Former Congressman and NASA Administrator James Bridenstine Receives 2026 Satellite Industry Association Leadership Award

Washington, D.C., March 24, 2026 – The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) has announced the Honorable James (Jim) Bridenstine as this year’s recipient of the Association’s Satellite Leadership in Government Award. SIA President Tom Stroup presented the award at the 27th annual Satellite Industry Association Leadership Dinner on Monday evening in Washington, DC.

The award recognizes the former Congressman and head of NASA for his distinguished career and the impact he has had on domestic space policy. Mr. Bridenstine served as the 13th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) between 2018 and 2021. Prior to serving at NASA, he was elected in 2012 to represent Oklahoma’s First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served on the Armed Services Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee.

“On behalf of SIA and its members, it is my pleasure to honor former NASA Administrator and House Representative Jim Bridenstine with this year’s Leadership Award for advocating for the use of commercial satellite and space technology for government,” said Tom Stroup, president of the Satellite Industry Association. “Long before the current rapid expansion of the satellite industry, then Congressman Bridenstine envisioned a time when commercial space innovation could one day outpace government programs. Thanks to his enthusiasm for commercial space technology, he helped enable government agencies to increasingly utilize private industry space-based data for remote sensing and imaging, weather forecasting, communications and connectivity. SIA is pleased to recognize the former Head of NASA, Congressman, and military pilot for his longtime public service and contribution to advancing space policy and commercial satellite technology in government.”

To view a copy of Jim Bridenstine’s NASA biography, please click on the following link. https://www.nasa.gov/people/james-f-bridenstine/

About The Satellite Industry Association
SIA is a U.S.-based trade association providing representation of the leading satellite operators, service providers, manufacturers, launch services providers, and ground equipment suppliers. For more than two decades, SIA has advocated on behalf of the U.S. satellite industry on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues affecting the satellite business. For more information, visit www.sia.org.

SIA Executive Members include: Amazon; Comtech; DIRECTV; EchoStar Corporation; Eutelsat Group; HawkEye 360; Iridium Communications Inc.; Kratos Defense & Security Solutions; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Planet Labs PBC; SES Americom, Inc.; Spire Global Inc.; and Viasat Inc. SIA Associate Members include: The Aerospace Corporation; Artel, LLC; AST Space Mobile; Astranis Space Technologies Corp.; The Boeing Company; ExoAnalytic Solutions; iDirect Government, LLC; Integrasys LLC; Kymeta Corporation; Ovzon; Panasonic Avionics Corporation; Satcom Direct Government; Skyloom and Telesat. SIA Affiliate Members include: AvL Technologies; COMSAT; Cooley LLP; DLA Piper; Globalstar; Greenberg Traurig LLP; Hogan Lovells; Intrado Life & Safety, Inc.; Jenner & Block; Keysight Technologies, Inc.; Media Broadcast Satellite; Orbital Research; Peraton; Plexus Corp; Sheppard Mullin; Wiley; Xairos Systems Inc., and XTAR, LLC.

Media and PR Contact: Dean Hirasawa
Satellite Industry Association
Email: dhirasawa@sia.org
Endeavour Communications