Big Ideas, Big Names: Can’t-Miss Keynotes ✅

Monday, March 23

U.S. Space Force S2 Threat Brief + Opening Keynote | 8:15 AM

Speaker – U.S. Space Force Chief Master Sergeant Ron Lerch

The U.S. Space Force kicks off its Reverse Industry Day activities at SATELLITE x GovMilSpace with an S2 Threat Brief from U.S. Space Force Chief Master Sergeant Ron Lerch – the Senior Enlisted Advisor (SEA) to the Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence (DCSO-I), U.S. Space Force, Pentagon, VA. Chief Lerch serves as an advisor to the DCSO-I on all issues affecting the readiness of over 1,200 intelligence professionals throughout the service. Additionally, he advises on intelligence policy, oversight, and guidance of Space Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The presentation will set the table for the requirements that Space Force officials will describe in detail in that morning’s session, “SATCOM Evolving Technologies: User, Operator and Acquirer Perspectives.”

Finance Forum Opening Keynote: Unicorns, Orbits, Opportunity: SpaceTech at the Crossroads | 8:30 AM

Speaker – Seraphim Space CEO Mark Boggett

Since jumping into the space market 10 years ago, Seraphim CEO Mark Boggett has quickly become of the most active and respected investors in our industry. Now listed on the London Stock Exchange, Seraphim Space has built a portfolio of well over 100 SpaceTech startups. Boggett comes to SATELLITE to kick off our Finance Forum with a keynote that offers attendees valuable insights into how private capital is shaping the future of the space industry.
Boggett plans to break down dual-Use innovation and defense applications; macro trends driving the SpaceTech investment case for entrepreneurs, governments, and corporates alike; insights into portfolio strategy, technology readiness, timing market entry, and how to assess long-term value in frontier technology investment. Attendees will also gain exclusive access to recent data and analysis from the Seraphim Space Index—recognized as the most comprehensive tracker of global investment trends in SpaceTech. This includes private funding trends, strategic M&A activity, and investor sentiment across key subsectors such as Earth observation, in-orbit servicing, and satellite communications.  

Integrating on Hard Problems to Secure America’s Space Dominance | 3:30pm

Speaker – Dr. Debra Emmons, Vice President and CTO, The Aerospace Corporation

​In this presentation by Aerospace’s Dr. Debra Emmons, attendees will learn about a new, successful framework for integration and collaboration across industries and government agencies. Emmons will explain why building resilient and responsive architectures is a national imperative and why it is necessary for each sector of government and commercial space to outpace adversaries and their capabilities. Elements of the framework Emmons will propose in this keynote include: defining and anticipating threats to inform effective planning through tools like wargaming and data analysis; Navigating design trades and venture proposals across a vast solution space to identify the art of the possible; Leveraging AI/ML and multimodel sensing and data fusion; Managing missions and data at the speed of conflict; and more.

Real World Vulnerabilities in Satellite Ground Systems | 4:00 PM

Speaker – Comtech President of Satellite & Space Communications Daniel Gizinski

Cyber attacks on the satellite ground segment are both real and more common than one might expect. As more ground stations are pressed into extended service lives, the industry has created a target-rich environment. In this keynote presentation, Daniel Gizinski, President of Satellite & Space Communications Segment at Comtech explores threats and techniques being leveraged against satellite systems, best practices to ensure that systems remain well protected, and long term viewpoints to help ensure that the industry, academia, and government work together effectively.

Tuesday, March 25, 2026

The Case for Integration | 10:45 AM

Speaker – Karim Sabbagh, Managing Director, Space 42

Space42 Managing Director Karim Sabbagh believes that the next chapter in the satellite industry will not be written by those who build in isolation. It will be led by those who design for integration. In this keynote presentation, Sabbagh, who previously served as CEO of SES, makes a clear proposition to unlock multi-domain value – the sector must move beyond technology silos and embrace full-system coherence, across capabilities, operations, and platforms. The presentation will include case studies that cover Space42’s SAR payload production with ICEYE, the deployment of GIQ in climate-sensitive zones, and the launch of Thuraya-4 under a $5.1 billion government contract.

The Relentless Pursuit of Ubiquitous Connectivity through 5G NTN Networks |11:15 AM

Speaker – ST Engineering iDirect CEO Don Claussen

As users demand uninterrupted, high-performance connectivity across air, land, sea and remote environments, integrating terrestrial 5G with multi-orbit satellite systems is no longer aspirational – it’s essential. In this presentation, ST Engineering iDirect CEO Don Claussen explores the critical theme of ‘Seamless Connectivity Through Hybrid Networks’ and how it applies to the evolving landscape of enterprise and telco-grade satellite communications. Attendees will walk away with a clear understanding of the design, operation and evolution of hybrid networks that are standards-based, software-defined, intelligent, and developed with the ecosystem mindset.

What the Raptor Engine Taught Me (That the Industry Still Hasn’t Learned) | 10:45 AM

Speaker – Jeff Thornburg, Co-Founder & CEO of Portal Space Systems

U.S. Air Force veteran Jeff Thornburg helped design one of the most advanced propulsion systems in history, SpaceX’s Raptor Engine. Now, he’s leading one of the fastest-rising next-gen spacecraft companies in the U.S. In this keynote, Jeff reflects on the lessons learned building breakthrough technologies at SpaceX, Kuiper, and Stratolaunch and how those insights are shaping a new generation of spacecraft – ones that are faster, smarter, and mission-ready from day one.

Robotic Satellites at the Tipping Point | 11:15 AM

Speaker – Sho Nakanose, Founder & CEO, GITAI

Space has become the silent backbone of the 21‑century economy and security architecture. Every bank transfer, precision‑farming decision, climate model, missile‑warning alert, and humanitarian‑relief drop now depends on a distributed web of on‑orbit assets. Yet, the majority of those spacecraft were never designed to be inspected, repaired, or upgraded once launched, exposing governments and businesses alike to escalating risk, replacement costs, and a mounting debris hazard. Robotic satellites are no longer aspirational—they are operational, affordable, and urgently needed. GITAI Founder and CEO Sho Nakanose joins us at SATELLITE for a keynote that explains how proven hardware and imminent RSV deployment can transform the way we build, defend, and sustain the critical infrastructure of space. Join us as we examine a blueprint for integrating ISAM functions into both commercial business plans and military concepts of operations—without waiting for next‑generation spacecraft designs. Learn from three completed orbital demonstrations and a preview of 2026 milestones that position GITAI as the fastest path from prototype to operational robotic service.

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