ICNS 2025 Day 2 Overview

Mariagrazia La Piscopia, Executive Director, SESAR Deployment Manager

Mariagrazia has more than 25 years of experience in aviation and air traffic management covering technical, operational, and strategic areas, spanning from research & development to deployment. Her background is operational with extensive experience in air traffic management and in technical/innovation domains. Since 2022 she has been the executive director of the SESAR Deployment Manager, the European function that has the task of coordinating and synchronizing the modernization of the European ATM systems and infrastructure through the adoption of Common Projects, as mandated by European Union regulations. Ten years ago, she joined the SESAR Deployment Manager covering the position of chief of program. Her career in aviation started in ENAV, the Italian air navigation service provider where she covered several positions.

Paul Bosman, Head of ATM Infrastructure, EUROCONTROL

Paul Bosman has been working for EUROCONTROL for more than 30 years and is currently the manager of the ATM Infrastructure Division in EUROCONTROL Network Manager. Working in close cooperation with all European institutions and stakeholders to manage and support European infrastructure deployment programs digitizing the SES European Sky. Responsibilities include European common infrastructure services, modernizing air traffic management, cyber and artificial intelligence.

Dieter Eier, President, Frequentis USA, Inc.

Dieter Eier has been president of Frequentis USA, Inc., since 2023, where he oversees the development, production, and maintenance of communication and information solutions for the FAA, NASA, and various state and local government organizations. Previously, he was the vice president of Products and Solutions, a position he held since 2007. Mr. Eier significantly contributed to the introduction of new digital voice communication systems into the U.S. National Airspace through the FAA’s IVSR program. He also integrated the company’s IP-based voice communication technology into NASA’s mission voice network for space flight. Under his leadership, Frequentis introduced remote digital tower technologies to the U.S. National Airspace. Since 2022, he has worked with RTX/Collins to achieve full FAA type certification for the company’s flagship smartVision digital tower, the first such certification in the United States.

Fabrizio Fiori, Telecommunications Engineer, Techno Sky

Fabrizio Fiori, a telecommunications engineer, joined Techno Sky, an ENAV Group company, in 2008. He has worked on air traffic control (ATC) projects, first as a systems engineer and later as a project manager. His work has focused on implementing communication, navigation, and surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM) systems and modernizing Techno Sky’s maintenance model. Since 2017, he has led two strategic projects: introducing a new maintenance model based on the Technical Operations Center and implementing a logistics system using IBM Maximo EAM to improve maintenance efficiency, system availability, and ATSEP personnel skills. Fabrizio was appointed head of maintenance engineering in 2019 and systems and maintenance engineering in 2021. Since 2023, he has led Techno Sky’s engineering department. He co-authored a patent on reply detection in secondary surveillance radars.

Pierre Lahourcade, Chief Strategy and Development Officer, ESSP

based services for aviation. He started at Airbus Defense & Space as ATM program manager, has joined Egis to lead aviation business development and the French Civil Aviation University (ENAC) as international and development director. He has over 25 years of experience on international aviation markets, with several executive positions in different aviation stakeholders as system industry, consulting, institution, and operator. Those positions enabled him to develop a deep knowledge of ANSPs, airports, airlines, civil aviation authorities and space challenges. Pierre has a Master of Science in Software Engineering, a master’s in strategy and innovation management, and Master of Business Administration in general management.

Manuel Rivas Vila, ATM Oversight Section Manager, EASA

Manuel Rivas Vila has been with EASA since 2013, where he manages the ATM Organization Approvals Section. Throughout his career, he has worked on ATM/ANS systems implementation, service provision, regulation, and oversight. Most recently, he has been deeply involved in developing the new EU ATM/ANS equipment conformity assessment framework and its implementation, as well as supporting the development of industry standards. He chairs the European ATM Standards Coordination Group. Before joining EASA, he worked for more than a decade at ENAIRE, the Spanish en route air navigation service provider. He holds a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering.

Jon Standley, Director, Business Development, L3Harris Technologies

Jon Standley is director of business development for Enterprise ATM Solutions at L3Harris Technologies. In this role, Jon has overall responsibility for U.S. and international civil air traffic management new business initiatives supporting the mission networks sector of L3Harris. Previously, Jon served as a business development lead supporting civil and defense customers in domestic and expeditionary airborne surveillance and warning systems, as well as surveillance and information management solutions to support the integration of uncrewed aircraft systems into the U.S. National Airspace System. Before joining L3Harris, Jon served as a program manager at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration focusing on ATM technology development and prototyping for the NextGen program, as well as leading investment analysis for ATM system modernization.

Vojislav Milosavljević, CNS Expert, EUROCONTROL

As EUROCONTROL CNS Expert, Vojislav Milosavljević contributes to CNS program manager activities. His earlier experience includes engineering and operational validation of diverse Airbus cockpit systems and functions, coordination of EGNOS operations, leading deployment of EGNOS new releases, as well as managing a SESAR 3 project focused on CNS data service provision (CNS DSP). Milosavljević holds a Master of Science in air traffic and transport engineering from the University of Belgrade, Serbia, and a specialised master’s degree in CNS applications by satellite from ENAC, Toulouse, France.

Dr. Michael Garcia, Chief Innovation Scientist, Aireon

Dr. Michael Garcia is the chief innovation scientist at Aireon, LLC. Garcia has the overall responsibility for the company’s strategy and execution for space-based ADS-B and VHF innovation, system architecture, and leadership in the industry’s technical forums. His responsibilities also include engagement with air navigation service providers (ANSPs), standards and recommended practices (SARPs) groups, subcontractors, and investors. Some examples of international standards organizations that Garcia participates in are the following: Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA), EUROCAE, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Prior to joining Aireon, Garcia served as an associate principal engineer at ITT/Exelis (currently L3Harris) and worked predominantly on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and Wide Area Multilateration (WAM) programs.

Miguel Muñoz Martínez, Technical Director, ATM, Startical

Since 2021, Miguel Muñoz Martinez has been the technical director, ATM, at Startical, overseeing space-based VHF & ADS-B solutions. Previously, he spent over 15 years at INDRA, leading satellite-based CNS developments and roadmaps, managing SESAR2 020 activities, and actively contributing to EUROCAE, ICAO, and RTCA. With over 25 years of experience, he also played a key role in major aerospace projects, including the Airbus A380 and Nimrod MR4. He holds a Master of Science in aeronautical engineering, specializing in navigation systems from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.

Ghislain Nicolle, Vice President, Air Traffic Services, Viasat

As vice president for Air Traffic Services at Viasat, Ghislain Nicolle offers over 30 years of experience in the air transport industry. Ghislain’s main area of focus is the delivery of the flight deck connectivity promise, which enables aircraft operators to realize operational savings and efficiency gains using Viasat’s safety and operations connectivity services. Throughout his career, Ghislain held numerous responsibilities in the field of aircraft connectivity encompassing both VHF and SATCOM. He notably participated in the definition of the ICAO CNS/ATM concept and contributed to the initial establishment of FANS 1 routes over the South Pacific, which were further extended to other areas of the world, enabling a significant increase in air traffic capacity and savings for airlines. Ghislain holds as Master of Science in engineering, information, and communication technologies.

Davide Tomassini, Iris Project Implementation Manager, ESA

Davide has a telecommunication background and joined the ESA Iris team in 2018. Under his watch the Iris service has completed the certification process and has become fully operational in Europe with more than 5,000 flights and counting. Next objective is to expand Iris’ adoption beyond Europe. The ESA Iris program supports a satcom-based communication system enabling airspace optimization to ease congestion and reduce delays and emissions for airlines. Iris delivers higher bandwidth, cost-effective communications for global ATM modernization. Iris contributes to the evolution and harmonisation of communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) across Europe. With the announcement of Iris Global project, the program is expanding beyond Europe with global Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) standards ATN/OSI and ATN/IPS.

Technical Program

Evening Keynote

“Beyond Earth: An Astronaut’s Perspective on Space, Innovation, and Exploration”

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano will share insights from his space missions, highlighting advancements in space exploration, aerospace communication, and Europe’s role in shaping human spaceflight. His talk will cover cutting-edge research aboard the ISS, the role of communication, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) in astronaut operations, and the next steps for space missions.

Luca Parmitano, Astronaut, ESA

Luca Parmitano launched to the International Space Station (ISS) for his second mission, Beyond, on July 20, 2019—the 50th anniversary of the first human lunar landing—aboard the Russian Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft. He returned on Feb. 6, 2020, after a 201-day mission. During Beyond, Luca served as the commander of Expedition 61, becoming the third European and the first Italian to command the ISS. He conducted a series of complex spacewalks to repair the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02), completing four spacewalks totaling 25 hours and 30 minutes. Across his career, he has performed six spacewalks, totaling 33 hours and 9 minutes. During Beyond, he supported more than 50 European experiments and 200 international experiments.

Luca was selected as a European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut in May 2009. In February 2011, he was assigned as a flight engineer to the Italian Space Agency’s (ASI) first long-duration ISS mission. He launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on May 28, 2013, for the Volare mission, spending 166 days in space. He conducted over 20 experiments, participated in two spacewalks, and managed the docking of four spacecraft before landing on Nov. 11, 2013.

Luca began his military career in 2001 after completing undergraduate pilot training. He flew the AM-X aircraft with the 13th Group, 32nd Wing in Amendola, Italy, from 2001 to 2007, obtaining all aircraft qualifications. He served as chief of the Training Section and commander of the 76th Flight. In 2007, he was selected by the Italian Air Force to become a test pilot, training at EPNER in Istres, France. He was promoted to colonel ahead of his Beyond mission in 2019. Luca has logged more than 2,000 flight hours, is qualified on over 20 types of military airplanes and helicopters, and has flown more than 40 types of aircraft.

Luca was born in Italy on Sept. 27, 1976. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Naples Federico II in 1999 and graduated from the Italian Air Force Academy in 2000. He completed basic flight training with the U.S. Air Force in 2001 and qualified on the A-11 at the 101st Operational Conversion Unit in 2002. That same year, he completed the JCO/CAS course with USAFE in Sembach, Germany. In 2003, he qualified as an electronic warfare officer at ReSTOGE in Pratica di Mare, Italy. He completed the Tactical Leadership Program in Florennes, Belgium, in 2005. In July 2009, he earned a master’s degree in experimental flight test engineering from the Institute Supérieure de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace in Toulouse, France.

25 Years Celebration Reception

ICNS Champion Award