---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000023197-24-000108"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "CMTL"
cik: "0000023197"
company_name: "COMTECH TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP /DE/"
filed_at: "2024-10-31T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-30T07:43:07.193070+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Comtech appoints John Ratigan as permanent CEO and Kenneth Traub to board

## Summary
- John Ratigan named President, CEO and board member effective Oct 28, 2024; had been interim CEO since March 2024.
- Ratigan receives $750k base salary, annual bonus up to 200% of base, $400k RSUs, and performance shares.
- Kenneth H. Traub appointed independent director effective Oct 31, 2024; brings turnaround and governance expertise.
- Company reaffirms strategy to transform into pure-play satellite and space communications company.
- Ratigan's appointment follows a comprehensive search; he previously led iDirect Government and EF Data Corp.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000023197-24-000108
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: CMTL
- cik: 0000023197
- company_name: COMTECH TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP /DE/
- filed_at: 2024-10-31T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/23197/000002319724000108/0000023197-24-000108-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/23197/000002319724000108/cmtl-20241028.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000023197-24-000108
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000023197-24-000108.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000023197-24-000108.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  John Ratigan was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer at COMTECH TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP /DE/.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On October 28, 2024, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (“Comtech” or the “Company”) appointed Mr. John Ratigan as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board, effective as of October 28, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/23197/000002319724000108/0000023197-24-000108-index.htm
- Executive change
  Kenneth H. Traub was appointed as Director at COMTECH TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP /DE/.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: Effective October 31, 2024, the Board appointed Mr. Kenneth H. Traub as an independent director.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/23197/000002319724000108/0000023197-24-000108-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.