Vantor appoints former Navy SEAL to lead U.S. government business amid expansion push
Vantor, the Earth intelligence company formerly known as Maxar Intelligence, has named Will Cocos as executive vice president and general manager of its U.S. government business. In this role, Cocos will oversee the company's work with defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies across the United States.
The appointment comes as Susanne Hake, who led Vantor's U.S. government operations since 2023, announced on August 19 that she is leaving the company. The leadership change signals a strategic shift for Vantor, which is seeking to move beyond its traditional business of supplying high-resolution satellite imagery to the U.S. government. The company aims to sell a broader set of software, data, and intelligence capabilities, expanding its footprint in the national security market.
Cocos has served as Vantor's chief transformation officer since 2023, helping shape the company's strategy and, more recently, leading its international expansion efforts. "My priority is getting the right capabilities into the hands of U.S. warfighters, analysts and other mission users faster," Cocos said in a statement.
Cocos brings a unique background to the role. He is a former U.S. Navy SEAL and a combat veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Before joining Vantor, he held management, commercial, and transformation positions in the technology sector and was a partner at Boston Consulting Group. His experience in both military operations and corporate strategy is expected to help Vantor deepen its ties with government clients.
The U.S. government remains a central customer for Vantor. The company's satellite imagery business has long supplied the U.S. intelligence and defense communities with critical data. Based in Westminster, Colorado, Vantor operates a constellation of 10 high-resolution electro-optical imaging satellites, including six newer WorldView Legion spacecraft. The company has announced plans to expand its constellation further, aiming to enhance its capacity to deliver timely and detailed imagery to government and commercial customers alike.
The appointment of Cocos comes at a time when the Earth intelligence market is becoming increasingly competitive. Companies like Planet Labs, BlackSky, and Maxar (now part of Vantor) are vying for government contracts, and the demand for real-time satellite data is growing. Vantor's push to offer more integrated software and analytics solutions reflects a broader industry trend toward providing actionable intelligence rather than just raw imagery.
