---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-25-117767"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "VSAT"
cik: "0000797721"
company_name: "VIASAT INC"
filed_at: "2025-05-12T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-22T00:57:48.435086+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.4
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.4
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Viasat appoints William LaPlante and Michael Paull to board; Bridenstine resigns

## Summary
- James Bridenstine resigned from board on May 9, 2025; not due to any disagreement with company.
- Board reduced Class II directors from three to two; terms expire at 2025 annual meeting.
- William LaPlante (former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition) and Michael Paull (ex-Disney Streaming President) appointed as Class III directors.
- New directors' terms expire at 2026 annual meeting; board now has eight members, six independent.
- LaPlante and Paull will receive standard non-employee director compensation and indemnification agreements.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-25-117767
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: VSAT
- cik: 0000797721
- company_name: VIASAT INC
- filed_at: 2025-05-12T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.4
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.4
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/797721/000119312525117767/0001193125-25-117767-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/797721/000119312525117767/d859883d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-25-117767
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-25-117767.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-25-117767.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  William LaPlante was appointed as Director at VIASAT INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: Additionally, on May 9, 2025, the Board appointed William LaPlante and Michael Paull as directors.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/797721/000119312525117767/0001193125-25-117767-index.htm
- Executive change
  James Bridenstine resigned as Director at VIASAT INC.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Director
  source text: On May 9, 2025, James Bridenstine resigned from the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Viasat, Inc. (the “Company”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/797721/000119312525117767/0001193125-25-117767-index.htm
- Executive change
  Michael Paull was appointed as Director at VIASAT INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: Additionally, on May 9, 2025, the Board appointed William LaPlante and Michael Paull as directors.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/797721/000119312525117767/0001193125-25-117767-index.htm

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