Technology >> CEO Interviews >> January 10, 2000
Lee Blachowicz joined SSE Telecom, Inc. in Fremont, California as
President and Chief Executive Officer in April 1998. He used his broad
knowledge of radio-based telecom products and his experience in business
performance improvement to improve SSET's cost structure and he now
plans to rekindle its growth by repositioning the company as a provider
of satellite Internet transport solutions. The company's first Internet-
specific product line, the iP3 satellite Internet gateway platform, was
launched in October 1999 at World Telcom '99 in Geneva. Mr. Blachowicz
received a scholarship to attend the University of Florida, where he
received his BS in Electrical Engineering. After graduation, Lee joined
the ECI Division of E-Systems in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he
designed airborne communications equipment and led an advanced
development group in synthesizer and modem design. He also earned his
MSEE degree, published a number of technical papers and was awarded two
US patents in signal processing. He then went to Harris Corporation,
where he spent 20 years in increasingly responsible management
positions. He established Harris in the military satellite
communications modem business, leading to the creation of modem
engineering departments in several divisions in the Government Sector.
He led the RF Communications Division's commercial radio product
development efforts, including car telephones, land mobile radios, hand-
held radios and pagers. He also spent a significant amount of time
involved in international communications projects, particularly in the
Middle East and Africa. Lee became Vice President of Engineering for
Harris' Government Satellite Communications division, later advancing to
Vice President of Operations and head of the Business Communications
Systems Division, a new Harris venture in commercial VSAT data
networking. In 1989, Lee was recruited by Varian Associates and made the
move to California to lead the turnaround of their $60 million Microwave
Equipment Division in Santa Clara as Vice President and General Manager,
restoring the division's growth and profitability. California Microwave
asked Lee to join them in 1995 to lead their $200 million Satellite
Communications Group, which he did, as Group President. Later, his group
was doubled in size to include California Microwave's wireless
divisions. An enthusiastic and energetic leader, Lee is an avid jazz
pianist and is married. He and his wife enjoy California and are
frequent international travelers. Profile
Mr. Blachowicz: The company was founded, as a public company, at least,
about 11 years ago. It comes from the combination of two businesses:
