EchoStar Satellite Services Names NASA Veteran as VP, Spacecraft Operations and Engineering

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., March 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- EchoStar Corp. (NASDAQ: SATS), a leading global satellite services provider and developer of hybrid video delivery technologies, today announced that former NASA Flight Director Jerry Jason has joined EchoStar Satellite Services, L.L.C. (ESS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corp., as vice president, spacecraft operations and engineering.

Jason will be responsible for all flight operations, engineering and analysis of EchoStar's fleet of 23 owned, leased and managed spacecraft, and will also manage the telemetry, tracking and control systems infrastructure. He will report to Derek de Bastos, chief technology officer of ESS.

"Jerry brings a wealth of spacecraft operations experience to EchoStar," said de Bastos. "His expertise will be instrumental in strengthening and growing our operations organization as we continue to expand the EchoStar fleet."

Jason joins ESS from the NASA Johnson Space Center, where he served 18 years in the Mission Operations Directorate. During his tenure, he was a flight controller for more than 30 Space Shuttle missions and, for the past 6 years, was a flight director for the International Space Station (ISS). As flight director, Jason was one of the few select individuals responsible for real-time operations of the ISS and successfully completed the ISS Expedition 23/24 missions and two automated transfer vehicle (ATV) resupply missions. 

About EchoStar

EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) is a premier global provider of satellite operations and video delivery solutions. EchoStar's wholly-owned subsidiary, Hughes, is the world's leading provider of satellite broadband services, delivering network technologies and managed services for enterprise and government customers in more than 100 countries.

Headquartered in Englewood, CO, with additional business units world-wide, EchoStar is a multiple Emmy award-winning company that has pioneered advancements in the set-top box and satellite industries for nearly 30 years, consistently delivering value for customers, partners and investors through innovation and outstanding quality. EchoStar's contribution to video technology continues to have a major influence on the way consumers view, receive and manage TV programming. EchoStar's consumer solutions include HughesNet®, North America's #1 high-speed satellite Internet service, Sling Media's Slingbox® products, and EchoStar's line of set-top box products for the free-to-air satellite and terrestrial markets.

For more information, visit www.echostar.com

SOURCE EchoStar Corporation