SYLMAR, Calif., Oct. 11, 2000 -- Dr. David Lillington has been appointed president of Spectrolab, Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of spacecraft solar cells. He is responsible for all operations and financial matters for the company.
Lillington has been acting president since his predecessor, Dieter Zemmrich, retired earlier this year. Lillington will report to Joseph M. DeSarla, Executive Vice President at Boeing Satellite Systems in El Segundo, Calif. Spectrolab is one of three businesses acquired by The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) last week from Hughes Electronics Corporation.
"Dr. Lillington's proven leadership and industry experience make him uniquely qualified for this important management role," DeSarla said.
Lillington has more than 27 years of experience in solar cell research and development and manufacturing, and holds seven patents relating to solar cells and panels. He joined Spectrolab in 1984 as a member of the technical staff, and became Manager of advanced programs in 1986, with responsibility for advanced solar cell development. In 1991, he joined the corporate staff at Hughes Industrial Electronics Company in Torrance, Calif. He returned to Spectrolab in 1994, as Manager of technology and business development. In 1997, Lillington became Vice President of solid state products.
Lillington received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Wales in 1973, and a Ph.D. in physics from the Royal Military College of Science, United Kingdom, in 1978.
Spectrolab, founded in 1956, has been supplying solar cells and panels to the space industry for more than 40 years. Pioneer 1, launched in 1958, carried the first body-mounted panels used in space. The following year, Explorer 6 used Spectrolab products and was the first satellite to use solar arrays instead of body-mounted panels.
Spectrolab is headquartered in Sylmar, a suburb of Los Angeles. It also is a leading supplier of Nightsun® searchlights and solar simulators. Visit Spectrolab's website at www.spectrolab.com.
SPECTROLAB, INC.
12500 Gladstone Avenue
Sylmar, CA 91342-5373