Excalibur Almaz USA Appoints Buckner Hightower as CEO

HOUSTON, May 10, 2011 — Excalibur Almaz USA, Inc., a commercial orbital aerospace company, has appointed Buckner Hightower Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Hightower, who had been Acting CEO since Feb. 6, was formally appointed to his new position by the Board of Directors effective May 5. He served the company as Executive Vice President, Business during the previous five years.

“I would like to congratulate Buckner on his appointment and wish him all the best as he assumes his new duties,” said Art Dula, Board Chairman of Excalibur Almaz, USA.
Mr. Hightower has a wealth of experience in the international aerospace industry with particular expertise in Russia, having worked with aerospace organizations in the Soviet Union and Russian Federation since 1988. He has more than twenty-five years experience in executive management positions.

This combination of aerospace expertise, capital formation and financial experience, and long-standing association with Russia put Mr. Hightower in a unique position to knowledgeably and proficiently act as Excalibur Almaz’s primary liaison with the international financial community.

Before joining Excalibur Almaz in 2005, he previously served as Vice-President and CFO of Space Commerce Corporation, which formed the historic first Soviet-American joint venture in aerospace.

As President of Aerospace Marketing Group, Inc., he led the first American team to conduct aerospace product sales activities in the Soviet National Pavilions at the 1989 and 1991 Paris Air Shows.

He is a member of the Board of Trustees of The International Space University in Strasbourg, France and a Trustee of The Robert A. and Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust, which confers awards in recognition of significant accomplishments in commercial aerospace activities.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin.