MCLEAN, Va., April 29, 2010-- Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) today announced that it has established a Government Advisory Board comprised of former senior U.S. government officials and business leaders. The Iridium Government Advisory Board will provide counsel to Iridium as the Company continues to enhance its suite of products and services for federal and state civilian, defense, intelligence and law enforcement customers.

"Iridium is pleased that such an extraordinary group of individuals has agreed to serve on our Government Advisory Board," said Matt Desch, Iridium CEO. "As we continue to strengthen and expand our offerings to the government community, I have no doubt that the perspectives, advice and counsel of our Government Advisory Board members will be invaluable.  Today, we are a critical communications lifeline upon which our government customers rely on for both voice and data communications.  Iridium is committed to continuing to be first and foremost in the minds of our government customers as we develop new products and services that meet their needs, particularly given the opportunities associated with building our next generation constellation, Iridium NEXT."

"We are proud to serve our government customers, and they continue to be an important part of our diverse global business," said Lt. Gen. John H. Campbell, (U.S. Air Force, retired), executive vice president, government programs, Iridium.  "No doubt the guidance and perspective of the members of our Government Advisory Board, with their first hand and front line experience, will benefit Iridium and ultimately the military and civilian men and women who we're proud to serve as our customers."

Members of Iridium's Government Advisory Board include:

•  The Honorable Donald M. Kerr, Ph.D. is a research professor in George Mason University's Volgenau School of Information Technology and Engineering. He has served as principal deputy director of U.S. National Intelligence, director of the National Reconnaissance Office, and deputy director for Science and Technology at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where he received the Distinguished Intelligence Medal. Kerr has also held leadership positions at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Los Alamos National Laboratory.  From Cornell University, Kerr earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, a master's degree in microwave electronics, and a Ph.D. in plasma physics and microwave electronics.  He has received the Department of Energy Outstanding Service Award, the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal and the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service. Kerr is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
   
• Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, (U.S. Navy, retired), Ph.D. serves as vice president, Science Programs for CSC Corporation as well as the president of Antarctic Research Support.  He previously served as undersecretary of commerce for Oceans & Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He has spearheaded the development of the Group on Earth Observation, served as president and CEO of the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE), and served as deputy chief of Naval Operations. Lautenbacher is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, holds a master's degree and Ph.D. from Harvard University in applied mathematics, and was a Federal Executive Fellow at the Brookings Institution. 
   
• General Lance W. Lord (U.S. Air Force, retired) is the CEO of Astrotech Space Operations.  Lord served 37 years in the U.S. military, most recently as the commander, U.S. Air Force Space Command.  In his career, he also led more than 39,000 personnel who provided combat capabilities for the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Strategic Command.  Lord holds a bachelor's degree in education from Otterbein College and a master's degree in industrial management from the University of North Dakota.  He was a distinguished graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
   
• The Honorable Arthur (Art) L. Money served as the assistant secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence (ASD C3I) from 1999 until 2001.  Prior to that, Money served as the senior civilian official, Office of the ASD C3I.  He also served as the U.S. Department of Defense chief information officer; as assistant secretary of the U.S. Air Force for Research, Development and Acquisition; and as chief information officer of the U.S. Air Force. Money holds a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Santa Clara, and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from San Jose State University.  He has also participated in programs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.
   
• The Honorable Peter B. Teets served as undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force and director of the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.  As undersecretary, he was responsible for U.S. Air Force actions on behalf of the secretary of the Air Force and was acting secretary in the secretary's absence.  Previously, Teets was president and chief operating officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation.  Teets earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in applied mathematics from the University of Colorado, where he also received an honorary doctorate of science degree.  He also holds a Master of Science degree in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  In 2009, Teets received The General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award.

In addition, the following two current members of Iridium's Board of Directors, will also serve ex officio on the Government Advisory Board:  

• Brigadier General Peter M. Dawkins (U.S. Army, retired) is senior partner of the commodity hedge fund Flintlock Capital Asset Management. He is a graduate of West Point, was a Rhodes Scholar, studied at Oxford University, and earned a Ph.D. from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University.  During his distinguished 24 year career in the U.S. Army he was a combat commander, and served as military assistant to the deputy secretary of defense. Dawkins began his career in the private sector as a partner at Lehman Brothers, and spent 25 years leading a number of financial institutions.  He was a White House fellow and was identified by Time magazine as one of the "Top 50 Leaders in the U.S. in 1963." In 2006, he received the Horatio Alger Award.
   
•  Mr. Alvin B. ("Buzzy") Krongard is the former CEO and chairman of the board of Alex. Brown Incorporated.  During Krongard's 29-year career in the private sector, he held numerous financial industry leadership posts. Krongard has also served as executive director of the CIA.  He holds his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Princeton University and a Juris Doctor degree with honors from the University of Maryland.  He served three years active duty as an infantry officer with the U.S. Marine Corps.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Iridium NEXT.  Other forward-looking statements can be identified by the words "anticipates," "may," "can," "believes," "expects," "projects," "intends," "likely," "will," "to be" and other expressions that are predictions or indicate future events, trends or prospects. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Iridium to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, uncertainties regarding the development and availability of financing for Iridium NEXT and other risks that affect our ability to generate cash internally, as well as general industry and economic conditions, and competitive, legal, governmental and technological factors. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements include those factors listed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2010. There is no assurance that Iridium's expectations will be realized. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Iridium's underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected.  Iridium's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and Iridium undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

About Iridium Communications Inc.

Iridium Communications Inc. (www.iridium.com) is the only mobile satellite service (MSS) company offering coverage over the entire globe.  The Iridium constellation of low-earth orbiting (LEO) cross-linked satellites provides critical voice and data services for areas not served by terrestrial communication networks.  Iridium serves commercial markets through a worldwide network of distributors, and provides services to the U.S. Department of Defense and other U.S. and international government agencies.  The company's customers represent a broad spectrum of industry, including maritime, aeronautical, government/defense, public safety, utilities, oil/gas, mining, forestry, heavy equipment and transportation. Iridium has launched a major development program for its next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT.  The company is headquartered in McLean, Va., USA and trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker symbols IRDM (common stock), IRDMW ($7.00 warrants), IRDMZ ($11.50 warrants) and IRDMU (units).

CONTACT:  Iridium Communications Inc.
          Marie Knowles
          +1 (703) 287-7476
          marie.knowles@iridium.com