Vanguard Cellular

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Vanguard Cellular Systems, Inc. was a cellular carrier formed in 1984 by Steve Leeolou, Haynes Griffin, Rich Preyer Jr., and Chuck Hagel. It was the largest independent non-wireline cellular carrier in the 1990s. Vanguard was acquired in 1999 by AT&T Wireless, which was later acquired by Cingular Wireless, now the new AT&T. At its peak over 2000 people were employed at Vanguard. Vanguard headquarters were in Greensboro, NC, USA.

Vanguard Cellular Systems operated cellular systems in Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, South Carolina, and Florida and owned interests in other systems throughout the United States and internationally. Vanguard initially deployed the analog Nortel AMPS technology, and later migrated to the TDMA-based Digital AMPS (D-AMPS) technology .

Founder Steve Leeolou is currently CEO at Conterra Ultra Broadband in Charlotte, NC which employs several former Vanguard employees. Haynes Griffin went on to form Frontline Wireless and is CEO. He is also the CEO and chairman of Insect Shield, LLC, another Greensboro-based company. Chuck Hagel went on to serve as Senator from Nebraska for two terms (1996-2008) and is the current Secretary of Defense in President Obama's second term.

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