Board of Directors

Matthew J. Desch
Chief Executive Officer
Iridium Communications, Inc.

Matthew Desch has been chief executive officer (CEO) of Iridium Communications, Inc., since 2006. He has more than 35 years of experience in the telecom industry and was an early pioneer in the global wireless industry.

Desch has been responsible for leading Iridium's innovation and growth, which includes taking the company public on NASDAQ and realizing Iridium NEXT, the company's $3 billion dollar next generation satellite constellation launching on SpaceX rockets in 2017 and 2018. Since joining Iridium in 2006, the company has experienced more than 400 percent growth in subscribers and more than five times growth in profitability.


Before joining Iridium, Desch served as the CEO of New Jersey-based Telcordia Technologies, Inc., a supplier of software and services to the telecommunications industry, then part of SAIC. Prior to that, he was president at Nortel Networks, leaving in 2000 as president of Nortel's international business, and was also president of Nortel's fast growing Wireless Networks division, leading its growth from $2 billion to more than $4.5 billion in annual revenue and a #2 market position. He started his career at AT&T Bell Laboratories.

Desch has been a member of the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) since 2011. The Committee provides recommendations to the President and other government leaders on matters of security that relate to the nation's telecommunications and internet infrastructure. He is also on the Board of Directors of Micro Focus Government Solutions and is on the Board of Trustees for the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA).

Desch has a B.S. in computer science from The Ohio State University and an MBA from University of Chicago, and resides in McLean, Va. with his wife Ann.