Technology >> CEO Interviews >> October 5, 1998
BERNIE SMEDLEY is CEO and Chairman of Exigent International, Inc. As CEO
and Chairman, he is responsible for creating shareholder value, customer
satisfaction and operational oversight. His career spans 30 years in the
electronics industry, predominately in the computer and communications
systems field. Prior to his current position, Mr. Smedley served as
President and Chief Executive Officer of AirNet Communications
Corporation, where he introduced infrastructure products for wireless
local loop cellular and personal communication system (PCS) markets. He
nurtured the company from a 'start-up' consisting of five engineers to
an internationally recognized, leading edge broadband wireless
infrastructure corporation. Previously, Mr. Smedley spent 18 years at
Motorola where he led the company's successful worldwide entry into
wireless cellular infrastructure and RF data systems. As director of
Advanced Radio Networking for Motorola, he was a charter member of the
Satellite Communication Board of Directors which was responsible for the
IRIDIUM' constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) communications
satellites. He was also Vice Chairman of the corporate-wide Wireless RF
Data Advisory Board, which coordinates all of Motorola's data
communications businesses' activities and priorities. In 1991, Mr.
Smedley was appointed General Manager of Motorola's Wireless Enterprise
Systems (WES) and earlier, in 1980, he was in charge of Motorola's
Improved Mobile Telephone System (IMTS) business which included the
fledging cellular systems operations, which, under his leadership,
became the cellular industry's world leader by 1990. Mr. Smedley has a
B.A. degree in Engineering from Washington and Jefferson College and a
BSEE degree from Carnegie-Mellon University. Exigent International, Inc.
was formed in 1996 as a holding company to capitalize on emerging high
technology opportunities. Exigent's two operating subsidiaries are
Software Technology, Inc. and FotoTag, Inc. STI develops and markets
advanced command and control systems for satellites and satellite
constellations. FotoTag develops and markets an advanced airport
passenger and baggage reconciliation system. Exigent has established
long term business associations with diverse government agencies
including the Naval Research Laboratory, Navy Satellite Operations
Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration and US Air Force
Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) space programs as well as
with such Fortune 500 companies as Motorola, Rockwell Collins, Lockheed-
Martin, Allied Signal and Harris Corporation. Profile
Mr. Smedley: Exigent International went public over eighteen months ago
and trades on the NASD bulletin board and the Chicago Stock
