Bill TolpeginChief Executive Officer, AURA Network Systems

A 30-year veteran of the telecommunications industry, Bill Tolpegin is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AURA, driving implementation of the company’s transformative mission to provide aviation and critical infrastructure sectors with a dedicated commercial communications network designed to exceed the gold standards of safety, security, and reliability. 

Known for his progressive leadership in Fortune 1000 companies and wireless operations, Bill utilized decades of experience in financial planning and analysis of entrepreneurial technology-based firms to develop AURA’s market proposition and business case, raising significant capital from some of the country’s most successful investors. In addition to his roles in starting and securing funding for several firms, he has also been intricately involved in some of the nation’s most significant spectrum repurposing efforts. 

Prior to cofounding AURA, Bill was CEO of the C-Band Alliance (CBA), leading efforts to unleash crucial mid-band frequencies to advance next-generation technologies and help ensure that all communities across America are beneficiaries. Under his leadership, the CBA secured almost $10 billion to compensate the satellite industry for relinquishing needed mid-band airwaves to spur 5G deployment.

Before his CBA tenure, Bill cofounded and served as CEO of OTA Broadcasting, a nationwide group of television stations that was instrumental in policy development for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) first-ever incentive auction. He spearheaded partnerships with both buyer and seller auction participants, emphasizing unique market opportunities which ultimately led to greater utility of vital spectrum resources. Under his leadership, OTA generated more than $450 million from tendering the spectrum-usage rights of 10 broadcast stations.

In addition to his CEO roles, Bill has held numerous financial and corporate development positions at a wide range of satellite, internet, and wireless companies, including ICO Global Communications, EarthLink, OneMain.com, Globalstar, and Space Systems/Loral. He earned a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia.