Ministry of Defence makes award to Viasat
under Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
CARLSBAD, Calif. and
FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom,
July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/
-- Viasat UK Ltd., a subsidiary of global communications
company Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), today announced that
it has affirmed its commitment to supporting UK military personnel,
reservists, veterans and their families by signing the UK Armed
Forces Covenant. The Armed Forces Covenant is a commitment
made by organisations of all types to provide support for members
of the armed forces community through employment, education,
financial assistance or access to critical services.
The commitment further deepens Viasat's longstanding
relationship with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). In 2021, the
Company opened a new state-of-the-art facility featuring a Network
Operations Centre (NOC) and Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC)
in Aldershot, Hampshire. The centres will support sovereign
operations and capabilities for the UK government and MoD, as well
as defend against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks from a
growing number of adversaries. The facility is part of a larger
investment in the UK prosperity and sovereignty agenda, which
includes a planned £300m investment to support the launch and
operation of the ViaSat-3 global satellite constellation over
Europe, Middle East and Africa.
The MoD also recognised Viasat with a Bronze Award under the
Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). The Defence ERS
encourages employers to pledge support for defence and inspire
other organizations to do the same. It recognises organisations'
commitments to the armed forces community and alignment of company
values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
Viasat's Vice Chairman Rick
Baldridge attended the in-person signing of the Covenant at
the company's Aldershot
offices.
"We are very proud to sign the Armed Forces Covenant which is in
keeping with the core culture of our company," said Baldridge.
"With hundreds of veterans and military family members working in
our offices around the world, the armed forces community is an
indispensable part of our workforce. We are looking forward to
supporting UK service members and their families with new
employment opportunities and other support programs."
Leo Docherty, Member of
Parliament (MP) for Aldershot,
joined in applauding Viasat's signing of the Covenant and broader
commitments in the UK.
"I'm delighted that Viasat UK is showing its support for our
service personnel by raising the flag and signing the Armed Forces
Covenant. As someone with a military background, I am delighted to
see Viasat UK extend its commitment to our Armed Forces, veterans
and Reserves - and their families - right across the UK," said Mr.
Docherty. "Offering meaningful employment options and support for
those who are transitioning from the military to civilian life
means their talents are maximised in their positive contribution to
the business community."
Viasat has a long history of supporting military veterans. The
Armed Forces Covenant and Bronze Award are further examples of this
continued commitment to veterans and military families everywhere
through employment opportunities, career development and transition
workshops. Last year, the U.S. Department of Labor gave Viasat a
2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Award, which recognises investment in
recruiting and retaining veterans, as well as offering
veteran-specific skills development and leadership programs. Viasat
was also named a top employer of veterans by Military Times'
2021 Best for Vets: Employers List.
Mr. Docherty continued, "The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise
by the nation to ensure the fair treatment of those who are
serving, as well as veterans and their families. I'm delighted to
see even more organisations - including Viasat UK, headquartered in
my constituency of Aldershot -
sign up to this pledge."
The signing of the Armed Forces Covenant follows Viasat and
Inmarsat's recently announced agreement with the UK Government's
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) as
part of the proposed combination of the two companies. This
agreement includes binding commitments to expand numbers of
highly-skilled jobs in key areas and research & development
investment that will support the UK's National Space Strategy.
About Viasat
Viasat is a global
communications company that believes everyone and everything in the
world can be connected. For more than 35 years, Viasat has
helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries
around the world communicate. Today, the Company is developing the
ultimate global communications network to power high-quality,
secure, affordable, fast connections to impact people's lives
anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea. To learn
more about Viasat, visit: www.viasat.com, go to Viasat's Corporate
Blog, or follow the Company on social media at:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains
forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors
created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include statements
that refer to Viasat employment support and investment in UK
military personnel, reservists, veterans and their families;
Viasat's support for sovereign operations and capabilities for
the UK government and MoD; the agreed upon package of
legally-binding undertakings with the UK Government's Department
for BEIS as part of the proposed combination of
Viasat and Inmarsat; Viasat's plan to invest £300 million
in the UK; and our ability to expand the numbers of highly-skilled
jobs in key areas. Readers are cautioned that actual results could
differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results
to differ include: risks associated with the construction, launch
and operation of the ViaSat-3 class satellites and
Viasat's other satellites, including the effect of any
anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite
performance; the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the
ViaSat-3 satellite platforms; unexpected expenses or delays related
to the satellite system; the ability to successfully implement
Viasat's business plan for broadband satellite services on
Viasat's anticipated timeline or at all, including with
respect to the ViaSat-3 satellite platforms; contractual problems,
product defects, manufacturing issues or delays; regulatory issues;
technologies not being developed according to anticipated
schedules, or that do not perform according to expectations; and
increased competition and other factors affecting the connectivity
sector, generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors
contained in Viasat's SEC filings available
at www.sec.gov, including Viasat's most recent
Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on
which they are made. Viasat undertakes no obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.
Copyright © 2022 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat,
the Viasat logo and the Viasat signal are registered trademarks of
Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used
for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their
respective owners.