Rory Ligual walked the exhibit floor at SOF Week 2024, a special operations forces and defense conference in Tampa, Florida, this week, meeting with customers and colleagues and watching Comtech demonstrate new communications technology with key partners.
“We're very excited to see a live demonstration of ComTec's cutting-edge capabilities here. It really highlights the close working relationship we have with the Special Forces community,” said Loree, who joined ComTec last month as vice president of business development and sales.
“Comtech's diverse solutions portfolio is well-known throughout the industry,” reflected the 19-year veteran of iDirect, where he most recently served as vice president of sales engineering and strategic solutions groups for iDirect Government Technologies. “I'm excited to lead Comtech's growth organization and build on the company's great success in the commercial and government markets,” said Rory, noting that outgoing Chief Growth Officer Nicole Robinson has been a major contributor to Comtech's recent success.
“Nicole Robinson has done a fantastic job, and I'm excited to continue and build on the relationships and work that Nicole has built,” he explained. “I'm excited about the opportunities ahead as we deliver game-changing capabilities to commercial and government markets in the face of unprecedented change.”
Comtech's innovative solutions, differentiated talent and deep leadership bench are key reasons why Roly moved to Comtech. Interim CEO John Ratigan made the difference. “It's been a great experience helping iDirect Government become the $100 million market player it is today, but given Comtech's market potential, growth trajectory and with John Ratigan at the helm, this opportunity was too good to pass up. John has a tremendous reputation across the industry as an incredibly trusted leader. I've worked with John for almost 20 years and I'm excited to continue pushing the envelope with such a talented and experienced team.”
“With more than 20 years of communications industry leadership experience and a proven track record of driving sales engineering and strategic solutions to achieve impressive results, Rory is the right person for his new role at Comtech,” said John Rattigan, interim CEO of Comtech. “Rory's differentiated expertise and deep understanding of the industry, as well as Comtech's customers and technologies, will be a valuable contributor to our continued growth and success across various global markets.”
Roly has held leadership roles with leading telecommunications companies such as Nortel Networks, Sprint/Alcatel Networks and Net2000 Communications and has a deep understanding of the satellite and space markets as well as the terrestrial and wireless communications markets. He is excited about the advancements Comtech is enabling in everything from multi-orbit connectivity to next generation 9-1-1.
Deep gratitude for resolving military issues
Today's threat landscape is evolving at an unprecedented rate, Rory said while offering a glimpse into the strategic plan. “Tomorrow's adversaries will be much more technologically advanced. Comtech is well-positioned to empower enterprises and defense initiatives with exciting new solutions,” he outlined. “Comtech's U.S. sovereign solutions, first-class team, differentiated experience and reputation are unmatched. We are making incredibly innovative and resilient systems that are redefining communications and connectivity in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago.”
His growth plans include treating the government and defense sector as its own domain. “The Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. government have unique requirements that don't necessarily exist in the commercial world,” explains Loree. “They have their own security and procurement requirements and timelines that require a different skill set and approach. We've already increased our efforts in the government sector and look forward to building on this area of focus along with others in the coming months.”
Rory says he inherited his passion for supporting national security and delivering new technologies to aid our warfighters and allies from his parents. “I'm a first-generation American, and like many children of immigrants to the United States, I grew up grateful for the opportunities this country provided my family. That instilled in me a very strong and passionate sense of patriotism,” said Rory, who served in the Marine Corps Reserves in the '80s, 20 years after his father, a Cuban immigrant, enlisted in the U.S. Army.
His life experiences have shaped his passion for supporting U.S. troops and allies with the best communications technology available, and he is equally passionate about extending his coaching skills to the entire ComTech team with the goal of building the team from the inside out.
Coaching Success
Rory counts coaching as one of his strengths: “I'm great at assessing talent, building teams and leading them to excel towards a common goal and vision.”
He's also passionate about using his coaching skills to help his colleagues and children. “Everyone has strengths and weaknesses,” Rory explains. “The trick is to leverage those strengths in a way that aligns with their personal goals and the company's goals, and allows them to enjoy what they're good at.”
According to Rory, it's easy to talk about buzzwords like multi-track, digitalization and orchestration, but “they mean nothing without the technology, solutions and talent to make them happen.” Comtech is ahead of its competitors in many ways, but one only needs to check industry news every day to see that the telecommunications industry is changing rapidly. Staying ahead of the curve requires a willingness to cooperate and work together as a team.”
It's a similar approach to the one Rowley used while coaching his three children in football and basketball in Northern Virginia, where he spent years in key roles in youth sports organizations. “I'm a big believer in doing the right thing for our customers, and in the long run, that will bring the greatest benefit to everyone at Comtech in the form of trust and teamwork. At the end of the day, it shouldn't matter who gets the credit. What matters is that the team is successful, that our people are having fun, and that they feel like they have a purpose in life and mission.”
Room to grow
According to a recent Euroconsult report, the ground sector is expected to soar in market value over the next eight years to around $80 billion by 2032, driven by multi-orbit operations and rapidly evolving satellite communications demand. The ground services market alone is expected to grow to around $400 million over the next three years, which bodes well for Comtec, a leader in the global ground game.
“We are already in in-depth discussions with customers and partners around the world and are finding that many allied nations are embarking on expanding their communications capabilities to strengthen their national security,” said Rory. “It is critical that we have the latest technology and capabilities ready to help our customers and partners meet and achieve their key objectives and milestones wherever they are in the world.”
While Rory leads Comtech's growing organization and mission, he also enjoys the opportunity to stretch himself in his new international role. “I'm excited to take on new challenges with our employees in markets around the world, where I can leverage Comtech's people, expertise, technology and solutions to help our customers and partners realize their full potential,” explains Rory. “We have a real advantage in many key government and commercial markets, and I look forward to further expanding that advantage as Comtech engages our team and customers in new ways.”
Forward-Looking Statements
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