SPACE SYMPOSIUM AGENDA
Track: By Invitation Only
Monday, April 13, 2026
Monday, April 13, 2026
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Track: By Invitation Only, New Generation Space Leaders
Location: Cheyenne Mountain Resort
New Generation Space Leaders: Networking Reception
This reception is open to New Generation Space Leaders Registrants and Mentors participating in the Leadership Exchange.
By Invitation Only
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Salon Breakfast: International Astronautical Federation
Connecting Nations: the IAF’s Role in Global Space Cooperation
- Speakers
- Gabriella Arrigo, President, International Astronautical Federation (IAF)
- Christian Feichtinger, Executive Director, International Astronautical Federation (IAF)
- Yusuf Kirac, Chairman of The Board and President, Turkish Space Agency (TUA)
- Heather Pringle, Chief Executive Officer, Space Foundation
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Speaker
Salon Breakfast: Amazon Web Services
How AI is Powering Space Superiority
- Welcome Remarks
- Yvette Cesario, Director, AWS National Security
- Moderator: Dave Wooddell, Principal Account Executive, AWS National Security
- Guy de Carufel, CEO & Founder, Cognitive Space
- Scott Josselyn, Senior Technical Director, Anduril Industries
- Danny Moore, President and Owner, DeNovo Solutions
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Salon Breakfast: Oklahoma Department of Commerce
From Strategy to Implementation: How Oklahoma Transformed a Space Vision into the Next Space Industry Renaissance
- Speakers:
- Rep. Nick Archer, Congressman, Oklahoma House of Representatives
- Grayson Ardies, Chief Executive Officer, Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority
- Hon. Jim Bridenstine, Managing Partner, The Artemis Group
- Mike Moradi, Co-Founder & General Partner, Cortado Ventures
- Chris Pearson, Chief Executive Officer, AGILE Space Industries
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
7:15 am - 8:30 am
Track: Affiliated Event, By Invitation Only
Location: The Broadmoor Hotel
Breakfast: World Economic Forum
Balancing National Resilience with Commercial Reality
Full-stack sovereign space capabilities are financially and operationally out of reach for most, and partnership strategies risk creating the appearance of independence while deepening reliance on a narrow set of providers.
This session will focus on what this evolving dynamic means for commercial collaboration. We will move beyond rhetoric to confront the strategic and financial trade-offs: If total self-sufficiency is financially out of reach, what are the minimum viable points of control required for resilience? Furthermore, how do industry leaders balance the scale of investment required for next-generation space infrastructure against fragmenting market signals?
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Salon Breakfast: Vast
Going direct to the dream End State vs Iterative Stepping Stones: Considerations for Building Space Infrastructure
As space activity transitions from government-led exploration to a broader commercial and industrial ecosystem, the program strategy used to develop infrastructure in orbit is becoming increasingly important. From Apollo’s ambitious end-state goal of landing humans on the Moon, to the incremental assembly and long-term operations of the International Space Station, different approaches to program architecture have shaped how capabilities are built, funded, and sustained.
Speakers
- Will Bruey, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Varda Space Industries
- Jaret Matthews, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Astrolab
- Bridgit Mendler, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Northwood Space
- Kris Young, Chief Operating Officer, Vast
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Salon Luncheon: SAIC
Integrating the Space Ecosystem: How the data layer secures, connects, and accelerates missions
Interoperability is the connective tissue that drives everything from logistics to C2 to modernizing systems. All space stakeholders are faced with supply chain challenges, interconnecting legacy investments with emerging innovation, and reconciling data of all formats and pedigree. As space architectures proliferate and threats compress decision timelines, the ability to move, trust and optimize available assets may determine mission success more than any single platform.
Listen as experts from civilian and defense space explore pressing challenges, such as:
- Data integration: How do common data layers overcome overlapping authorities, ownership and accountability?
- Supply chain: As proliferated constellations continue to deploy, what are the surge demands and industrial base limits to develop, build, launch, maintain and manage them?
- Commercial integration: How are legacy systems modernizing into a current infrastructure that must move at the pace of threats…not acquisition?
- Moderator: Mathew Hungerford, Chief Technology Officer, SAIC Space and Intell Business Group
- Speakers
- Lt. Col. James Dossett, Senior Program Manager for Battlespace Awareness, Low/Medium Earth Orbit, U.S. Space Force
- Col. Amber Johnson, Commander, 2nd Sustainment Squadron, Mission Delta 2, U.S. Space Force
- Lt. Col. Devon Messecar, System Program Manager, U.S. Space Force
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Speaker
Salon Luncheon: BAE Systems
Unlocking Dynamic Space Operations: Overcoming Challenges to Achieve Space Superiority
As the space domain becomes increasingly contested, the need for Dynamic Space Operations (DSO) has never been more pressing. DSO envisions a future where satellites maneuver with agility and missions adapt in real time, making it more difficult for adversaries to track, target or disable our critical space assets. But despite the vision, significant challenges must be overcome to unlock DSO at scale. Join us for a panel discussion that brings together seasoned operators and acquisition professionals to explore the critical obstacles hindering DSO and to shape the future of space superiority.
- Moderator: Gary Testut, Vice President, Space Systems, BAE Systems, Inc.
- Speakers
- Dr. Kelly Hammett, Director & Program Executive Officer, Space Rapid Capabilities Office
- Col. Bryon McClain, Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Space Combat Power, Space Systems Command (SSC)
- Col. Ramsey Horn, Commander, Space Delta 9, U.S. Space Force
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Salon Luncheon: Northrop Grumman
Delivering Homeland Defense at Speed
In an era of rapidly evolving threats, there is no greater mission than defending the homeland. The increasing sophistication and volume of missile threats challenge our security and demand rapid and effective solutions. Next generation homeland defense depends on seamlessly integrated, multi-layered solutions from missile warning and tracking through intercept and missile defeat. Join this panel of industry, government, and military experts for a discussion on the innovative capabilities and ready-now solutions required to rapidly defend the homeland.
Moderator: Dr. Rob Fleming, Corporate Vice President and President, Northrop Grumman Space Systems
Panelists:
- Gen. Maurice Barnett, Director of Plans & Policy, U.S. Space Command
- Maj Gen Jason Cothern, Deputy Director, MDA
- Gen. Anthony Mastalir, Director, Global Space Operations, U.S. Space Command
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Speaker
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Salon Breakfast: Astra
America’s next space infrastructure isn’t on a roadmap. It’s already being built.
Join Astra for a Salon Breakfast and an off-the-floor conversation with Founder, Chairman, and CEO Chris Kemp on what it actually takes to manufacture launch and propulsion systems at scale, and what the next 12 months look like for one of the industry’s most capital-efficient builders.
Chris will give his unfiltered take on tactically responsive launch, satellite engines for the modern space economy, and a first look at Astra’s 2026 launch schedule — the kind of conversation that doesn’t happen on a main stage.
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Speaker
Salon Breakfast: RTX
Strengthening Missile Defense with “Left of Launch” Solutions
Securing a strategic advantage in missile defense begins “Left of Launch”—the domain where early warning, preparation, and proactive measures create opportunities for deterrence and decisive response. This panel will examine the pivotal role of pre-launch capabilities within offensive and defensive Long-Range Kill Chains (LRKCs), emphasizing the importance of rigorous system testing to expose and resolve vulnerabilities, as well as the integration of information flows across intelligence and military domains. Panelists will underscore how robust “Left of Launch” solutions strengthen resilience by enabling early threat identification and mitigation, enhancing operational readiness, and fostering cross-domain collaboration. Through these efforts, stakeholders can ensure that forces remain prepared to act with speed, precision, and effectiveness against evolving missile threats.
- Moderator: Dr. Erich Hernandez-Baquero, Vice President, Space ISR, Raytheon
- Panelists:
- Dan Chang, Area Executive, National Security, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Matt Jenkins, Chief Space Systems Officer, Vantor
- Dr. Gurpartap Sandhoo, Director, Space Development Agency
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Salon Breakfast: Voyager Technologies
The Future of Commercial Operations – Scaling the Orbital Economy
As civil, commercial and national security priorities converge in low-Earth orbit, the next chapter of space activity will be defined by sustained operations, scalable infrastructure and economic durability.
The keynote and panel bring together Matt Kuta, president of Voyager Technologies, Matt Magaña, President of Space, Defense & National Security at Voyager Technologies; Marshall Smith, CEO of Starlab; and representatives from the U.S. Space Force and NASA to explore how government and industry are building a resilient, commercially driven orbital economy.
Discussion will focus on government-led programs and commercially enabled platforms, the role of next-generation space stations in ensuring continuity beyond ISS, and how integrated capabilities — from mission management to advanced manufacturing and national security systems — are accelerating operational scale in orbit.
Panelists will explore how continued collaboration across government and industry can help ensure seamless capability transitions while expanding economic opportunity in orbit, and what it may take to move from demonstration to durable presence.
- Keynote: Matthew Kuta, President, Voyager
- Panelists:
- Joel Graham, Associate Administrator, Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, NASA
- Lt. Gen. David Miller Jr., Deputy Chief of Space Operations, Strategy, Plans, Programs & Requirements, U.S. Space Force
- Matt Magaña, President, Defense & National Security, Voyager Technologies
- Marshall Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Starlab
- Eric Stallmer, Executive Vice President, Global Government Affairs, Starlab and
Voyager Technologies
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Speaker
Salon Breakfast: HawkEye 360
AI That Fits The Mission: What Delivers Results in Space-Based Sensing
Artificial intelligence is everywhere in space and defense conversations, yet too often the discussion stops at promises, risks, or model performance. AI creates value only when it aligns with the mission. As space-based remote sensing systems scale and operating environments grow more contested, the question is no longer whether to use AI, but how to design it to work within real constraints—bandwidth, latency, trust, and existing workflows. This discussion focuses on what works: mission-fit AI that supports analysts and operators, brings decision support closer to the sensor, and delivers actionable insights where and when it matters most.
- Why AI creates real value for defense and government users only when it is designed around how missions are executed – timelines, workflows, trust boundaries, and operational constraints
- How mission-fit AI augments analysts and operators through onboard processing, prioritization, and decision-ready outputs rather than generic analytics
- Moderator: Nick Sinai, Senior Advisor, Insight Partners
- Panelists:
- Dr. May Casterline, Director, Solution Architecture, NVIDIA
- Barbara Golf, Executive Agent for Space Domain Awareness, U.S. Space Force
- Shayn Hawthorne, Principal Lead for Space, AWS National Security
- Arpan Sura, Chief AI Officer, Federal Communications Commission
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Track: By Invitation Only
Location: The Broadmoor Hotel
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Track: By Invitation Only
Location: The Broadmoor Hotel
Salon Luncheon: Aerospace Industries Association
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Track: By Invitation Only
Location: The Broadmoor Hotel
Salon Luncheon: California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development
California is a leader in the space industry, with unparalleled strategic assets and an unrivaled talent pool to launch the future of the sector.
- Speakers:
- Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to the Governor and Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, California Governor’s Council
- Col. James Horne, Commander, Space Launch Delta 30 (SLD 30) & Western Launch and Test Range, U.S. Space Force
- Karan Kunjur, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, K2 Space
- Caryn Schenewerk, Chief Policy Officer, Vast
- Dr. Tahllee Baynard, Vice President, Ignite, Lockheed Martin
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Speaker
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Track: By Invitation Only
Location: The Broadmoor Hotel
Salon Luncheon: Bank of America
Keeping the Stars Aligned in 2026 and Beyond: Investment Strategies for a Changing Space Landscape
Shifting defense priorities are accelerating both the militarization and commercialization of space, creating significant opportunities for companies aligned with national security objectives—while introducing new regulatory, geopolitical, and funding challenges. An expert panel, featuring leaders from established and emerging space companies, banking, and venture capital, will examine how these dynamics are reshaping investment strategies and the future of the space industry globally.
- Moderator: Andrew Chassin, Managing Director, Investment Banking, Bank of America
- Speakers
- Ronald J. Epstein, Managing Director, Americas Equity Research, Bank of America
- Dr. Shahin Farshchi, PhD, Partner, Lux Capital
- Matthew Kuta, President and Co-Founder, Voyager Technologies
- Eric Romo, President and Chief Operating Officer, Impulse Space
- Max Vozoff, Chief Technology Officer, X-Bow Systems Inc.
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Track: By Invitation Only
Location: The Broadmoor Hotel
Salon Luncheon: JobsOhio
Commercial Space Disruptors and Their Contributions to Defense and Civil Space
- Moderator: Gen. Lester Lyles, USAF (Ret.), Chairman, NASA Advisory Council
- Speakers
- Dr. Nicola Fox, Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA
- Jason Kim, Chief Executive Officer, Firefly
- Maj. Gen. Stephen G. Purdy, Jr., USSF
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Speaker
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Salon Breakfast: Leonardo DRS
Enabling Space-Based Kill Chains for Homeland Defense
- Speakers:
- David Bradley, Vice President, Space & Strategy, Leonardo DRS
- Col. Alexander Rasmussen, Chief Capabilities Officer, Space Development Agency
- Raymond Sharp, Vice President, Missile Defense Integration Business Unit, Northrop Grumman
- Lt. Gen. Richard Zellmann, Deputy Commander, U.S. Space Command
If you are interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only
Salon Luncheon: Exploration Laboratories LLC
The State of Planetary Defense, protecting Earth and building repeatable deep-space mission capability
-
Moderator: James Orsulak, Co-Founder, ExLabs, Chairman, Planetary Defense Trust
- Speakers:
- Dr. David Bearden, Manager, Office of Strategic Planning, NASA JPL(confirmed)
-
Hon. Jim Bridenstine, Former NASA Administrator, Managing Director, The Artemis Group
- Dr. Edward Lu, Head, Asteroid Institute & Founder, B612 Foundation
-
Matt Schmidgall, CEO, ExLabs, Apophis EX Mission
If interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.
By Invitation Only



























































































