WASHINGTON — U.S. government launch services provider United Launch Alliance on March 31 named Robbie Sabathier as its new vice president of Washington operations.

Sabathier, an attorney who previously represented European launch services provider Arianespace, assumes a post vacated earlier this year by longtime Washington lobbyist Mark Bitterman. She also co-founded a broadband startup intended to serve rural communities, ULA said in a press release.

“Robbie brings with her extensive government relations experience specializing in international business, as well as aerospace and defense,” ULA President and Chief Executive Tory Bruno said in a prepared statement. “Her strong background interacting with key Washington, D.C., customer communities, including Congress and White House staff will be instrumental in shaping critical policies and decisions related to ULA business.”

Warren Ferster is the Editor-in-Chief of SpaceNews and is responsible for all the news and editorial coverage in the weekly newspaper, the spacenews.com Web site and variety of specialty publications such as show dailies. He manages a staff of seven reporters...