Adam Pinchback at Viasat

From the Battlefield to the Boardroom: Adam Pinchback on Satellite Comms, Resilience and Career Growth

Adam Pinchback's journey from the Royal Corps of Signals to a leadership role at Viasat is nothing short of remarkable. In this episode of the "Routes into Networking" podcast, hosted by Louis Parratt, Adam shares his inspiring story of transition, challenge, and success in the satellite communications industry.

This is one episode you won’t want to miss. Whether you're a military leaver, tech professional, or someone simply looking for real-world advice on career growth, leadership, and resilience, Adam’s story delivers. From Iraq deployments to boardroom decisions, this episode is packed with honest insights, hard-earned lessons and a vision for the future of satellite comms.

And for a bit of fun, don't miss the quickfire round at the end where Adam shares his favourite tech, best leadership trait, and the one piece of advice he lives by.

Finding Purpose in the Signals

Adam didn’t set out with a lifelong dream to join the military; his main driver was to get away from home. But a recommendation from a trusted football coach steered him toward the Royal Corps of Signals, offering him both a trade and technical direction.

"It gave me a qualification and a bit of a technical purpose. I went through basic training, then off to Blandford for trade training," Adam recalled. "I did have the opportunity to go through officer selection but chose to earn my place from the ground up."

A Career-Defining Moment in Iraq

One key moment that shaped Adam’s career path came during a deployment to Iraq in 2005, where he oversaw a complete communications retrofit for military vehicles.

"To get out the back of that and feel the achievement of contributing to keeping people safe, that really hit home," he said. "It made me realise this was something I genuinely enjoyed."

The Power of Resilience and Team Culture

Reflecting on his transition from the military to the civilian tech world, Adam emphasised the importance of resilience.

"Knowing that you want to keep travelling towards your objective, despite the bumps in the road, that’s the key," he shared. He also highlighted the importance of building the right culture within teams: "If you set the right pace and tone, teams can achieve great things."

He encourages what he calls "positive conflict" within teams, a culture of challenging ideas constructively: "I don't like being part of teams that just nod heads. Challenge brings out the best outcomes."

A Rough Transition and a Lesson in Self-Worth

Adam's resettlement wasn't without its challenges. With a young family and the pressures of a high-readiness military posting, he left preparation to the last minute.

"I didn't make use of what was available," he admitted. "But the stars aligned, and I received a job offer from Airbus while I was still on a transition workshop."

However, he warns against underestimating your value: "I pitched myself too low. I thought I had to take a step back. My advice now? Don’t undervalue yourself. Know your worth."

Delivering Bespoke Solutions at Viasat

As Director of Customer Solutions at Viasat, Adam now leads a team designing highly customised connectivity services for government and commercial clients.

"What one person needs for a mission might be totally different from another," he explained. "Some solutions are standard, but many are completely bespoke, from building entirely new networks to designing systems in places where we don’t even have coverage yet."

The growth of unmanned and remote systems is a key area of interest. "UAVs and multi-orbit capabilities are pushing the boundaries," he said. "Customers want outcomes: high data rates, low latency, seamless performance."

Military Values in Modern Leadership

Adam acknowledges the influence of military leadership in his civilian role, with a few necessary adjustments.

"You can’t be autocratic in the civilian world. It’s about understanding, not just doing," he explained. "Authenticity matters. I’d rather a leader stand up and say, 'I don’t have all the answers, but we’ll get there together.'"

What the Future Holds

Adam is excited by the pace of innovation in satellite communications: "It’s one of the few sectors constantly pushing the limits. We’re working on projects in polar regions, with new satellites and capabilities coming online."

He also sees the "connected soldier" and direct-to-device communications as game-changing developments: "Being able to remotely monitor assets and troops globally is more valuable than ever."Final Words of Advice

Final Words of Advice

Adam closes with a message to veterans and career changers alike:

"Be visible. Have conversations. Don’t stand still. Even if it’s challenging, keep moving forward. It might be emotional, but it’s worth it."

And when the pressure mounts? "Find a way to release 2% of the stress. Take a breather, reset, and go again.”

This is one episode you won’t want to miss. Whether you're a military leaver, tech professional, or just someone in need of a motivational boost, Adam’s insight, honesty and leadership experience make this an essential listen.

🔗Connect with Adam on LinkedIn to follow his journey further: Adam Pinchback LinkedIn