Chair & CEO

JR Wilson, Vice President, Tower Strategy & Roaming, leads operations, partnerships, and strategy for AT&T’s roaming and tower portfolios including both macro sites and small cells.  JR is also responsible for AT&T’s deployment of FirstNet across AT&T’s domestic roaming footprint and wireless merger integrations.

Since 2012, JR has served as the Chairman of the Wireless Broadband Alliance.  Under JR’s leadership, the Wireless Broadband Alliance has worked passionately with ecosystem partners to make WI-FI work seamlessly, securely, and ensure it interoperates with other adjacent technologies.  In addition, under JR’s leadership, the Wireless Broadband Alliance founded and established that every June 20 be designated as World Wi-Fi Day to celebrate Wi-Fi’s role in driving affordable mobile broadband including in underserved communities around the globe.  JR also serves as an Executive Committee Member of the High-Altitude Platforms Stations (HAPS) Alliance, a multi-company, newly formed industry body focused on standardizing and marketing new technologies for high altitude communications.

Previously, JR served as CEO and Chairman of Wireless Maritime Services (WMS), a joint venture of AT&T and Global Eagle Entertainment (ENT), dedicated to providing satellite-based cellular connectivity on major Cruise Lines. JR also led international partnerships and alliances for AT&T’s global Internet-of-Things (IoT) business. JR was the architect of the AT&T Global SIM that was the springboard for AT&T’s leadership in connecting IoT devices globally.

JR joined AT&T Wireless Services (formerly Cingular) in 2001 and served in key roles in corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, joint venture management, international roaming and strategy, and international development.

JR started his career in Seattle with Arthur Anderson, after graduating from Syracuse University. Before starting at AT&T, JR spent several years at Teledesic, a start-up founded by Craig McCaw and Bill Gates with the vision of providing global, ubiquitous, mobile broadband using advance satellite technology. JR lives and works in Atlanta, GA with his wife and three children.

Derek Peterson, Ph. D., is chief technology officer at Boingo Wireless. He is responsible for the company’s technical vision and strategy. Under his leadership, Boingo is pioneering the adoption and deployment of the latest wireless network technologies including 5G, Passpoint, network virtualization and convergence. He is directly responsible for building and operating Boingo’s core technologies and systems, including web applications, client software, networks, authentication, billing, advertising, IPTV, business intelligence and IT infrastructure.

Dr. Peterson has deep telecommunications experience as a consultant, engineer, product manager and executive. Prior to joining Boingo in 2011, he served in strategic product roles at Oracle driving global launch campaigns for LTE adoption and billing software solutions.

He is a Wireless Broadband Alliance, MulteFire Alliance and New IP Agency board member, and a founding member of the Wireless Infrastructure Association’s Innovation & Technology Council. Dr. Peterson was named “CTO of the Year” in 2017 by the Los Angeles Business Journal and a 2015 “Wireless Industry Executive to Watch” by FierceWireless.

Dr. Peterson holds a BS in computer science from the University of Maryland, an MA in education and technology from the American Intercontinental University, and a Doctorate of Computer Science with a focus on enterprise information systems from Colorado Technical University. He is an adjunct professor for Colorado Technical University and an editor for the “International Journal of Strategic Information Technology and Applications.”

Tiago Rodrigues is the President & CEO of the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA). Tiago is responsible for leading the overall strategy, together with the WBA Board, and the operational planning for the WBA. As well as overseeing the day to day management, Tiago takes a leadership role in understanding industry challenges and working with membership to agree the key focus areas and programs that need to be developed to ensure the wireless industry optimises market opportunities for Wi-Fi and works to resolve any business issues that impede the success of the industry overall.

Before he joined the WBA, Tiago spent 15 years at the Portugal Telecom Group. In his previous role as Head of Business Innovation, he collaborated with various departments within the company to identify and develop new business opportunities. Prior to this, he managed the Public Wi-Fi sector of Portugal Telecom Group where he was responsible for service management, development, strategy and internationalisation of the Wi-Fi service. He was also involved in strategic marketing, regulatory affairs, pricing, product development and roaming.

Tiago holds an M.Sc. in Economics and Management of Science and Technology, and a degree in Business Administration from the Higher Institute of Economics and Management at The Technical University of Lisbon He also has a BA. Honors Degree in Business Administration from Humberside University, UK.