Speakers

Joe Anderson is the vice president of operations and business development for SpaceLogistics, a Northrop Grumman company.

In this role, Anderson is responsible for managing the technical, operational, licensing and insurance aspects of SpaceLogistics’ satellite-servicing fleet, and business development for commercial and government satellite servicing customers.

Anderson has been with SpaceLogistics nearly ten years. Previous to his current position, he served as chief engineer and director of mission extension vehicle services.

Prior to joining SpaceLogistics, Anderson spent 20 years at Intelsat where he served in a variety of technical, managerial, strategy and business development roles.

Anderson possesses more than 30 years of satellite industry experience including control system design for launch vehicles, telecommunications satellites, the Space Station Freedom, and satellite operations from more than 25 launch missions.

Anderson holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Minnesota, a master’s in engineering from Stanford University, and an MBA from George Washington University.

SpaceLogistics, a Northrop Grumman company, is the global leader in the development and deployment of on-orbit satellite servicing systems and the first and only company performing on-orbit servicing for commercial satellites in geosynchronous orbit. Our planned series of vehicles will extend service life, provide enhanced capabilities and enable future missions for a variety of customers.

Brian Barritt is CTO at Aalyria, an early-stage Google spinout, where he supports the backend infrastructure for orchestrating networks across land, sea, air, and space.  Prior to joining Aalyria, he established a new industry consortium for 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks and supported open source connectivity at Meta.  Brian was a Senior Staff Software Engineer at Google and the founding engineer of the Temporospatial SDN infrastructure that powered several terrestrial, high-attitude, and satellite networks at Alphabet and its partners, including Loon.

Brian has more than 15 years of experience in advanced wireless networks. Prior to his tenure at Google he led engineering programs at Cisco and space communications programs at NASA. 

Brian earned an MBA in Management of Technology & Innovation and BS, MS, and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Engineering from Case Western Reserve University.

Marc Bell is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP), a leading manufacturer of satellites primarily serving the United States and Allied aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides end-to-end satellite solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and on-orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers.

Bell is an accomplished entrepreneur with a wide-spanning career. In 2008, Bell took a $250 million SPAC public, acquiring startup Armour Residential REIT (NYSE: ARR). Armour today holds over $8 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities in its portfolio. Before Armour, Bell began his career in 1989 as the founder of Globix: The Global Internet Exchange. Globix was an Internet Infrastructure company with over 28,000 miles of fiber and over 1 million square feet of Data Center Space globally.

Bell is an avid Broadway producer with two Tony Award-winning Broadway shows: Grammy Award-winning Jersey Boys (Tony for Best Musical) and Pulitzer Prize-winning August Osage County (Tony for Best Play). His most recent Tony Award-nominated Broadway show was Beetlejuice (Best Musical).

In addition, Bell is a member of the NYU Board of Trustees, NYU Langone Health Board of Overseers, NYU Stern Center for Real Estate Finance Research Advisory Board, NYU Schack Advisory Board, and the NYU College of Arts and Science Dean’s Advisory Council. He is also Chairman and Founder of the Boca Raton Police Foundation and serves on the board of SOS Children’s Villages Florida.

Bell holds a Master of Science degree in Real Estate Development and Investment from New York University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Babson College.

Colonel Heather B. Bogstie is the Senior Materiel Leader for the Resilient Missile Warning, Tracking, and Defense Acquisition Delta at Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. Her responsibilities include managing the new $2B MEO Missile Track constellation and the integration of the system into the overall Missile Warning architecture, rapidly responding to evolving and emerging threats.

Col Bogstie was commissioned in 1998 through the ROTC program at Auburn University. Her first assignment was a Minuteman III missile operator/ instructor/ flight chief at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. She then moved to the Air Force Technical Applications Center at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida as a Systems Engineer for the Nuclear Treaty Monitoring Directorate, upgrading and installing 15 seismic stations spanning all seven continents. Afterwards, she became the Chief of Payload Products, Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Wing at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California delivering the critical SBIRS GEO-2 missile detection and warning payload for spacecraft integration. After attending Air Command and Staff College, she was a Political Military Planner in the Western Hemisphere Directorate of J5, The Joint Staff, Pentagon, and coordinating Defense Support of Civil Authorities and Pandemic Influenza/Infectious Disease policies with interagency partners. She followed that assignment as Chief, Space Vehicle Engineering Branch at the National Reconnaissance Office where she led a 1,500-member joint team for $4.3B+ SIGINT space vehicle development. She then became Materiel Leader for Space Operations with Space and Missile Systems Center’s (SMC) Advanced Systems and Development Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico and led the $152M RDT&E Support Complex, operating $672M in DoD and NASA missions. While there, she was dual-hatted as Program Manager for the $94M ORS-5 space situational awareness pathfinder program. Following that tour, she became Chief of the SMC Commander’s Action Group, where she then lead the SMC 2.0 effort–the largest re-organization in the Center’s 60 years. Afterwards, she was Senior Materiel Leader of the Rapid Development Division, where she managed an $800M portfolio critical to developing innovative on-orbit technologies that enabled numerous missions across the space enterprise

Jim Bridenstine is a Senior Advisor at Acorn Growth Companies, an Oklahoma City based private equity company that invests exclusively in aerospace, defense, and intelligence.

Before joining Acorn, Jim served as the 13^th Administrator of NASA, where he was responsible for managing NASA’s 70,000-person workforce and $23 billion annual budget.  Under his leadership, NASA reestablished an American human spaceflight program, which was lost after the retirement of the Space Shuttles in 2011.  He also created NASA’s Artemis program to establish the first permanent presence on the Moon with commercial and international partners and enable a path to Mars.

Before being appointed as NASA Administrator, Jim served in the United States House of Representatives from Oklahoma’s First Congressional District from 2013 to 2018.  He was a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee where he chaired the Subcommittee on the Environment.

Prior to Congress, Jim served as a pilot in the United States Navy acquiring 1900 flight hours and 333 landings on an aircraft carrier.  He flew combat missions in Afghanistan (2002) and Iraq (2003) off the USS Abraham Lincoln, where he earned an Air Medal and Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”.  Originally an E-2C Hawkeye pilot, he transitioned to the F-18 Hornet and flew as an aggressor (Red Air) at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, the parent command to TOPGUN.

Jim serves on the Board of Directors for Viasat, Inc., the Board of Trustees of the Aerospace Corporation, and he Chairs the Board of Advisors for Voyager Space.

Jim earned a triple major from Rice University in Economics, Business, and Psychology and an MBA from Cornell University.  He lives in Tulsa with his wife Michelle and three children: Walker (15), Sarah (13), and Grant (9).

Natalia Larrea Brito is a Principal Advisor at Euroconsult. In this role, she manages consulting missions for government and private institutions including the assessment of government programs, defining new policies, socio-economic studies, and the strategic analysis of new technologies and space markets. Natalia is also the editor-in-chief for Euroconsult’s Prospects for Space Exploration research report.
She is the recipient of numerous merit awards, including the “Promise Award” and “20 under 35” of the Satellite Society Professionals International (SSPI), and the “35 under 35 Space Industry Award” of the International Institute of Space Commerce (IISC).
Prior to joining Euroconsult, Natalia worked as a Systems Engineer at MDA, as a Research Associate at NASA Ames and as a trainee at the European Space Agency (ESA). She holds a Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering from McGill University (Canada), a Bachelor and Master’s Degree in Telecommunications Engineering from Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio (Spain) and a Diploma in Astronomy and Planetary Science from the Open University UK. She is also a graduate of the International Space University (ISU).

Mr. Burgess was the Vice President of Technology and Engineering for Sierra Space (SNC’s Space Systems) located in Louisville, Colorado. Space System’s technology portfolio spans the Dream Chaser lifting body space station Commercial Resupply Services 2 program, advanced spaceflight systems, commercial and US government satellite programs, electromechanical, solar power, environmental life support subsystems, and liquid rocket engines.

Mr. Burgess has worked in the Space Community for 34 years, with a particular focus on Space Superiority and unmanned space proximity operations.

Ian Canning joined OneWeb Technologies as Chief Operating Officer in January 2012.

Mr. Canning has more than 30 years’ experience in the global satellite communications and telecommunications industries. In this position, he is responsible for the dayto- day operations of the Company along with leading the development of the innovative solutions OneWeb Technologies brings to market.

Prior to joining OneWeb Technologies, Mr. Canning held many senior management positions for Stratos Global Corp., the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions. He was responsible for Stratos’ global product and marketing portfolio, generating more than $700 million from advanced remote communications solutions, including the Stratos Advantage range of value-added services.

Positions held during his tenure at Stratos included Vice President, Global Product Marketing (2010-11), Vice President, Marketing and Product Management (2007-10), Stratos’ Managing Director, EMEA and Vice President, Sales (2004-07), and Director, EMEA and Asia (1999-2001).

In addition, Mr. Canning’s experience includes posts with other leading players in the commercial satellite communications industry. From 2001-03, Mr. Canning served as Director, Business Development EMEA and later as Director, Sales EMEA for Iridium Communications Inc. From 1995-99, Mr. Canning served as Manager, Partnership Program for Inmarsat. From 1983-99, he held senior sales positions with a variety of electronics and telecommunications companies, including Nortel Networks, Motorola Codex, and Racal Datacom.

Mr. Canning earned an MBA from London’s Greenwich School of Management.

Robert is Chief Strategist and Chairman of the Board at Planet Federal where he is responsible for supporting strategic decision-making for future products and services, driving meaningful partnerships, and increasing the utility of commercial innovations for global government agencies. Robert has a distinguished career as former Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) from 2014-2019, where he successfully transformed the Agency’s future value proposition through innovative partnerships with the growing commercial geospatial marketplace. Prior to NGA, Robert served in leadership positions with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. From 2010 to 2014, Robert managed, edited, and delivered the President’s Daily Brief to President Obama and Vice President Biden – over 1400 editions – while also serving on the Deputies Committee of the National Security Council.

Brig. Gen. Robert W. Claude is the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations, Training and Force Development (J3/7), Headquarters United States Space Command, Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado. U.S. Space Command is one of 11 unified commands under the Department of Defense and is responsible for deterring conflict, defending U.S. and allied freedom of action in the space area of operations, delivering combat-relevant space capability to the joint/combined force, and developing space forces to advance U.S. and allied interests in, through and from the space domain. As MA, Brig. Gen. Claude assists the J3/7 in executing full-spectrum space operations, maintaining credible space deterrence capabilities, providing analytical planning support, leading the combatant command’s participation in joint and combined exercises, and ensuring the education, training, and assessments of assigned and attached space forces.

Brig. Gen. Claude was commissioned in 1991 through the AFROTC program at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a career space and cyber officer with more than 30 years of service.

Brig. Gen. Claude has commanded one squadron, served as wing vice commander, and has held numerous staff positions at the unit, major command, combatant command and service headquarters levels. Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Claude served as the MA to the Deputy Chief of Space Operations, Strategy, Plans, Programs, and Analysis, United States Space Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.

EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Computer Science and Quantitative Methods, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.
1996 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1997 Master of Business Administration, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2009 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Joint and Combined Warfighting School Joint Professional Military Education II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va., by hybrid

ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 1991–March 1992, Student, Undergraduate Space Training, Lowry Air Force Base, Colo.
2. March 1992–January 1994, Crew Commander/Flight Commander, 6th Space Operations Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
3. January 1994–August 1995, Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, 6th Space Operations Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
4. August 1995–September 1997, Wing Command Post Operations Officer, 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan
5. September 1997–July 2003, Milstar INFOSEC Systems Security Engineer/Information Systems Security Operations Officer, 694th Intelligence Group, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
6. July 2003–June 2004, Deputy Flight Commander/Crew Commander, 8th Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo.
7. June 2004–October 2007, Adversary Tactics Flight Commander and Defensive Counterspace Officer, 26th Space Aggressor Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.
8. October 2007–May 2011, Director of Operations, 380th Space Control Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo.
9. May 2011–October 2012, Commander, 380th Space Control Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo.
10. October 2012–April 2014, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Director of Requirements, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
11. May 2014–June 2016, Vice Commander, 310th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, Colo.
12. June 2016–June 2019, IMA to the Deputy Director for Operations (J3), United States Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, Md., and Senior Service Lead, Joint Cyber Reserve Element, USCYBERCOM, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
13. June 2019–February 2021, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Strategic Requirements, Architectures and Analysis, Headquarters United States Space Force, Peterson AFB, Colo.
14. February 2021–December 2021, MA to the Deputy Chief of Space Operations, Strategy, Plans, Programs, Requirements, and Analysis, U.S. Space Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. December 2021–present, MA to the Director of Operations, Training and Force Development (J3/7), Headquarters United States Space Command, Schriever Space Force Base, Colo.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2016–June 2019, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Deputy Director for Operations (J3), United States Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, Md., and Senior Service Lead, Joint Cyber Reserve Element, United States Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, Md., as a colonel
2. December 2021–present, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations, Training and Force Development (J3/7), Headquarters United States Space Command, Schriever Space Force Base, Colo., as a brigadier general

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug. 29, 1991
First Lieutenant Aug. 29, 1993
Captain Aug. 29, 1995
Major Oct. 1, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 2, 2007
Colonel Oct. 13, 2012
Brigadier General Feb. 25, 2021

(Current as of December 2021)

Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Clint Crosier is Director of the AWS Aerospace & Satellite Solutions business, responsible for providing commercial and government customers with tailored, secure, and cost-effective cloud solutions for building satellites, conducting space and launch operations, and reimagining space exploration.

Prior to joining AWS, Crosier served 33 years in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, retiring as a Major General. During his career, he operated GPS, SatCom, and missile warning satellite constellations, launched Atlas and Titan rockets putting national security payloads in orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office and Air Force Space Command, deployed to the Middle East during Operation Enduring Freedom as USSCENTCOM’s Director of Space Forces, and led Requirements and Strategy Development for the entire US Air Force. He has commanded at the Squadron, Group, and Wing levels, and held leadership roles as a US Senate Staffer and in the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.

Prior to retiring from military service, he was the lead planner and architect of the stand-up of the US Space Force, the first new military service in 72 years.
Crosier earned his degree in aerospace engineering from Iowa State University. In 2020 he was inducted into the ISU Aerospace Engineering Hall of Fame. He has also earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi (Summa Cum Laude), and a Master’s of Science in National Security Studies from the US Naval War College with Highest Distinction. His military academic awards include earning Distinguished Graduate and Top Graduate accolades at Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and the Naval War College.

Sean DArcy is the Director for Mission Payloads and Processing in the C4ISR business unit of BAE Systems based out of Nashua, NH. His interest are in InfraRed, Microwave, Electronic Warfare and Science Payloads for both on-orbit and airborne assets along with Signaturing methods for both Infrared and Radio Frequency.

Prior to his time a BAE System, Sean held Director Positions at Analog Devices, Inc. and Honeywell Defense. Starting as a research engineer, his 35 year career has been split between advancing roles in engineering leadership, strategic marketing and program management. His experiences cover programs delivering mechanical, software and electrical systems for propulsion, aviation, RADAR, EA, UAVs, Inertial Navigation and C4. He has over 100 publications and speaking engagements and resides in Massachusetts.

Erik Daehler is the Senior Director of Protected Communications Satellite Missions for the Lockheed Martin Corporation. In this capacity, he is responsible for the development, deployment and operations of strategic and tactical communications satellites for the United States Government, allies, coalition partners and commercial customers. He brings 20 years of aerospace and defense experience to the mission.

Mr. Daehler is responsible for the development of next-generation satellite communications (satcom) product offerings, technology solutions, satellite design and system architectures. In this role, Mr. Daehler uses his experience in commercial satcom to innovate and affordably develop solutions for government missions. He directs the team delivering the most-advanced programs including AEHF, MUOS, PTS, ESS, COOLR as well as future programs in Australia, the United Kingdom and across the globe for Lockheed Martin’s government and international customers.

Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Mr. Daehler was the Director of Product Innovation for Boeing, where he led development of new satellite platforms for Boeing’s Advanced Network and Space Systems, including the first of a kind 702SP all-electric, dual-stacked satellite and the 502 remote sensing satellites.

Mr. Daehler has a background in optical physics with applications in communication and space remote sensing. This mission experience shaped the strategy for new technology development. Mr. Daehler led research and development for Boeing’s unmanned satellite systems, worked as a Chief System Architect and Systems Engineering Manager on large-scale satellite and network systems for commercial and government customers.

Mr. Daehler joined Lockheed Martin at NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center in 2000 where he performed calibrations of space and aircraft-based earth observation systems. In 2002, he transitioned to Boeing to develop next-generation space systems including the X-37B reusable space plane. In 2016, Mr. Daehler returned to Lockheed Martin to grow the commercial communications and remote sensing business.

Mr. Daehler was educated in Europe at the Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands where he received his Master’s degree in Space Systems Engineering. He also received a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from The Colorado College in 1998.

Mr. Preston C. Dunlap was the Chief Architect of the Department of the Air Force. First to hold this position, Mr. Dunlap was charged with working across the Air and Space Force, and in partnership with the Department of the Navy and Army, to transform technology development and acquisition so the Air Force not only designs, develops, and buys the right mix of future capability but does so more rapidly and with the power of interoperability. Key family of systems initiatives include Multi-domain Operations, Advanced Battle Management System, and Next Generation Air Dominance.

Prior to this position, Mr. Dunlap was the Executive for National Security Analysis of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, the nation’s largest University Affiliated Research Center.

There he oversaw national security defense and intelligence programs at all levels of classification and managed an extensive and diverse organization of program managers, technologists, analysts, and operators. He led programs in support of the Vice President of the United States, Cabinet Secretaries, the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of National Intelligence. Mr. Dunlap served on the corporate Executive Leadership Team of the Laboratory. At the request of Congress, he also testified before the full House Armed Services Committee.

Before joining the Laboratory in 2014, Mr. Dunlap was a career member of the Senior Executive Service and served four Secretaries of Defense. He held the roles of Director of Program Analysis, Chief of Staff to the Senate-confirmed Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Senior Analyst for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Space Programs, and Deputy Director of the Simulation and Analysis Center. He shaped the Department of Defense five-year multi-billion dollar budget plans as well as associated Intelligence Community and National Nuclear Security Administration plans.

Mr. Dunlap led the Long Range Strike Front End Assessment and started the B-21 bomber program as well as future weapons, hypersonics, intelligence, electronic warfare, and communications capabilities for Secretary Gates and Secretary Panetta. He served in a lead role of the Strategic Choices and Management Review for Secretary Hagel where he identified options and risks required to meet the Budget Control Act that would reduce the budget by over $50 billion per year. He also participated in the 2006, 2010, and 2014 Quadrennial Defense Reviews.

Prior to government, Mr. Dunlap held various roles in the private sector as an early member of a rapidly growing technology startup company as well as an agile software development firm.

He earned a Master of Science degree with honors in Operations Research and Management Science from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Computer Science and Political Science from Duke University. Mr. Dunlap is Lean Six Sigma certified and is a graduate of the Harvard University National Security Senior Executive program and the Federal Executive Institute and served on the Board of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI program. Mr. Dunlap’s awards include the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service and multiple citations of both the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service and Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence.

Dr. Emmons earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Cornell University with a concentration in signal processing and communications theory. She was awarded an MBA from Imperial College Management School, London, UK, with a concentration in entrepreneurship and finance. Emmons earned a Ph.D. in systems engineering from the George Washington University.

“Matthew Erickson is SpiderOaks Vice President of Solutions guiding federal clients in applying zero trust and distributed ledger technologies to securing sensitive data, communications and hybrid space environments.

Joining SpiderOak in 2010 Matt is the architect of the companies initiative to expand the federal use case for blockchain in Hybrid Space, DoD and Intelligence.

In 2018 Matt was Executive Director of the Digital Privacy Alliance where he was responsible for bringing together sectors of the tech industry that respect user privacy enabling  them to speak with a single voice in legislatures across the country. “

Debra Facktor is the Head of U.S. Space Systems for AIRBUS U.S. Space & Defense, Inc., reporting to the Chairman and CEO of Airbus U.S. She joined the company in March 2020 and is responsible for managing the two businesses within U.S. Space Systems: National Security Space and Space Exploration. She also represents Airbus on the board of Airbus OneWeb Satellites, a joint venture between Airbus and OneWeb operating a high-volume, high-speed satellite production facility in Florida, leveraging Airbus’ long standing heritage in satellite manufacturing.
Prior to joining Airbus U.S., Debra was Vice President and General Manager of Strategic Operations for Ball Aerospace, leading the company’s Washington DC operations, strategic development, and marketing and communications. Her extensive business experience includes serving as President and Owner of AirLaunch LLC, a small business that won funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and as Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Planning for Kistler Aerospace Corporation, a company that was developing a privately-funded reusable launch vehicle for the telecommunications satellite and International Space Station commercial resupply markets. Earlier in her career, Debra was Chief of Moscow Operations for ANSER’s Center for International Aerospace Cooperation.
Debra is actively engaged as a board member, advisor and mentor in the aerospace community, with organizations such as the Intelligence and National Security Association (INSA), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Future Space Leaders Foundation, Brooke Owens Fellowship Program, Women in Aerospace and the International Women’s Forum. She serves on the Industrial Advisory Board of the University of Michigan aerospace engineering department and as an adjunct faculty member of the Johns Hopkins University systems engineering department. She is a fellow of AIAA and the American Astronautical Society (AAS) and an academician of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).
Debra received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan, and is an alumna of the International Space University summer session program in Strasbourg, France.

Karl Fuchs joined iDirect Government in 2004 as the Director of Sales Engineering, just as the satellite-based IP communications company was expanding its very small aperture satellite (VSAT) market presence into the federal government and international Internet Protocol (IP) networking world. He now works as the Sr. Vice President of Technology.

With more than 25 years of experience in technology and with the federal government, Fuchs leads iDirect Government’s team of federal sales engineers, hardware engineers, software engineers, and serves as chief architect for new product integration.

Prior to joining iDirect Government, Fuchs was Director of Systems Engineering at Nortel Networks, where he oversaw the Verizon account team of systems engineers, leading the design of IP, Frame Relay, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) networks. Before joining Nortel, he designed IP and ATM networks for Sprint and the federal government.

Active in the satellite industry for more than 20 years, Fuchs has contributed editorial to numerous publications including Federal Computer Week, Institute for Defense and Government Advancement, COTS Journal, Military Information Technology, Via Satellite, MILSATCOM and Satellite Evolution Global. In addition, he has been a featured speaker at leading industry events including the DoD SATCOM User Workshop, ISCe, IBC, Pacific Telecommunications Council and Emergency Management Talks.

Fuchs holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from George Mason University, Fairfax, Va. and an MBA from Averett University, Danville, Va.

Jazmin Furtado is a captain in the United States Space Force working to democratize and unlock the power of data for the space community.  She has worked with Massachusetts General Hospital to leverage machine learning and streamline its operations, SpaceX to scale analytics and artificial intelligence efforts, the United States Air Force to develop and execute AI capabilities, and the Department of the Air Force/MIT AI Accelerator to transition AI basic research into operations.  Outside of work, she is a voice for Women in Tech and diversity in the military.

David Gallacher is a Partner in the Governmental Practice group at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton’s Washington, DC office. His practice focuses on all types of public contracting, supply chain management, and litigation. David regularly counsels both defense and civilian contractors on issues relating to compliance with the vast array of procurement regulations including, among other things, subcontract administration, country of origin requirements under the Buy American and Trade Agreements Acts, policy updates under the annual Defense Appropriations Acts, export controls, commercial item exceptions, cost accounting, suspension and debarment, and small business requirements.

He also regularly conducts compliance reviews and internal investigations to assist companies ensure that they are in full compliance with the law. And he regularly litigates disputes at the GAO (bid protests), SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals (small business status challenges), U.S. Court of Federal Claims (claims and contract changes), and U.S. District Courts (civil False Claims Act defense).

Mr. Gauthier is the Director of the Source Commercial & Business Operations Group at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). He is responsible for leading the community in discovery, assessment, requirements, and acquisition of commercial GEO INT data, products, and services and manages all business operations for NGA Source. Mr. Gauthier also chairs the IC Commercial Space Council (ICCSC) on behalf of the ODNI. He is a member of the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service.

Previously at NGA, Mr. Gauthier served as the founding Director of the Office of Strategic Operations (OSO) which developed the NGA Strategy 2025 and launched NGAs transition to more data-driven and digital-native operations. Before that he was Director of Advanced Concepts for the Office of Persistent GEOINT and pioneered automation for model-driven collection. As the NGA lead for Activity-Based Intelligence (ABI) he operationalized automated imagery exploitation and advanced analytic software. On a Joint Duty Assignment for the ODNI in 2009 he founded the IC Green Glow campaign to fuse collection and analysis across 10 separate agencies. Mr. Gauthier has also served as Deputy Technical Executive for NGA Analysis, Chief of the Integrated Mission Support Division at NGA-Denver, and Deputy Director for NGA Operations at NGA-Denver.

Prior to serving with NGA, Mr. Gauthier worked for the Riverside Research Institute where he focused on future requirements for OPIR ground and space systems, operationalized real-time ground processing systems, and codified the persistent collection philosophy. As a U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer Mr. Gauthier led multiple intelligence operations using human, ground, air, and space-based technical collection. He conducted all-source analysis and collection management for HQ EUCOM, served as a Satellite Payload Director and InfraRed Operations Manager for DIA, and was an Information Operations Watch Officer for SIGINT missions on the Korean peninsula.

Mr. Gauthier has Masters of Science degrees in both Aerospace Engineering and Telecommunications Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). In addition, Mr. Gauthier earned a Graduate Certificate in Management & Leadership from the University of Colorado and an Executive Certificate in Management & Leadership from the MIT Sloan School of Management. He is a graduate of both the DoD APEX and ODNI Leading the IC programs.

Mr. Gauthier lives in Northern Virginia with his wife Krista and two daughters.

John Gedmark is CEO and Co-Founder of Astranis. Astranis builds and operates small, low-cost telecommunications satellites with the mission to bring the world online. The company has raised over $350 million to date, and has a team of over 250 based out of their San Francisco headquarters.

John co-founded and served as Executive Director of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, the industry association for commercial space companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic. As Executive Director, John reported to a CEO-level board of directors and led the commercial space industry’s efforts to privatize flights of NASA’s astronauts to low Earth orbit — in February 2010 President Obama announced the historic decision to use commercial space transportation, a landmark change worth more than $10 billion to the commercial space industry. Prior to that, John served as the Director of Rocket Flight Operations for the X Prize Foundation, responsible for operations of rocket launches in front of a crowd of 20,000 people, including the first-ever public flight of a Vertical Take-off Vertical Landing (VTVL) rocket. John holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University and a Master of Science degree from Stanford University, both in Aerospace Engineering, with a focus on rocket propulsion.

Tom Gillespie serves as a Partner on In-Q-Tel’s Investment Team and as Investment Lead for In-Q-Tel’s Field Technologies Practice, where he is responsible for identifying technologies that address challenges faced by the Intelligence Community. He is the Investment Team partner associated with IQT’s commercial space initiative, CosmiQ Works, and he has led a number of IQT’s investments in commercial space ventures, including launch vehicles, small satellite constellations, and space situational awareness. In addition, he has led IQT investments in the areas of robotics, materials, power sources, and autonomous systems, as well as several analytics investments.

Prior to IQT, Gillespie was a Strategy Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, serving clients in the financial services, aerospace, and government (national security and defense) sectors. Previously, he co-founded LaunchFuel, a venture commercialization firm that created, developed, and advised early-stage technology businesses; Gillespie also directed numerous business and technology strategy projects with Global 2000 clients for AT&T Solutions. Earlier experience includes positions in international privatization and the United States Congress, where he focused on financial services, telecommunications, space, and foreign affairs issue areas.

Gillespie earned a B.A. from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Daniel Gizinski was named President of Comtech Satellite Networks Technologies, Inc. (a U.S. Corporation) on January 3, 2022. Previously he held various senior management positions at Comtech, including Vice President of Product and Strategy for Comtech Systems Inc. Prior to joining Comtech in 2019, Daniel held program management and leadership roles at General Electric, Sierra Nevada Corporation, and L3Harris Technologies. Daniel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia and a Master’s degree from Duke University.

Katherine is the Chief Executive Officer for the ManSat Group. ManSat is the world’s largest commercial provider of satellite spectrum and offers bespoke consultancy services in spectrum regulatory matters.  Before joining ManSat, Katherine worked with U.S. defense contractors to bring commercial satellite and terrestrial communication technologies to austere environments in support of military, diplomatic, first responder, and commercial initiatives.

Katherine serves as President of Space & Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) and mentors entrepreneurs through Techstars Starburst Space Accelerator.  Katherine is a graduate of the International Space University’s Executive Space program and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia.

Jacqueline Good is the Founder and CEO of Magnestar Inc.  Founded in December 2021, the company focuses on building a clearing house of interference vectors to establish clear paths of communications for all existing and new satellite operators.

Jacqueline leverages her diverse educational background, performance in enterprise technical sales and vast network, to lead the Magnestar world class team. Within her career, she has built data architecture for over four dozen organizations across Canada, the US and China, led the development of six software applications and she recently left a senior leadership role at one of Canada’s largest pension funds to pursue her passion for space, sustainability and entrepreneurship.

Jacqueline enjoys running, yoga, competitive hockey and is an executive committee member at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Dr. Gopal is Vice President, Advanced Programs and is responsible for resilient communications, LEO, 5G, HTS, AI/ML and cyber programs within Hughes Defense.  He was on the system design of the OneWeb LEO broadband network using 4G/5G and IP network technologies. He earlier served as Network System Engineering lead for Transformational Satellite (TSAT) space segment (with onboard layer 3 packet processing) and was a lead architect for SPACEWAY® 3 (with onboard L2 processing) system, and worked on Mobile Satellite systems (Thuraya, ICO, LEO Teledesic) development teams. He was the chief architect and software manager for the SPACEWAY, a $1.8B development, Network Operations Control Center.

Dr. Gopal serves on the editorial board of Wiley’s  International Journal of Satellite Communications and Networking (IJSCN) and is member of IEEE 5G World Forum, AIAA  Communication Systems Technical Committee, and AIAA ICSSC technical program committee.  He was a member of the FCC Cyber Security working group in 2010-2011. He contributed for the DHS National Communications Sector Risk assessment report in 2011-2012. As a member of the US President’s NSTAC Satellite Task Force 2009, he co-authored the report on commercial satellite communications and cyber security. He has served on program committees including IEEE Globecom SAC, SPIE, and IEEE SIMA and has been on SIA, AIAA/ICSSC, MILCOM, Global VSAT Forum, and National Institutes of Health (NIH) panels. Earlier, he architected drug screening and laboratory automation systems for NIH with IP networking, interactive distributed computing, and robotics technologies and founded a bioinformatics company.

Dr. Gopal has published more than 40 technical papers on topics ranging from space, 5G, software, AI/ML, network management, and life sciences, and holds 11 patents on satellite/communications systems.

Lori W. Gordon is a senior project engineer and technology strategist at The Aerospace Corporation specializing in cyber and physical infrastructure protection. In the course of her career she has led efforts to coordinate national strategies and initiatives to enhance the resilience of U.S. critical infrastructure, mitigate national security and civil space enterprise risk, and accelerate technology innovation in complex systems. She has advised U.S. and international standards development organizations and academic curriculum boards on autonomous systems, cybersecurity, and the next generation workforce. Gordon has a master’s in public administration from the University of Massachusetts and a bachelor’s in geography from the University of Maryland. She is a Partner with The Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy and is a Visiting Fellow at the National Security Institute.

Mr. Todd Gossett joined SES Government Solutions (SES GS) in September 2015 and serves as the Vice President for Space & National Security Initiatives. Mr. Gossett is responsible for developing, pursuing, and securing opportunities to support U.S. Government missions around the world by leveraging SES’s space infrastructure for missions ranging from space relay to hosted payloads. He is also responsible for integrating U.S. Government COMSATCOM requirements into the SES corporate processes for satellite fleet development and strategic third part capacity procurements. His office also works with U.S. government and industry partners to strengthen the cyber security of the SES fleet. He also oversees SES GS’ innovation strategy, looking at non-traditional and market adjacent products and services to expand SES GS’ addressable market.

Prior to assuming his current position, he served as the SES GS Senior Director, Hosted Payloads, where he developed new hosted payload opportunities for U.S. Government customers. He also served as program manager for NASA’s Global-Scale Observations of the Limb & Disk (GOLD) hosted payload program which launched on SES-14 in 2018 and is currently delivering unique observations of the sun’s impact on the upper atmosphere for NASA and research institutions worldwide.

Prior to joining SES GS, Mr. Gossett served twenty-six years in the United States Air Force, retiring in September 2015 at the rank of colonel. In his last assignment, he served as the Deputy Director of Space Operations, Headquarters United States Air Force, at the Pentagon, where he led a diverse team of over a forty personnel responsible for the formulation of Air Force space operations policy, development of space operations and maintenance budgets, conducting space operations international engagements, coordinating approval of sensitive space operations, and overseeing the Air Force’s space operations personnel development & training programs. Prior to his final Pentagon assignment, he served as commander of the USAF’s western launch range at Vandenberg AFB, CA. He also served in several other assignments, including nuclear missile operations, satellite operations, and space electronic warfare operations, as well as in various staff positions at Headquarters United States Air Force and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Mr. Gossett grew up in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, and Master’s degrees from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, the Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College, and the U.S. Naval War College.

Mr. Grady has been involved in the Satellite Communications industry since 2005, joining NSR in 2010. He is NSR’s Energy market subject matter expert, and a core member of NSR’s mobility research practice for both civil and government markets. He regularly provides his insights and analysis to NSR’s single-client consulting practice and is also a regular contributor to leading industry publications and forums.

Before joining NSR, Mr. Grady served as the Sustainable Development Projects Coordinator Intern with the Global VSAT Forum where he worked regularly with the GVF Secretariat and the Regulatory Working Group on many of the forum’s initiatives. Working with the Regulatory Working Group, Mr. Grady helped develop and implement various RWG initiatives aimed at protecting satellite spectrum, increasing awareness of satellite services, and working to promote regulatory reforms across the globe.

Mr. Grady holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park where his research focused on renewable/alternative energies, Information Communication Technologies and the Satellite Communications Industry.  He works in NSR’s Washington DC office.

Dr. Siamak Hesar is the co-founder and CEO of Kayhan Space. He holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He has supported NASA missions in the past, including the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission. Prior to Kayhan Space, Siamak has led several software development efforts focused on SSA, collision risk assessment and mitigation. Recently, he served as PI for the NASA Tipping Point program focused on autonomous on-board navigation software for CubeSats at Blue Canyon Technologies. He is passionate about space and wants to do his part to ensure a sustainable Earth orbital environment for future generations.

A corporate partner and satellite practice co-head, Steve Kaufman uses industry knowledge and versatility to negotiate and close many types of deals globally.

For 18 of his 30 years at the firm, Steve served as outside general counsel for satellite clients, leading strategic joint ventures, “bet-the-company” contracts, financings, and M&A.

What Steve does best: understanding complex business issues and translating them into legal documents. If a client can describe something, Steve can draft it. Working from complicated to simple, he has many times reduced a lengthy contract into a few pages of bullet points, showing the client what it needs and how to obtain it. He has even written a business and financing model for parties in the form of an agreement. Many clients comment that the business guidance from Steve is as valuable as the legal advice.

Steve relies on his familiarity with issues common to satellite and communications companies to give him an edge in negotiations. This experience produces extra benefits when Steve deals with specialized satellite contract terms, targeted warranties, creative covenants, use of insurance to close gaps, license and spectrum issues, and even finance and accounting matters. According to Chambers Steve Kaufman is “a real authority and somebody who will always know the answer.”

In advising clients, Steve emphasizes practicality, striving to achieve the client’s business objectives for the transaction, whether economic, risk reduction, regulatory/compliance, or transaction speed. This carries over into deal management as well as negotiations, where he willingly takes the lead. Steve and satellite practice co-head Randy Segal are regulars at the satellite conferences, making connections among clients and even adverse parties. He is listed in Chambers, Super Lawyers, and Legal 500.

As Founder, Chairman and CEO, Chris leads the overall company strategy and direction for Astra. Chris previously served as CTO of NASA and founded OpenStack, an open-source cloud computing infrastructure software project that is one of the three most active open source projects in the world.

At NASA, he partnered with Google and Microsoft and helped create Google Moon and Mars (online maps that allow you to explore the planets) and worked with the White House to develop the cloud computing strategy for the government. Chris advises and serves as a board member at various tech companies.

Stephen Kitay co-leads Microsoft’s efforts to connect Azure with the space sector. The rapid advances in commercial, government and international space capabilities provides a unique opportunity to both enable the space industry through the power of Azure and leverage these space services for Azure customers. Stephen and the Azure Space team are developing capabilities and services to extend connectivity across the world, simulate digital space environments, discover new insights, and drive innovation both on the ground and in orbit.

Prior to Microsoft, Stephen served in the United States Government, most recently as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy where he had a key leadership role in the establishment of the U.S. Space Force. He has also held a range of positions in the Air Force, Intelligence Community and Capitol Hill. Stephen has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of West Florida.

Dr. Byron F. Knight is a United States Department of Defense Intelligence Senior Leader, currently serving as the Chief Scientist in the Advanced Systems and Technology (AS&T) Directorate at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in Chantilly, Virginia. He is the principal advisor to the Director for emerging science, technology, engineering and mathematics capabilities related to space reconnaissance. Previously to joining AS&T, Byron held numerous positions in the NRO Systems Engineering Directorate (SED). As the Deputy Director for Future Conflict Capabilities he was the principle technical advisor to the Director of Systems Engineering focused on improved reconnaissance systems and operations to address emerging tactical and operational military and intelligence needs. Prior to that, he served as the Mission Assurance Executive advising the NRO Director on, and providing oversight for, spacecraft reliability and maintainability and industrial base issues. From 2008 to 2010, Dr. Knight served at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) as the Chief Advisor to the NGA Director, overseeing customer needs and required future capabilities while on Joint Duty Assignment.

Dr. Knight, a native of Tallahassee, Florida, began his career in 1982 at the Harris Corporation in M e l b o u r n e , Florida, developing ground-based and space borne antenna systems for the Department of Defense. He worked for two years with Lockheed Corporation as a National Aeronautics Space Agency space shuttle thermal protection systems engineer, as the aft section team lead for the Shuttle Atlantis. From 1986 to 1988, he was the division mechanical engineer for Unisys Corporation, developing military and intelligence signals intelligence hardware systems. He returned to Harris Corporation to continue developing defense space and terrestrial intelligence technology.

Dr.Knight moved to the NRO, Chantilly, Virginia, on a technology fellowship in 1998, working in the Operational Support Office (OSO). He worked with a team of civilian, military, and contractors to develop a new communications dissemination program for low bandwidth military users. This activity led to research and studies in Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT), and was identified as a leader in the military application of these typically complex technical products and services. Between 2000 and 2003, Dr. Knight continued his support in OSO as an employee of SRA International. In 2003, he began to directly support MASINT development programs, assuming duties as Chief Scientist in October 2005.

EDUCATION

1982 Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. 1990 Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. 2000 Doctor of Philosophy degree in mechanical engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Dr. Josef Koller is a Systems Director for the Center for Space Policy and Strategy, serving as a senior analyst and team leader on topics that cut across policy, technology, and economics. Prior to joining Aerospace, Dr. Koller served as a Senior Advisor to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Space Policy where he directly supported key national and international strategy efforts for space-related U.S. Government and DoD policy matters including commercial remote sensing, space traffic management, and related congressional affairs. Prior to that assignment, Dr. Koller managed and co-lead over 40 scientists in the “Space Science and Applications Group” at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Dr. Koller also established and led the Los Alamos Space Weather Summer School to promote graduate student research and outreach at the Laboratory.

Dr. Koller has over 17 years of experience with global security and space science programs. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed scientific publications with 700 citations. Dr. Koller has a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from Rice University.

Mr. Jeremy Leader is the Director, Commercial Services Office (COMSO), Space Systems Command (SSC), United States Space Force (USSF), to enact the new paradigm shift to “buy before build.”  Previously, he was Deputy Director, Cross Mission Ground and Communications Enterprise (ECX) and the Air Force lead for Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reviews.  Mr. Leader is currently Deputy Director of Plans for the 960th Cyberspace Wing in the Air Force Reserve and has deployed world-wide in support of multiple operations.  He currently has six degrees, ranging from Aeronautical Science to Cybersecurity, and enjoys playing ice hockey.

Janna is a senior attorney and technology strategist focused on national defense, intelligence, and commercial space sectors. She has unique, cross-sector expertise in guiding programs and technology development for U.S. government and commercial initiatives, including engagements directed to launch services, satellite communications, unmanned vehicles, C5ISR sensors and network architectures, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.

Prior to joining BAE Systems, Janna was with Northrop Grumman, where she facilitated innovation and strategic collaborations for their Missions Systems Sector to advance defense and intelligence capabilities. Prior to that, Janna worked for Facebook, where she supported Facebook’s mission to enable global internet connectivity. She helped to frame industry partnerships to catalyze delivery of space-based and high-altitude global connectivity solutions. Before Facebook, Janna was in private legal practice, where she served as legal counsel to U.S. and international clients in the aerospace and defense, commercial space, and telecommunications industries.

Janna is a volunteer with the Space Foundation, served on the Defense Innovation Board, Space Advisory Committee, and is a registered patent attorney. She frequently speaks about the rapidly evolving laws and policies affecting the defense, intelligence, and commercial space industries. Janna is committed to diversity in the space industry, and is a strong advocate for new space professionals.

Ryan Lewis is a Partner at SRI Ventures, where he invests in early-stage companies across sectors and structures spin outs leveraging IP and expertise from SRI International’s research and development labs. He is particularly interested in startups developing dual-use technologies for private and public sector use cases.   Prior to joining SRI Ventures, Ryan was the Senior Practice Manager of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Amazon Web Services (AWS) National Security, where he led technical teams delivering a wide array of AI products and services to U.S. national security organizations.

Before he joined AWS, Ryan was Senior Vice President and Director at In-Q-Tel (IQT) Labs, where he led applied research teams focused on developing and open sourcing AI algorithms. Specifically, he co-founded CosmiQ Works, an IQT lab focused on accelerating adoption of commercial space innovations, and SpaceNet LLC, a data science challenge platform that hosted AI algorithms competitions and open-sourced curated satellite imagery data. Before starting CosmiQ, he was a member of IQT’s investment team leading customer accounts. Ryan started his career at Computer Sciences Corporation providing account management and software engineering to U.S. government organizations.

Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree from Truman State University and a master’s degree from the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, where he was named a Memorial Fellow. He is currently a Senior Associate (Non-Resident) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies with the International Security Program.

Campbell Marshall currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of Skyloom Global Corp., a telecommunications company founded with the mission to develop, deploy, and operate one of the fundamental pieces of tomorrow’s space communication infrastructure to provide data transport services on a planetary scale.

Prior to joining Skyloom, Campbell was part of the executive leadership team at Omnispace, where he successfully built and led their government and military-focused business, as well as played a key role in market expansion from the company’s inception.

Previously he was part of the small investment team at the Xerion Fund, a special situations hedge fund within Perella Weinberg Partners Asset Management in New York with over $3 billion under management. Prior to that, Campbell served as a Counterterrorism Operations Officer in the Central Intelligence Agency’s National Clandestine Service, conducting successful operations and liaising with partner services around the globe. Previously, as a key aide to U.S. Trade Representative and later Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick in the George W. Bush administration, he worked closely with trade delegations, foreign ministers, and heads of state to achieve landmark trade deals. Campbell also worked in key strategy and policy roles for both the George W. Bush and Jon Huntsman Jr. presidential campaigns, as well as on the 2000 White House Transition Team.

Campbell received a Master’s in Business Administration in finance from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also pursued a Masters of International Studies at the Lauder Institute. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy from Duke University. He is a member of the Meridian International Center’s Rising Leaders Council, and a “Young Atlanticist” with the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C. He is fluent in Spanish.

As President of Firefly Space Transport Services (STS), Jason is responsible for leading business development and sales for all of Firefly Aerospace’s customers – commercial, civil, and military.  He is also responsible for all Federal Government relations and Marketing and Communications for its parent Firefly Aerospace, Inc.  Prior to Firefly, Mello’s final assignment was as a Colonel at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), where he was the Chief Research and Technology Officer for Science and Engineering. In this role, he led a team of senior scientists directing an over $500 million per year portfolio researching and developing future technologies vital for both the Air Force and Space Force. Before this posting, Mello served as the Director of the National Intelligence Portfolio where he led the oversight team for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment overseeing a $9 billion per year portfolio of intelligence community programs.  During this role, he pioneered the Department’s small satellite architecture and drive toward hybrid architectures.  He has led at multiple levels including leading the first Launch Acquisition Division at the National Reconnaissance Office and multiple other satellite and intelligence programs.  Jason led and pioneered the NRO’s use of small launch vehicles to meet a paradigm shift in procuring launch services.  Additional, he served at the White House for then President George W. Bush and other special assignments vital to the National Security of the United States.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from The George Washington University.

Craig Miller serves as President, Government Systems at Viasat, Inc. In this role, he is responsible for leading the Company’s global defense business, which exceeds $1 billion in annual revenues by delivering cost-effective, innovative solutions to challenging defense requirements in satellite networks, tactical data links, information assurance, and cyber security.

Craig joined Viasat in 1995, and has held numerous technology, business and strategic leadership roles. Prior to serving as President of Government Systems, he was the segment’s Chief Technology Officer where he was responsible for establishing and communicating the technical strategy and roadmaps for a diverse portfolio of defense products and services: including satellite communications, tactical networks, information assurance, cyber/network security and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.

Craig also launched the Viasat Government Systems Space Business, which created XVI, the first Link 16-enabled LEO satellite; Viasat’s mobile satellite communications gateway systems; and Viasat’s Hybrid Adaptive Network capabilities. In addition to his role within Viasat’s Government Systems business, Craig also worked with the design team of Viasat’s Space and Commercial Networks group, which developed the ViaSat-3 satellite constellation. In this role, he contributed to the design of Viasat’s next-generation satellite communications constellation and served as a liaison between Viasat’s commercial and government business segments.

Prior to Viasat, Craig worked at Hughes Missile Systems Group in Tucson, Arizona, where he was responsible for implementation of Electronic Counter Measures for the AAMRAM Missile System.

Craig holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, with emphasis on Communications and Signal Processing from the University of Arizona.

Walter Moffitt is Chief Architect of Inmarsat Government Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Inmarsat Group Holdings Limited, and the world’s leading provider of global mobile satellite communications to the United States Government.

Mr. Moffitt provides the Joint Force user perspective to Inmarsat Government helping to define the way ahead for satellite communications going forward. He is responsible to ensure the future satellite architecture that Inmarsat Government is creating is in line with government user needs.

Prior to this role, Mr. Moffit served in the United State Air Force as a tactical radio and satellite communications maintenance technician and operator for the Joint Communications Unit for 13 years. Mr. Moffitt finished government service as a career civil servant supporting the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) as the senior development chief responsible for RF communications development and innovation for tactical line-of-site radios, data links, and satellite communications systems and architectures over a period of 22 years.

Mr. Moffit holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Methodist College.

Mike Nichols is the Deputy Director, Commercial Satellite Communications Office (CSCO), Space Systems Command (SSC), United States Space Force (USSF). Located at Fort Meade, Maryland, Mike manages a portfolio of commercial satellite services and capabilities with a lifecycle value of $6B (USD). His responsibilities include facilitating the delivery of operationally responsive, customer-focused, and cost-effective commercial satellite communications solutions meeting DoD, Federal Agency, and International Partner requirements. This is accomplished through the implementation of focused acquisition, end-to-end engineering, cybersecurity management, and operational strategies across a multitude of mission platforms.

Mike has managed Information Technology programs as a Department of Defense Civilian for 36 years, implementing enterprise solutions leveraging space and terrestrial domains, cloud computing services, network operations, cyber defense, and transformative business strategies.

During the span of his career, Mr. Nichols has resided abroad managing communication services for the United States Navy (Naples, Italy); enterprise architecture programs for the Defense Information Systems Agency (Stuttgart, Germany); Telecommunication programs in Southwest Asia for DISA Headquarters (National Capital Region); and has deployed as a Senior Telecommunications Advisor to the Afghan Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (Kabul, Afghanistan).

Prior to his current position, Mr. Nichols was the Program Manager, Commercial Satellite Solutions Program, United States Space Force, Fort Meade, Maryland, implementing a number of transformative strategies across service delivery and business operation disciplines and platforms.

A U.S. Navy Veteran, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (University of Maryland), Mr. Nichols is proud to serve the Department of Defense; providing critical enterprise telecommunication solutions enabling Military, Government, and Coalition Partner capabilities.

Tess Oxenstierna, Managing Director at Capstone Partners, has over 30 years of experience in the aerospace and defense industry, government policy arena and financial services sector. Tess holds deep domain knowledge and transaction advisory skills, especially in the high growth markets of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR), Air / Land / Sea / Space Systems, Electronic Warfare, Unmanned Autonomous Systems / Robotics. Prior to joining Capstone Partners, Tess founded the Aerospace and Defense practice at a middle market boutique investment bank, focusing on private and public corporate clients with diverse products such as command and control software for aerial drones, satellite-based force tracking systems and electronic warfare devices used in Afghanistan and Iraq. She was Global Head of Equities Strategy at Lehman Brothers, responsible for strategy development leveraging competitive intelligence, market analysis, and acquisitions across Americas, Europe, and Asia. Transactions included investments in stock exchanges, a NYSE specialist market-maker, and international broker-dealers. Tess was also Director of Corporate Development and Strategy at Raytheon, with deal team transactions valued at over $3.4 billion in sensor automation/ information synthesis, geospatial mission support, network forensics, interoperable communications for homeland security, and commercial aviation/life cycle support. Prior to these transactional roles, Tess worked in the Reagan White House, U.S. Departments of State and Energy, and NATO Headquarters, complementing her combat operational experience as a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

A recognized industry expert, she was honored with deal awards, such as 2021 Top Women Dealmaker & Leader Award Winner by Global M&A Network, 2021 M&A’s Most Influential Women, 2020 USA Top Woman Dealmaker, 2019 M&A Atlas Awards for Industrials, and 2018 M&A Advisor, Corporate / Strategic Deal of the Year. She has also spoken at Thompson Reuters A&D Summit, Int’l AUVSI Conferences, New York Capital Roundtable and on a tv interview on ABC’s Government Matters. She serves on the Board of the U.S. Navy League – CT Council. In addition, she holds a Ph.D. in War Studies from King’s College London; M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard; and B.A. in International Relations from UCLA. In addition to her degrees, Tess studied Corporate Finance at Harvard Business School and British Political Thought, Perspectives on European Union at Cambridge University.

As leader of the firm’s Transportation and Space Group in Washington, D.C., Dara’s practice involves representation of satellite operators, aerospace manufacturers, launch services providers, communications companies, banks, private equity firms and hedge funds in debt and equity offerings, project, structured and vendor financings, mergers & acquisitions, financial restructurings and in negotiating commercial contracts. He also advises on regulatory, sanctions, anti-corruption, national security and export control matters.

Primary Focus & Experience

Mr. Panahy’s practice focuses on representing clients involved in the aerospace and communications industries. His experience includes representing satellite operators, aerospace manufacturers, launch services providers, communications companies, banks, private equity firms and hedge funds in numerous financings involving public offerings, high yield debt, investment grade bonds, project and vendor financings, mergers & acquisitions, financial restructuring and reorganizations and in negotiating project contracts. He also counsels clients on domestic and international regulatory and trade matters, including licensing of communications systems, economic sanctions, regulation of foreign direct investment, anti-bribery and corrupt practices, national security and export control laws and regulations and risk management.

Myland Pride, Colonel USAF (Retired), is a Director of Mission Strategy for Lockheed Martin’s Military Space business, working with the U.S. Government and its allies developing space solutions with a particular focus on the missile warning and defense, and tactical space missions.  Mr. Pride leads Lockheed Martin’s efforts to combine the company’s investments in future capabilities with those of teammates in industry, academia, research labs, and the U.S. Government to establish new architectures responsive to emerging threats in space.  Based on the criticality of space to today’s global security, Mr. Pride coordinates across the Lockheed Martin enterprise, to include missile and fire control, missile defense and ground systems, to architect the infrastructure needed to enable Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO).  As part of this work, he leads Lockheed Martin Innovation Partners, the company’s initiative to engage, accelerate, and onboard non-traditional companies and partners to programs of record.

Prior to joining Lockheed Martin Space, Mr. Pride served as Director, Legislative and Government Affairs for the Intelsat Corporation.  Prior to that position, Mr. Pride served in the United States Air Force for 25 years, with various operational roles in nuclear and space operations, as well as staff positions in programming, strategy and policy across the Air Force and intelligence community.

Mr. Pride holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Air Force Academy, and various Master’s Degrees relative to National Security from the United States Air Command and Staff College, the United States Air War College, and the United States Naval War College.  He also holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management from Webster University.

Chris is the president of Quilty Analytics, an independent research and consulting firm that provides strategy, competitive benchmarking, financial analysis, and investment diligence on all aspects of the Satellite & Space industry.

Prior to establishing Quilty Analytics in 2016, Chris served as a sell-side research analyst with Raymond James for 20 years, publishing hundreds of company-specific, macro, sector, and thematic research reports on the industrial, defense, space, wireless, and communications industries. Chris is widely-acknowledged as the leading Wall Street analyst on the Satellite & Space sector and has participated in 30 capital markets transactions over the past five years valued at over $2.5 billion

Chris received a BS degree in Systems Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1989 and an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1994.

Noel Rimalovski is a Managing Director at GH Partners, an independent New York-based investment banking firm. Mr. Rimalovski leads the firm’s representation of mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, debt financings, and strategic advisory services to domestic and international clients. At GH, Mr. Rimalovski specializes in the telecom, media, technology, space and defense sectors.

Prior to joining GH, Mr. Rimalovski was with Macquarie Capital, Wasserstein Perella, and Lazard Frères.

Mr. Rimalovski graduated from Tufts College and received an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Nicole Robinson is the President of Ursa Space Systems, a leading satellite intelligence and data analytics provider leveraging a global virtual constellation of +200 SAR, earth observation and RF satellites. In her role, she is responsible for taking the company from a start up to a scale up in accelerating the companies growth globally while optimizing operations. Ms. Robinson also serves as the President of Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI), the largest professional organization in the space and satellite community.

Prior to joining Ursa Space, Ms. Robinson was the Senior Vice President of Global Government for SES, the largest commercial satellite operator in the world. In her role at SES, she was responsible for the company’s global business portfolio of government customers in the areas of defense, security, humanitarian, federal, civilian and institutional organizations. Additionally, she served in a variety of Board level positions for SES including Chairman of the Board of Redu Space Services, Director of the LuxGovSat Board of Directors and former Managing Director and CEO of SES Techcom Services, Inc. Prior to joining SES, she served as the leader of the Strategic Communications function for the U.S. Joint Forces Command’s Standing Joint Force Headquarters (SJFHQ) with General Dynamics as well as the U.S. Army Center of Military History.

Ms. Robinson is known in the satellite industry for serving in a variety of leadership positions including two terms as Chair of the Hosted Payload Alliance as well as Vice Chair, Board level positions for the Washington Space Business Roundtable, SSPI and others. She was the recipient of the 2012 Future Leaders Award by the Society of Satellite Professionals International and is a member of “The FEW,” an invitation-only assembly of senior executive women.

Ms. Robinson is certified in Federal Financial Management by the Federal Training Center, completed her bachelor’s degree in Communications at Radford University, earned an MBA from Liberty University, and is a graduate of the Senior Executives in National and International Security Program at Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government.

Colonel Joseph J. Roth serves as Director, Innovation and Prototyping Directorate and Commander, Space Systems Center, Detachment 1, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. Roth leads a combined team of 740+ military, government civilians, and contractors at four geographically separated units and manages a $3.8B portfolio to rapidly transition and deliver war winning space concepts, technologies, and capabilities to the United States Space Force and mission partners across the National Security Space community. The Directorate conducts test and experimentation, prototyping, demonstrations, and operations of innovative space systems and technology for the Space Systems Center. The Directorate also executes the Space Test Program on behalf of the Department of Defense.

Roth has served in a variety of operations, acquisition, staff, and command assignments at many levels across the Air Force and Department of Defense. He has served as Minuteman III ICBM Combat Crew Commander, Instructor, and Evaluator; an Acquisition Program Manager at the Aeronautical Systems Center and the National Reconnaissance Office; a Branch Chief on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Headquarters Air Force; an Executive Officer at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, an Executive Assistant on the Joint Chiefs of Staff J-5, and commander of the 333d Recruiting Squadron at Patrick AFB, Florida.

Prior to his current assignment he was the Chief, Space Electro-Optics Division, Directed Energy Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. Roth is a 1997 graduate of the University of Cincinnati and earned his commission through Air Force ROTC.

Alvaro Sanchez has led the sales at Integrasys for the past 5 years with strong international presence taking care of the current Integrasys customers and opening new markets and accounts and he manages the Integrasys Marketing Department. Currently, Alvaro is leading the new Integrasys USA office based in Herndon, Washington DC area, where the sales team is growing as the company is a stronger player every day in North America.

Alvaro represents Integrasys Innovation with the latest Innovation awards at Satcon NY and VSAT event for the famous Satmotion Pocket VSAT Commissioning System.

Previous to join Integrasys Alvaro was a Test & Measurements engineer at CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research specializing in timing and phase measurements for colliders synchronization. Alvaro was involved in a project where neutrinos where traveling at the speed of light from CERN (Switzerland) to Gran Sasso. The synchronization devices where Alvaro worked on were critical for ensuring that the neutrinos could not travel faster than the speed of light.

Alvaro holds Industrial Hardware Engineering Degree and Computer Software Engineering Degree by the European University with a Master Degree in Sales Direction by ESIC Business School.

Maj. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess is the Commander, Combined Force Space Component Command, U.S. Space Command; and Vice Commander, Space Operations Command, U.S. Space Force, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. General Schiess leads more than 17,000 joint and combined personnel with a mission to plan, integrate, conduct and assess global space operations to deliver combat relevant space capabilities to combatant commanders, coalition partners, the joint force and the nation. The General plans and executes space operations through four distinct and geographically dispersed operations centers, including the Combined Space Operations Center at Vandenberg SFB, California; the Missile Warning Center at Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, Colorado; the Joint Overhead Persistent Infrared Planning Center at Buckley SFB, Colorado; and the Joint Navigation Warfare Center located at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.

General Schiess entered the Air Force as a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of California at Los Angeles in 1992 and transferred to the United States Space Force in 2022. He has commanded the 4th Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo; the 45th Operations Group at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.; the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo; and the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. He deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, in support of operations Enduring Freedom, Resolute Support, and Inherent Resolve. His staff assignments include Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Headquarters Space Operations Command, the Air Staff and Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. Prior to his current assignment, General Schiess was the Deputy Commanding General, Operations, Headquarters Space Operations Command.

EDUCATION

1992  Bachelor of Science, Physics, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Calif.

1996  Master of Science, Human Resources Management, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Mich.

1997  Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2000  Master of Arts, Organizational Management, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

2003  Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence)

2004  Master of Science, Space Systems, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

2007  Air War College (Correspondence)

2012  Master of Arts, National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.

2014  Director of Space Forces Course, Advanced Space Operations School, Peterson AFB, Colo.

2015  Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.

2016  Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.

2018  National and International Security Leadership Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.

2019  Capstone General and Flag Officer Course, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.

2021  Advanced Senior Leader Development Seminar, Warrenton, Va.

2022  Cybersecurity: The Intersection of Policy and Technology, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.

2022  Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2022  Combined/Joint Forces Land Component Commander Course, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa

With 20 years of in-house general counsel experience, Randy Segal brings an individual perspective to every matter she handles, both as your outside counsel and as someone who has walked in your shoes. With a focus on satellite, wireless, drone, and technology transactions, Randy provides commercially practical solutions in industries where technological change is ever-present. Randy’s practice often involves multi-level chess games, where every move needs to be considered from a multitude of angles to be successful.

As a result, Randy’s practice is reflected in three segments. First, as co-leader of the Space and Satellite practice, Randy has handled many types of transactions, from day-to-day matters to the most complex international transactions for industry operators, investors, and technology providers. She has been involved in taking companies public, advising on acquisitions, divestitures, and complex cross-border joint ventures, as well as large satellite system development, deployments and funding.

Second, as an advisor to technology investors and their portfolio companies, Randy has advised on transactions focused on big data analytics, IT, wireless systems, spectrum licenses, environmental analytics, wireless proximity analysis, drone technology, terrestrial positioning, and other innovative technologies.

Third, Randy provides “strand of pearls” advice to global clients, working seamlessly with our international offices to develop familiar, comfortable and “right-sized” solutions. Randy’s extensive cross-border experience has resulted in an extensive tool-kit of resolutions for the most complex of legal regimes. Randy’s transactional and advisory experience is both deep and broad, working throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and on the most complex of international programs and legal issues.

Rogan Shimmin is a Senior Engineer and Technical Program Manager for the Defense Innovation Unit’s space portfolio, in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He manages projects from high specific energy batteries and universal docking adapters to radiation hardened microelectronics. He currently leads the hybrid space architecture, an ambitious program to connect secure internet access through every spacecraft in orbit.

Born in Adelaide, Australia, Rogan earned undergraduate degrees in mechatronics engineering, mathematics and computer science from the University of Adelaide and a doctorate in spacecraft mission design at the Institute for Space Systems at the University of Stuttgart in Germany. At NASA Ames Research Center in 2009 Rogan was the chief systems architect for a fledgling nanosatellite program called PhoneSat which spun off a company called Planet. After missing his Silicon Valley unicorn opportunity, Rogan spent three years at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston writing flight software and statistical safety analysis tools for the Orion capsule. He then entered the USAF training pipeline to become a Rescue Combat Systems Officer flying the HC-130J Hercules.

Rogan is Adjunct Faculty at the non-profit International Space University, and was a founding staff member of ISU’s Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program.

Jeff Sneller is Northrop Grumman’s Chief Engineer across strategic Overhead Persistent Infrared and Geospatial Satellite systems, including the LEO Tracking Layer, Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor, and the Next Generation Polar program. He has 30 years of experience in architecture, development, and operations of airborne and space systems for both U.S. and international customers. He has held numerous technical leadership roles at Northrop Grumman, previously serving as Chief Engineer for three restricted space programs; Northrop Grumman Technical Fellow for Remote Sensing Systems; principal investigator and program manager for technology R&D projects; and satellite I&T and mission operations engineer for the DSP OPIR program. During his tenure as a Technical Fellow, he focused on system architectures, performance modeling, and AI-based tasking optimization algorithms for persistent overhead ISR systems.

Prior to joining Northrop Grumman in 2000, he was an advanced design engineer for aircraft rapid development at the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. Jeff holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Engineering from Stanford University.

Mr. Spice has served as Rocket Lab’s Chief Financial Officer since May 2018, and has served as the Secretary and Treasurer since May 2021. From January 2011 until May 2018, he was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at MaxLinear, Inc., a provider of radio frequency, analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for the connected home, wired and wireless infrastructure, and industrial and multimarket applications. From October 2009 to November 2010, Mr. Spice was the Chief Financial Officer of Symwave Corporation, a venture backed fabless semiconductor company until its sale to Standard Microsystems Corporation (SMSC). From July 2000 until September 2009, Mr. Spice held a variety of financial and operational executive roles at Broadcom Corporation, a creator of semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications. From June 1996 until July 2000, Mr. Spice worked as a finance manager for Intel, a microchips manufacturer. Mr. Spice has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Brigham Young university and an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin.

Experienced innovation and engineering executive across multiple industries including wireless networking (cellular and WiFi), consumer electronics, silicon platforms, and large-scale cloud client computing. Currently CTO of Carnegie Technologies. Other roles included SVP Software Engineering at Comcast NBC Universal, VP of Engineering at Cable Vision Systems, VP Silicon Platform at Motorola PCS, CTO of Dell’s Client Solutions Group, and CTO Broadband at Texas Instruments. He was a founder and CTO of two successful startups: Wi-Fi innovation leader Aironet Wireless (acquired by Cisco) and 4G wireless innovator Raze Technologies. He started his career at the National Security Agency.

Michael Torres is the USSF Chief of Digital Infrastructure and SpaceVerse with 20+ years of experience as multi-Disciplinary Technical Strategist, Architect, and Educator. Mr. Torres has successfully led multiple Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data, and IT agency-, department-, and Federal-level IT transformations. Mr. Torres is currently a CyberCorps Scholarship for Service Doctoral Candidate pursuing a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D) in Human and Organizational Learning from George Washington University.

Dr. Derek Tournear is the Director of the Space Development Agency (SDA). Established in March 2019, is responsible for unifying and integrating the Department’s space development efforts, monitoring the Department’s threat‐driven future space architecture, and accelerating fielding of new military space capabilities necessary to ensure U.S. technological and military advantages in space.

Dr. Tournear most recently served as Assistant Director of Research and Development for Space within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering where he was responsible for coordinating all DoD efforts in space, and initiating programs to address critical gaps.

Dr. Tournear previously held leadership roles in industry,
most recently the director for Harris Space & Intelligence (SIS) research & development. SIS was a $2B business focused on providing advanced technical solutions addressing the top National Security threats from underwater to outer space.

Prior to industry, Dr. Derek Tournear was a Senior Program Manager (SNIS‐HQE) at the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). At IARPA, Dr. Tournear served as a senior scientist for space activities and space technologies in the Office of Smart Collection.

Dr. Tournear was previously a Program Manager for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Tactical Technology Office and Strategic Technology Office. At DARPA, he initiated and directed a large portfolio of program, with an emphasis on sensors and space.
He has professional experience at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) managing intelligence and defense programs.

Dr. Tournear has a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University and a B.S. from Purdue University. In 2010 he received an “Outstanding Alumnus” award from Purdue University and a 2008 DARPA award for “Outstanding Accomplishments in a Systems Technology Area.” Dr. Tournear is a 2011 recipient of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service, and a 2012 recipient of the Office of Director of National Intelligence Award for Exceptional Public Service.

Alexis Truitt is a program manager at the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA). She focuses on space situational awareness research, partnering across the NSG to better characterize space objects in difficult regimes. Alexis previously served as the deputy lead and senior staff scientist of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Research directorate Space pod. Alexis joined NGA in 2012 as a thermal imagery scientist in the Analysis directorate.

She is the recipient of the 2019 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) award and the 2017 Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Science & Technology Fellowship. Prior to joining NGA, Alexis served as a scientist at NASA’s Space Telescope Science Institute, supporting operations for the Hubble Space Telescope and the Kepler Space Telescope. Alexis obtained two BS degrees in Physics and Astronomy from University of Maryland College Park, a MS degree in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from University of Maryland College Park.

Richard (Ric) A. VanderMeulen is the Vice President of Space & Satellite Broadband, Viasat Inc., a global broadband service and technology company. Viasat is the world’s largest operator of GEO Satellite Communication Capacity.

Since 2010, Mr. VanderMeulen is a strategy and thought leader in Viasat’s efforts to serve government and commercial markets with best available broadband networks extending reach and accessibility of broadband internet service, globally. He is engaged in the company’s innovations in designing highest-capacity satellites, secure ground infrastructure, and terminal technologies to provide broadband to fixed and mobile customers. He applies Viasat’s High Throughput/Capacity Satellite technologies to US Government and International markets for Ground Segment, Customer Premise Equipment, and highly assured Satcom-as-a-Service solutions.

He is an avid proponent of the Space and Satellite Communication industry, has published numerous papers on Space resilience and deterrence, and served on Boards of several industry organizations including Space & Satellite Professionals International, Satellite Industry Association, and Mobile Satellite Users Association.

Mr. VanderMeulen joined Viasat in 2001, as Vice President General Manager for Viasat’s Government Satcom business responsible for all Viasat’s government Satcom programs through 2009. Bringing both engineering and business expertise during his more than 35 years in the Satellite Communications industry, Mr. VanderMeulen has held senior general manager and program manager positions at Viasat, The Boeing Company responsible for Boeing’s Space and Communication Group new ventures, and Rockwell Collins responsible for design completion and production of multiple Satcom Systems including Milstar, SMART-T, SCAMP, and others.

Ric was born in Detroit, Michigan. He attended the University of Virginia and graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science.

Buffy Wajvoda is the AWS Global Leader for Aerospace & Satellite Solutions Architecture. She was a founding leader of the Aerospace & Satellite Group at AWS during its inception in 2020 after serving at the AWS Ground Station Solutions Architecture leader. Before AWS, Buffy started and led the Solutions Engineering & Architecture team at Capital One and was the lead architect during Capital One’s transition to AWS.

Buffy started her career working at the National Security Agency (NSA) for 15yrs with a focus on cryptanalysis and Radio Frequency (RF) analysis & engineering for satellite and high bandwidth communications. Her last position at the NSA was the Technical Director for Field Operations. Buffy graduated from the University of Chicago with degrees Chemistry and Economics. She is an avid Chicago Bears fan, loves creating lead-came stained glass projects, and playing video games with her kids.

Dr. Thomas Williams is Astra’s Senior Director, Federal Sales. Astra provides launch services, satellite propulsion, and space services. Astra is the lowest cost dedicated launch provider, and is the fastest company ever to reach orbit.

Dr. Williams previously performed the duties of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, as well as working as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). At OSD, Dr. Williams established the first office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy.

Before OSD, Dr. Williams served on the National Security Council as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs, as well as Acting Senior Director for Defense Policy and Strategy. At NSC, Dr. Williams coordinated the establishment of the United States Space Force and elevation of the United States Space Command.

Dr. Williams earned a doctorate in Political Science from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelors degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. He received the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service in 2021.