AMERICOM Government Services
History
AMERICOM pioneered the use of domestic commercial satellite communications services for government agencies in the United States in 1973, when it was a part of RCA.
AMERICOM GOVERNMENT SERVICES, Inc. (AGS) has expanded upon this strong heritage to focus exclusively on the unique requirements of the government broadband satellite communications market.
AGS provides a wide range of voice, video and data network services to major government groups and contracts, including the Department of Defense, Army, Air Force, NASA, Department of Commerce, Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, and the Justice Department. Instead of government customers being forced to purchase individual satellite service components from multiple vendors, AGS provides them turn-key solutions and life-cycle support from engineering to program management.
Additionally, AGS provides transponder leases and customized network solutions to commercial contractors serving government contracts, such as telecommunications companies, systems integrators and defense contractors.
Today, AGS is the sole operating company within the SES family focused on meeting the satellite communications needs of the U.S. government. With access to the world's leading fleet of geosynchronous communications satellites, AGS continues to provide solutions that meet our customers unique requirements, while also maintaining our history of superior customer service and proven global expertise.
More Than Thirty Years of Milestones at AMERICOM:
- 1973 - Signed first contract with the Air Force
- 1974 - Began satellite communications services to the Department of Defense
- 1975 - Parent company (AMERICOM) launched first satellite: Satcom F1.
- mid-1970s - Provided services to NASA ranging from development to expansion of communications networks that continues today
- 1979 - Provided data links to the Department of Commerce in support of NOAA Landsat
- 1980s - Provided services to diverse programs including NASA, DOD/USAF, AFRTS, and WHCA
- 1985 - Awarded NASA PSCN TDMA Network Program
- 1987 - Awarded original DMSP Program Contract
- 1990 - Received Goddard Award for Excellence in Quality and Productivity Improvement for services provided to NASA's NASCOM network
- 1991 - Initiated FEMA CSI Program
- 1992 - Provided SATCOM link for the F22 Program
- 1994 - Parent company (AMERICOM) acquired GTE Spacenet, and integrated government contracts business
- 1998 - Awarded the U.S. ARMY TROJAN Program recompete
- 1999 - Began joint agreement with AT&T Alascom, including SATCOM services to government users in Alaska
- 2001 - AMERICOM GOVERNMENT SERVICES (AGS) formed to focus on government market upon the combination of GE AMERICOM and SES ASTRA
- 2002 - Awarded NOAA/DMSP consolidated program contract, representing a continuation of service since 1979
- 2003 - Awarded Federal GSA schedule
- 2004 - Acquired Verestar Government Services, combining respective GSA schedules. Won contract to provide USFK with DoD Internet connectivity, video conferencing and general telecommunications capabilities through its secure and non-secure networks, to and from Korea.
- 2005 - Launched high-power Atlantic Ocean region satellite, AMC-12, with unprecedented levels of performance and coverage of South America, Africa, Europe and Greenland. Launched hybrid AMC-23 satellite for complete Pacific Ocean region coverage.
- 2006 – Retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Robert T. Osterthaler joins AGS as President and CEO. SES adds New Skies, creating a truly global fleet with additional coverage for government customers.
- 2007 – AGS shifts from a provider of bandwidth to a solutions provider and entered the strategic satellite solutions market with hosted payload offerings. Awarded GSA Satcom II contract.
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2008 – AGS wins the Army TROJAN re-competed contract supporting U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command and representing the largest dollar value contract win for the organization to date. Awarded contract to host a U.S. Air Force payload.
To share in our heritage of customer success, please call 703-610-0988.
