Our Company
Origins Rooted in Connectivity
Several years ago, our team of aviation professionals became frustrated by the lack of an office-like Internet for airborne passengers.
Despite many “broadband” marketing claims, we found off-the-shelf commercial offerings to be less than satisfying.
In 2009 we decided to do something about it and began the journey of a lifetime.
The Evolution of IFC
By 2011, we were well underway with our advanced air-to-ground network, designed from the ground up to serve the aviation industry. To achieve optimum performance, traditional network designs were discarded. We took an entirely new network approach to high bandwidth aircraft connectivity. Based on aviation-specific modifications to the emerging 4G wireless communications standard, our work resulted in breakthroughs that pushed the envelope of performance with advanced communications technologies.SmartSky’s network with proprietary beamforming stands apart as the only inflight network capable of offering services with real-time bidirectional connectivity without the latency of satellite-based solutions.
Pushing the Envelope
SmartSky will transform aviation through deployment of disruptive communications technologies. Headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, with an office in Sterling, Virginia, the SmartSky team represents a diverse group of experts in their fields.
Learn more about our employees and join our team!
Origins Rooted in Connectivity
Several years ago, our team of aviation professionals became frustrated by the lack of an office-like Internet for airborne passengers.
Despite many “broadband” marketing claims, we found off-the-shelf commercial offerings to be less than satisfying.
In 2009 we decided to do something about it and began the journey of a lifetime.
The Evolution of IFC
By 2011, we were well underway with our advanced air-to-ground network, designed from the ground up to serve the aviation industry. To achieve optimum performance, traditional network designs were discarded. We took an entirely new network approach to high bandwidth aircraft connectivity. Based on aviation-specific modifications to the emerging 4G wireless communications standard, our work resulted in breakthroughs that pushed the envelope of performance with advanced communications technologies.SmartSky 4G LTE with proprietary beamforming stands apart as the only inflight network capable of offering services with real-time bidirectional connectivity without the latency of satellite-based solutions.
Pushing the Envelope
SmartSky will transform aviation through deployment of disruptive communications technologies. With offices in Charlotte and Durham, North Carolina as well as Sterling, Virginia, the SmartSky team represents a diverse group of experts in their fields.
Learn more about our employees and join our team!
Origins Rooted in Connectivity
Several years ago, our team of aviation professionals became frustrated by the lack of an office-like Internet for airborne passengers.
Despite many “broadband” marketing claims, we found off-the-shelf commercial offerings to be less than satisfying.
In 2009 we decided to do something about it
and began the journey of a lifetime.
The Evolution of IFC
By 2011, we were well underway with our advanced air-to-ground network, designed from the ground up to serve the aviation industry. To achieve optimum performance, traditional network designs were discarded. We took an entirely new network approach to high bandwidth aircraft connectivity. Based on aviation-specific modifications to the emerging 4G wireless communications standard, our work resulted in breakthroughs that pushed the envelope of performance with advanced communications technologies.SmartSky 4G LTE with proprietary beamforming stands apart as the only inflight network capable of offering services with real-time bidirectional connectivity without the latency of satellite-based solutions.
Pushing the Envelope
SmartSky will transform aviation through deployment of disruptive communications technologies. With offices in Charlotte and Durham, North Carolina as well as Sterling, Virginia, the SmartSky team represents a diverse group of experts in their fields.
Learn more about our employees and join our team.
Leadership Team
HAYNES GRIFFIN
CHAIRMAN AND CEO
Mr. Griffin is a wireless industry pioneer and serial entrepreneur who founded and led Vanguard Cellular Systems from commercial launch to its IPO and eventual sale in 1999 to AT&T. He is also the past chairman of the board of the CTIA wireless trade association and serves as chairman of the SmartSky Board.
PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR
Mr. Stone is a serial entrepreneur in the aviation space, having co-founded and led both Davinci Jets and SmartSky, as well as serving as a director of the SmartSky Board. His background included engineering and leadership roles at Duke Energy and as a U.S. Naval Submarine Officer.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Mr. Petzold brings 20-plus years of experience as a CFO in the communications, SaaS, and pharmaceutical industries. His background includes roles as Corporate Controller of a NASDAQ listed company and twice as CFO of subsidiaries of multi-billion dollar market capitalization NYSE and NASDAQ listed companies.
CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER
Ms. Walker brings over 30 years of business development, engineering, and program management experience in advanced radio communications systems, both military and commercial, for use in aviation and spaceborne environments. Besides running multiple consumer businesses as an entrepreneur, Ms. Walker’s prior career included roles at NASA, Harris, LiveTV, Thales, and Leonardo DRS.
CHIEF NETWORK OFFICER
Mr. Dodson offers 30-plus years of technical leadership experience in the wireless industry where he was instrumental in building many of the first cellular networks in the U.S. In prior roles, his accomplishments include advanced technology planning and program management; RAN, Core and Transport engineering; and the deployment, service launch and operations of major national wireless networks.
External Board of Directors
VICE CHAIRMAN
Mr. Hundt is an early investor in the company and formerly served as chairman of the United States Federal Communications Commission from 1993 to 1997. He oversaw the introduction of spectrum auctions and the implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. After leaving the FCC, he worked as an adviser to McKinsey & Company and currently to GTCR. He is also on the board of several technology companies, including Intel Corp.
DIRECTOR
Mr. Tankersley is an early investor in the company. Jack is a co-founder of Meritage Funds with more than 35 years of experience as a private equity investor, having raised and managed more than $1 billion of capital during his career. He is responsible for a number of highly successful investments in companies such as Crown Castle and Brooks Fiber Properties. He currently serves on the board of directors of Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley, Calif., and currently serves on the Tuck Center for Private Equity and Entrepreneurship’s Executive Advisory Board.
DIRECTOR
Mr. Yeary is an early investor in the company. He is executive chairman at CamberView Partners, a boutique advisory firm that provides public companies with expertise for succeeding with their institutional investors. He has served on the board of eBay and currently serves on the board of Intel Corporation and PayPal. He previously held roles as Global Head of Mergers and Acquisitions at Citigroup, partner and head of New York office for The Carlyle Group, and managing director at Salomon Brothers.
FRED R. LUMMIS
DIRECTOR
Fred is co-founder and Chairman of Platform Partners, LLC a major investor in SmartSky. Fred currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Baylor College of Medicine and as a trustee of Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Woodberry Forest School. He is also director of Amegy Bancorporation, Houston Baseball Partners and several other privately held companies. Fred received his BA from Vanderbilt University, where he captained the Men’s Tennis Team, and his MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.
EMIL W. HENRY, JR.
DIRECTOR
Mr. Henry is CEO and Founder of Tiger Infrastructure Partners, a private equity firm focused on growth equity investments in infrastructure businesses. Tiger is a significant investor in the Company. Mr. Henry has over 30 years of experience at senior levels of the financial services industry and U.S. government. He served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, key advisor to two Treasury Secretaries on matters affecting U.S. financial institutions. He currently serves on the board of directors of numerous private and public companies.
TOM THOMPSON
DIRECTOR
Mr. Thompson has both a broad business background and a formal legal background, with over 32 years of experience in the investment industry, as well as in mergers and acquisitions, plus first-hand operating experience. Mr. Thompson has directly led many private equity and real estate investment transactions, including workout situations in the United States, Europe and Asia. Earlier in his career, Mr. Thompson was responsible for the acquisitions and management of a $1 billion real estate portfolio for the Ameritech pension trust. He has a J.D. degree from Indiana University Law School and a B.A. in government from Bowdoin College.
DONALD PHILLIPS
DIRECTOR
Mr. Phillips has over 30 years of investment management experience managing large pools of pension assets in the capacity of both a limited and a general partner. Prior to founding WP Global Partners in 2005, Mr. Phillips was the Chief Investment Officer and CEO for WestAM (U.S.), a subsidiary of WestLB, a large German bank. At WestAM he directed the investment strategy and oversaw the firm’s approximately $3 billion portfolio in commitments to private equity funds, real estate, and direct investments. Recently, he was awarded the Richard J. Daley Medal by the Illinois Venture Capital Association which recognizes “extraordinary contributions to the Illinois Economy resulting from private equity investing.” He has an M.B.A. in finance from Northern Illinois University and a B.A. in business from Western Illinois University.
Leadership Team
HAYNES GRIFFIN
CHAIRMAN AND CEO
Mr. Griffin is a wireless industry pioneer and serial entrepreneur who founded and led Vanguard Cellular Systems from commercial launch to its IPO and eventual sale in 1999 to AT&T. He is also the past chairman of the board of the CTIA wireless trade association and serves as chairman of the SmartSky Board.
PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR
Mr. Stone is a serial entrepreneur in the aviation space, having co-founded and led both Davinci Jets and SmartSky, as well as serving as a director of the SmartSky Board. His background included engineering and leadership roles at Duke Energy and as a U.S. Naval Submarine Officer.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Mr. Petzold brings 20-plus years of experience as a CFO in the communications, SaaS, and pharmaceutical industries. His background includes roles as Corporate Controller of a NASDAQ listed company and twice as CFO of subsidiaries of multi-billion dollar market capitalization NYSE and NASDAQ listed companies.
CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER
Ms. Walker brings over 30 years of business development, engineering, and program management experience in advanced radio communications systems, both military and commercial, for use in aviation and spaceborne environments. Besides running multiple consumer businesses as an entrepreneur, Ms. Walker’s prior career included roles at NASA, Harris, LiveTV, Thales, and Leonardo DRS.
CHIEF NETWORK OFFICER
Mr. Dodson offers 30-plus years of technical leadership experience in the wireless industry where he was instrumental in building many of the first cellular networks in the U.S. In prior roles, his accomplishments include advanced technology planning and program management; RAN, Core and Transport engineering; and the deployment, service launch and operations of major national wireless networks.
External Board of Directors
VICE CHAIRMAN
Mr. Hundt is an early investor in the company and formerly served as chairman of the United States Federal Communications Commission from 1993 to 1997. He oversaw the introduction of spectrum auctions and the implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. After leaving the FCC, he worked as an adviser to McKinsey & Company and currently to GTCR. He is also on the board of several technology companies, including Intel Corp.
DIRECTOR
Mr. Tankersley is an early investor in the company. Jack is a co-founder of Meritage Funds with more than 35 years of experience as a private equity investor, having raised and managed more than $1 billion of capital during his career. He is responsible for a number of highly successful investments in companies such as Crown Castle and Brooks Fiber Properties. He currently serves on the board of directors of Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley, Calif., and currently serves on the Tuck Center for Private Equity and Entrepreneurship’s Executive Advisory Board.
DIRECTOR
Mr. Yeary is an early investor in the company. He is executive chairman at CamberView Partners, a boutique advisory firm that provides public companies with expertise for succeeding with their institutional investors. He has served on the board of eBay and currently serves on the board of Intel Corporation and PayPal. He previously held roles as Global Head of Mergers and Acquisitions at Citigroup, partner and head of New York office for The Carlyle Group, and managing director at Salomon Brothers.
FRED R. LUMMIS
DIRECTOR
Fred is co-founder and Chairman of Platform Partners, LLC a major investor in SmartSky. Fred currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Baylor College of Medicine and as a trustee of Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Woodberry Forest School. He is also director of Amegy Bancorporation, Houston Baseball Partners and several other privately held companies. Fred received his BA from Vanderbilt University, where he captained the Men’s Tennis Team, and his MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.
EMIL W. HENRY, JR.
DIRECTOR
Mr. Henry is CEO and Founder of Tiger Infrastructure Partners, a private equity firm focused on growth equity investments in infrastructure businesses. Tiger is a significant investor in the Company. Mr. Henry has over 30 years of experience at senior levels of the financial services industry and U.S. government. He served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, key advisor to two Treasury Secretaries on matters affecting U.S. financial institutions. He currently serves on the board of directors of numerous private and public companies.
TOM THOMPSON
DIRECTOR
Mr. Thompson has both a broad business background and a formal legal background, with over 32 years of experience in the investment industry, as well as in mergers and acquisitions, plus first-hand operating experience. Mr. Thompson has directly led many private equity and real estate investment transactions, including workout situations in the United States, Europe and Asia. Earlier in his career, Mr. Thompson was responsible for the acquisitions and management of a $1 billion real estate portfolio for the Ameritech pension trust. He has a J.D. degree from Indiana University Law School and a B.A. in government from Bowdoin College.
DONALD PHILLIPS
DIRECTOR
Mr. Phillips has over 30 years of investment management experience managing large pools of pension assets in the capacity of both a limited and a general partner. Prior to founding WP Global Partners in 2005, Mr. Phillips was the Chief Investment Officer and CEO for WestAM (U.S.), a subsidiary of WestLB, a large German bank. At WestAM he directed the investment strategy and oversaw the firm’s approximately $3 billion portfolio in commitments to private equity funds, real estate, and direct investments. Recently, he was awarded the Richard J. Daley Medal by the Illinois Venture Capital Association which recognizes “extraordinary contributions to the Illinois Economy resulting from private equity investing.” He has an M.B.A. in finance from Northern Illinois University and a B.A. in business from Western Illinois University.