McLean-based communications satellite services provider Intelsat Corp. announced Monday it has hired Peter B. Davidson as vice president of global government affairs and policy. 

Davidson was most recently the deputy dean for strategic initiatives and an assistant professor at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School. In his new role, he will lead development of Intelsat’s government relations strategy and build relationships with the U.S. Congress and administration. He will also work with international administrations and regulatory bodies and report to Michelle Bryan, Intelsat executive vice president, general counsel and chief administrative officer.

With more than 35 years of experience, Davidson also served as general counsel at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he was the third most senior official and oversaw 400 attorneys across the 13 department bureaus. He also spent 14 years as the senior vice president of federal and international government relations at Verizon Communications Inc.

“Peter is a dynamic leader with a broad range of experience, and we look forward to working alongside him to further advance our near and long-term government affairs initiatives,” Bryan said in a statement.

Davidson earned his bachelor’s degree in political science (with a concentration in political economy) from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and earned his juris doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law.

In May, Intelsat announced it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to spend money on a program that would allow it to build 5G infrastructure under the Federal Communications Commission order. The clearing project will cost Intelstat $1 billion to meet FCC deadlines and will make the company eligible to receive $4.87 billion in accelerated relocation payments. The company’s day-to-day operations will continue as usual, according to Intelsat.

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