International Launch Services (ILS) has appointed Ralph Bauer as Vice President and General Counsel. Bauer’s appointment follows the departure of Tom Tshudy, who served as ILS Senior Vice President and General Counsel since 2012 and ILS General Counsel since 1998.
Bauer, as ILS Vice President and General Counsel, will oversee the ILS legal, contracts and export control departments. Bauer joined ILS in October 2007 as ILS’ Partnership Manager, serving as the primary interface with Khrunichev on all economic and contractual matters. In 2012, Bauer was reassigned to the Legal Department and also assumed responsibilities as Associate General Counsel. Prior to joining ILS, Bauer served for 24 years in the United States Air Force as a member of the Air Force Judge Advocate Corps. His final Air Force assignment was as Staff Judge Advocate for 14th Air Force, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
Bauer holds a BA in International Studies and Russian language from the Ohio State University and a JD from The Ohio State University College of Law. Bauer is a member of the State of Ohio, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the United States Supreme Court Bars.
“ILS has been extremely fortunate to have benefitted from Tom Tshudy’s outstanding leadership and experience over the past 18 years. He has been an invaluable asset to the organization and respected by our customers. We wish Tom all the best in his future endeavors” said Kirk Pysher, President of ILS.
Pysher added, “Ralph Bauer’s extensive experience working commercial and US Government transactions combined with his excellent relationship with our partners will enable for a smooth transition into his new role. We welcome Ralph as the newest member of the ILS senior leadership team.”
Bauer will also replace Tshudy as a member of the ILS Board of Directors and as Acting Secretary of the Corporation.
About ILS and Khrunichev
ILS provides launch services for global satellite operators and offers a complete array of services and support, from contract signing through mission management and on-orbit delivery. ILS markets the Proton and Angara vehicles to commercial satellite operators worldwide and is a U.S. company headquartered in Reston, VA., near Washington, D.C. To date, ILS has launched 90 commercial missions. For more information, visit www.ilslaunch.com.
Khrunichev, which holds the majority interest in ILS, is one of the cornerstones of the Russian space industry. Khrunichev manufactures the Proton system and the Angara family of vehicles. The Proton vehicle launches from facilities at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and has a heritage of more than 400 missions since 1965. Khrunichev includes, among its branches, a number of key manufacturers of launch vehicle and spacecraft components in Moscow and in other cities of the Russian Federation. For more information, visit www.khrunichev.com
