David Bettinger Appointed CEO of Satellite Data Relay Service Company SpaceLink

David Bettinger, a three-decade satellite communications industry veteran, has been named CEO of Electro Optic Systems’ SpaceLink subsidiary.

He will oversee the design, operations and delivery of SpaceLink’s medium Earth orbit satellite relay system, EOS said Wednesday.

Bettinger previously served as vice president of advanced development group at OneWeb. He also held positions at Hughes Network Systems and iDirect.

SpaceLink is a newly established satellite data relay service company operating as part of EOS’ communications systems business. EOS announced that it has received approvals from the U.S. government to field a constellation of three communications satellites to provide imagery and data relay service.

SpaceLink plans to provide support to defense and intelligence agencies, in-orbit satellite servicing companies, operators of Earth observation satellites and other customers, SpaceNews reported.

“We are developing and implementing a commercial, medium Earth orbit data-relay service to provide direct access from LEO satellites to the ground within milliseconds,” Bettinger said. “We hope to have our second-generation constellation within two years of that first launch.”