INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: Integral Systems Inc.
John R. Higginbotham
Chief Executive Officer
Integral Systems Inc.
John Higginbotham became CEO of Integral Systems Inc. in July 2008, bringing to the company an extensive background in the space industry. He has had an active role in the space industry for decades as an investor and now returns to the field in this management leadership role.
Prior to his role as CEO of Integral Systems, Higginbotham founded SpaceVest Capital (now RedShift Ventures), a recognized private equity firm for the space industry. He currently serves on the board of directors of ProtoStar Ltd. and has formerly served on the boards of Analytical Graphics, Inc., Novariant Inc. and Imaginova Inc. He was a co-founder of International Technology Underwriters (Intec), a leading global space and telecommunications insurance underwriting management firm. He is a former chairman and Director Emeritus of the Space Foundation, and maintains affiliations with several other industry associations.
Q: We’re approaching the two-month mark since your appointment as CEO. Please share with us the growth strategy you have charted for Integral Systems and, in particular, for the military side of your portfolio.
A: Integral has a wealth of capabilities that can be more fully integrated to assist our government customers. We have various initiatives underway with various customers to assess their pressing operational needs to determine how we can configure and integrate the firm’s capabilities imaginatively to assist the warfighter through providing better space situational awareness, geospatial intelligence and network assurance while maintaining our efficient value proposition in an increasingly budget- challenged environment.
Q: The Epoch Integrated Product Suite is a very familiar command and control system within the community. What near-term enhancements are planned for the suite?
A: We continually enhance the capabilities of Epoch. Our customers can expect us to continue to provide regular enhancements through our planned version releases, user group inputs, and regular updates. Epoch is a standard in the industry that is recognized for efficiently and reliably supporting our customer’s telemetry, tracking and commanding needs. Integral intends to maintain Epoch’s leadership position in the industry.
Q: As a follow-up, please tell us about any other significant Integral Systems product upgrades or new products the community will see through 2009.
A: Integral is continually enhancing its portfolio of capabilities through robust IR&D efforts, funded development programs, teaming relationships, vendor arrangements and integration services. Our current generations of core capabilities from our subsidiaries such as RTLogic, SAT, Newpoint and Lumistar, are best-in-class in the industry. We continually engage in the marketplace for enhancing our capabilities organically and through targeted acquisitions. We will aggressively use all means at our disposal to ensure that we are delivering the best possible solutions for the critical needs of our customers.
Q: Integral Systems has supported over 200 different satellite missions for a number of applications. What are the significant challenges to providing satisfactory support for different satellite applications?
A: There are several key elements required to successfully support such a wide variety of satellite missions and customers. These include having a comprehensive product suite with the ability to easily add mission unique features without modification to the core products; engineering expertise and experience in satellite ground systems; and a systems integration capability that is responsive to changing customer requirements. Our commitment to providing best-in-class capabilities and support for our customers ensures that they can rely on us for long-term success of their missions. I believe Integral is successful because we can offer our customers all of these elements.
Q: Please update us on your support for the GPS Operational Control Segment [OCX] and other military contracts?
A: Integral is providing the Satellite Control Center element of the GPS OCX as a key member of the Northrop Grumman Team. We are currently supporting preliminary design and system development activities as part of the OCX Phase A contract. On the Command and Control System Consolidated [CCS-C] program, Integral has successfully consolidated operations of all of the Air Force’s current MILSATCOM satellites; DSCS, Milstar and WGS, onto a single integrated system. Preparations are underway to incorporate the AEHF family of satellites onto the CCS-C system next year. Integral is also leading the RAPID Attack Identification and Detection Reporting System [RAIDRS] program for the Air Force. RAIDRS is currently in development and we have successfully passed all systems tests to date. ♦