News & Events

Rafael Rincon has been a member of Artel, LLC’s Program Management team for more than five years specializing in terrestrial operations to include assisting with the deployment of Artel’s Africa network as well as multiple projects in the Middle East and European Regions. Mr. Rincon has 35 years’ experience in tactical and strategic telecommunications operations around the globe. As a US Army NCO, Mr. Rincon operated and supported TCF/ NOC / Telecommunications centers in CONUS, and deployed to Korea, Germany, and Kosovo. As a civilian supporting US military effort across the globe, he spent more than fourteen years in Europe, Middle East, and Africa, among other countries..

Work-in-progress!

Mike Heister leads the Program Management Office as well as Network Systems Engineering and IT Security for both corporate and customer networks at Artel. He designed and built his first corporate network in 1998 before earning a commission in the United States Army Signal Corps. While on Active Duty, Mike managed tactical and garrison communications for an Army Aviation Task Force in Germany, and deployed to both Kosovo and Iraq. As a civilian, he designed, built and deployed tactical communications systems supporting US military efforts across the globe, spending more than two years deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Cuba, Peru, and Thailand among many other countries. In his seven years with Artel, Mike has lead programs and engineering efforts for terrestrial solutions throughout Africa, the Middle East and Europe. He holds a BS in Management Science and Computer Systems with minors in Economics and Military Science from Oklahoma State University, an MS in Computer Information Systems (Security) from Boston University, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Update-in-progress!

Nigel is an accomplished Senior Business & Operations Executive with more than 35 years of success across aerospace, defense, and manufacturing industries. Throughout his executive career, Mr. Sutton has held leadership positions at companies including General Motors Defense, Orbital ATK, AeroVironment, and Raytheon. As VP of Business Development for General Motors Defense, he stood up and developed a Capture Management Process and Pipeline for new business growth. Since 2015 Nigel was the VP of International Business/Defense Systems Group for Orbital ATK, a defense avionics and armament manufacturer. He led operations, new program strategy, and corporate development. This followed his role as VP of Unmanned Air Systems International Business Division with AeroVironment from 2013 to 2015, and multiple senior roles with Raytheon from 2005 to 2013. As Director of International Business Development & Operations for Raytheon from 2007 to 2012, he oversaw bookings of more than $7.5 billion and coordinated export control policy with trade organizations in Washington D.C. He previously served 18 years in the U.S. Navy, rising to Program Director of Engineering. He has been responsible for executing international equity investments and global partner alliances for aircraft and weapon system program management, and has 23 years of professional leadership experience in the Department of Defense.

Nigel holds a BS in Computer Science from Park College, an MS in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee, Certification in Aircraft/Avionics Flight Test from the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School, an MS in Aerospace Engineering/Avionics from the Naval Postgraduate School, an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology, an Executive Masters in International Relations, a Certificate of Advanced Study in Public Administration from Syracuse University. As a seasoned Board Member, he has held board positions with organizations including Orbital ATK Middle East, World Affairs Councils of America, Precision Strike Association, Alliant Techsystems Operations Saudi Arabia, and the US-ASEAN Business Council.

Dr. Xuyen (XT) T Vuong is Vice President and Chief Scientist at Artel LLC, where he supports various Government programs through solution development, and the design and operation of satellite links and networks.

He received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1971, Masters in Engineering (Electrical) in 1973, and PhD in 1976. Prior to moving to industry, he taught at University of Ottawa and Concordia University. He joined Artel in 2000 after working for VT Tech Corp, Canadian Astronautics, Comsat Labs, GTE Spacenet, SAIC, Spar Aerospace, and Telesat Canada.

XT is a highly acclaimed member of the satellite communications and has consulted with NASA/Glenn Research Center, Hughes Network Systems, Motorola, and COMTECH Mobile Datacom.

He has authored numerous pioneering studies and research on the effects of nonlinearity, rainfall, and sun transit on satellite links; and in satellite payload technologies of MARS and ATPA antennas. The MARS technology was a 2016 Space Technology Hall of Fame finalist. Dr. Vuong presented a seminal paper, Techniques to Optimize Usage of Satellite Power, at the 31st Space Symposium in 2015.

In 2015, Dr. Vuong was inducted into the Space & Satellite Professionals International Hall of Fame.

Ed Spitler is responsible for leading all aspects of Artel’s SATCOM programs, including operations, P&L, strategic planning, business development, and technical functions. Spitler is well known in the telecommunications and satellite communications industries and is often called upon for expert advice in U.S. Government procurement practices. Spitler has held key leadership positions at several major corporations, including, Airbus, Astrium, Vizada, ITT, Raytheon, and MCI. He spent 6 years on active duty in the U.S. Army as a cryptographic and telecommunications specialist. He is the recipient of numerous industry awards, including the Washington Technology’s Government Channel Leadership Award and Intelsat’s and GE Partnership Award. Inducted into the Space and Satellite Hall of Fame in March 2024.

Greg Rondepierre has been working in government contracting since 1997; currently holding the positions of Director of Contracts, Subcontracts, Purchasing, and is the company Small Business Liaison Officer (SBLO).  Since graduating from George Mason University with a B.S. in Economics, Greg has worked on a broad spectrum of government contracts for the FDIC, HUD, NASA, and throughout the Dept. of Defense and Intelligence Community.  Prior to joining Artel in 2015, Greg has worked for well-known companies such as DRS, GDIT, and L-3 Communications.  Greg’s contractual experiences have run from “cradle to grave,” small task orders to large, complex, cost reimbursable contracts.

Jim is a CPA with over 25 years of finance and accounting experience with large and mid-size public and private companies. He has worked in a variety of industries including government contracting, satellite telecommunication, technology services, health care and consulting.  His wide range of experience includes controllerships, financial reporting and analysis, corporate taxes, and budgeting and strategic planning.

Karen Randolph leads all People and Culture initiatives as Director of Human Resources for Artel LLC.  Karen is a Human Resources Leader with experience in federal government contracting (MITRE Corporation, CGI Federal and CGI Technologies and Solutions) and commercial industries (Sprint Corporation).  

Karen is a proud graduate of Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN where she earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration.  Additionally, Karen earned a Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Karen holds the Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) professional certifications.