About this episode

This episode discusses how direct-to-device satellite technology is transforming military communications with insights from Tim Hillner of Fairwinds Technologies.

What if military satellite communications worked on standard cell phones? Not as a future concept, but today. In this episode of Mission Critical: Defense and Aerospace Recruiting , Katherine Jerald is joined by Tim Hillner , co-founder of Fairwinds Technologies , to unpack a breakthrough that is redefining tactical communications. Tim and his team recently demonstrated the world's first tactical direct-to-device satellite connectivity using standard, unmodified commercial cell phones with no custom hardware required. Working alongside AST SpaceMobile, Fairwinds validated secure voice, data, and mission applications over a non-terrestrial network, marking a significant shift in how military communications can be deployed at scale. Tim brings a rare perspective shaped by senior government engineering roles, startup leadership, and years spent operating in contested communications environments. "You need to understand the intent of the requirement, not just what's written on paper." – Tim Hillner This conversation is not just about satellites. It is about alignment between government and industry, leadership under pressure, and how trust and technical rigor turn ambitious ideas…

People in this episode

Host: Katherine Jerald

Guest: Tim Hillner

Topics covered

• military communications
• satellite technology
• direct-to-device connectivity
• government and industry collaboration
• tactical operations

Keywords

• military satellite communications
• tactical communications
• direct-to-device
• non-terrestrial network
• commercial cell phones

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Fairwinds Technologies, AST SpaceMobile

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