizant engineer for the DC-X vehicle and ground electrical systems, chief engineer for the Mast Mounted Sight (MMS), design lead on the "Unity" module of the International Space Station and Integrated Product Team (IPT) lead for the Space Station truss utilities.
Steve Montgomery
Vice President, Customer Operations
Mr. Montgomery leads USN’s customer operations team and is responsible for the operation, maintenance and development of the USN network of ground stations. He joined USN in 1999 as systems engineering manager and has been instrumental in the design and implementation of the USN tracking stations. He also participated in the design, testing and execution of specific mission support solutions and has actively supported over 30 satellite and rocket launches for USN.
Prior to joining USN, Mr. Montgomery led ground station development and implementation for the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). While at the NRL, Steve supported the design and international implementation of multiple satellite communications systems in support of a national intelligence asset. His activities spanned sub-system design, systems integration and test, regulatory compliance testing with host nation agencies, operations and maintenance training and system life cycle support.
Erik J. Eliasen
Director, DoD Programs and Strategy
Mr. Eliasen joined Universal Space Network in September 2009 after serving 20+ years in the U.S. Air Force where he gained a vast amount of satellite and space operations related experience. His varied assignments include experience as a Satellite Vehicle Operator for Milstar satellites, the Commander for the Air Force's Satellite Control Station in California, and Commander of the 1st Space Operations Squadron where he led 85 people to accomplish various dynamic satellite missions for the Air Force. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechanics from the US Air Force Academy, and two Masters Degrees, one in Space Operations from the Air Force Institute of Technology and the other in Management Information Systems, from the University of Montana.
As the Director for DoD Programs, Erik's portfolio includes all Business Development activities related to the Air Force, Navy, Army, MDA, NRO, NGA, ORS, and DARPA activities.
Dave Massey
Chief Technologist
After joining USN in March 1997, Mr. Massey led the technical implementation of the USN Commercial Ground Network. From April 1996 to March 1997, Mr. Massey served as director of satellite systems for GDP Space Systems, a ground station products manufacturer. Prior to that, Mr. Massey was a space systems engineer for NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for 17 years, a career that included roles as the chief architect of the NASA Network Polar Ground Stations and the lead in the modernization of the NASA Tracking Network. He was responsible for the design and operation of the Transportable Orbital Tracking System (TOTS) and the Advanced Wallops Orbital Tracking System (AWOTS). He was also instrumental in the successful operation of TT&C services for virtually every NASA science mission since 1984.
