[W1SMH] Former SMH Member and K1SMH Trustee makes it BIG

[Ray Cord]

 Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, Elected AMSATPresidentDuring a teleconference meeting this week, theAMSAT Board of Directors elected Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, of Granbury, Texas,as AMSAT President. Coleman had served as a member of the Board ofDirectors and as AMSAT Secretary from 2017 until 2019, and he has volunteered inseveral other capacities for AMSAT, including as chair of the 2016 AMSATSpace Symposium. He succeeds Joe Spier, K6WAO, who resigned recently,citing personal reasons, after being in office since October 2017.Coleman was introduced to amateur radio in space through the SAREXprogram -- the forerunner to ARISS -- and the Russian Mir spacestation. His interest in setting up an AX.25 BBS and nodes in the early 1990sled him to try making contacts via the Mir Personal Message System(PMS) and digipeater. In 2011, Coleman became interested in OSCAR satellitesand began chasing operating awards.Coleman's focus aspresident will be working with members to improve organizational processesand aligning them with strategic goals. Professionally, Coleman works in theindustrial process control sector both as a consultant and businessdevelopment manager.AMSAT members will have an opportunityto meet Coleman at Orlando HamCation on Saturday, February 8, when he will greet visitorsat the AMSAT booth from 9:30 - 10:30 AM and 2 - 3 PM. He will also speak atthe AMSAT Forum at 12:30 PM on Saturday in Room CS III at the LakesidePavilion. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service