Former Comtech SVP Jay Icard Named XTAR President, CEO

Jay Icard, former senior vice president of strategic sales at Comtech Telecommunications‘ command and control technologies business, has joined XTAR as president and CEO of the Ashburn, Virginia-based commercial satellite operator.

The 13-year industry veteran succeeds outgoing President Philip Harlow, who has led XTAR over the past eight years and will help ensure a smooth transition, the company said Monday.

Icard served as group VP at TeleCommunication Systems from 2004 until its acquisition by Comtech in early 2016.

He previously held positions at Oracle and MCI as well as in the Defense Department‘s acquisition community.

XTAR maintains a fleet of X-band communications satellites designed to support military, diplomatic, humanitarian and emergency response operations worldwide.