Hughes Space and Communications Hires George Torres for Communications Post.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 22, 1999--

George Torres, a veteran aerospace public relations professional, joins Hughes Space and Communications Company (HSC) Oct. 25 as director of communications. He replaces Don O'Neal, 61, who is retiring.

Torres, 45, will direct public relations and internal communications activities within HSC, as well as supervise a support team of about 100 that provides photography, audio, video, writing, art, graphic and Web site services. Torres will report directly to HSC President and CEO Tig H. Krekel.

Torres leaves a similar post, which he has held since 1998, at Boeing Space and Communications Group. He has more than 20 years' experience in communications for the aerospace industry, beginning with the Space Systems Division of Rockwell International in 1978. He has held a succession of management and director positions in communications for Rockwell and then at Boeing, which acquired some of Rockwell's businesses in 1996.

In addition, Torres is author of two books on the space program -- "Space Shuttle: The Quest Continues" and "Space Shuttle: A Quantum Leap." In 1990, he received a Journalism Award of Excellence from the Aviation/Space Writers Association.

He holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and an MBA from California State University, Long Beach. He served two years in the U.S. Army's 4th Military Intelligence organization, and received the Army's American Spirit Honor Award for Leadership in 1977.

O'Neal is leaving HSC after 11 years as communications director. He came to Hughes after serving as eastern region public affairs director for Rockwell International. Before that, he was a career public affairs officer for the U.S. Marine Corps. During the past year, O'Neal was chairman of the U.S. Space Foundation's Space Awareness Alliance, and plans to remain active with the alliance after retirement.

HSC is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial communications satellites, having built nearly 40 percent of all geosynchronous satellites in operation. It also is a major supplier of spacecraft and equipment to the U.S. government, and a builder of weather satellites for the United States and Japan. It employs more than 7,000 people in its facilities near Los Angeles International Airport.

HSC is a unit of Hughes Electronics Corp. The earnings of Hughes Electronics are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to GMH (NYSE symbol) common stock.