Finance Forum Opening Keynote: Unicorns, Orbits, Opportunity: SpaceTech at a Tipping Point

Our Finance Forum opening keynote presentation features Mark Boggett, CEO at Seraphim Space leading a deep dive into the evolving global SpaceTech landscape. Mark will offer attendees valuable insights into how private capital is shaping the future of the space industry. Key discussion points will include: 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. This presentation is ideal for attendees looking to understand where the next wave of SpaceTech investment is headed and how capital allocators are navigating this rapidly evolving market.

Mark Boggett

CEO

Seraphim Space

Mark is the CEO and co-founder of Seraphim Space, an investment firm exclusively focused on SpaceTech domain globally. Seraphim launched the world's first Space VC fund in 2016. On top this, it now operates its Seraphim Space Accelerator and a space growth fund, listed on the London Stock Exchange. Across these three elements Seraphim has built a portfolio of well over 100 SpaceTech startups - the world's most prolific investor in the space domain.

Illuminating the U.S. Space Force

The U.S. Space Force was established in 2019 to bolster the nation's focus on space as a warfighting domain. Yet the service still relies on the Air Force for civilian leadership, and consists of various field commands and other commands. What does it mean for space to be a warfighting domain? And what are the roles and responsibilities of the service's various commands in carrying out its mission?

Jim Bridenstine

Former NASA Administrator and Managing Partner of The Artemis Group

The Artemis Group

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 13th 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).

Building the Foundation: Terrestrial Infrastructure Financing for Space (Finance Forum)

During this talk, we'll learn from experts that have successfully navigated public-private partnerships in aviation infrastructure (airports, air traffic control systems) and discover strategies that could help the space industry leaders build spaceports and ground stations: airport authority executives, infrastructure finance experts, and government built major ground facilities.

Michael J. Dyment

Managing Partner

NEXA Capital Partners

Navigating the Shift to Software-Defined Space Missions

Getting to orbit should be faster, more predictable, and less costly than it is today. Yet complex procurement cycles, endless non-recurring engineering (NRE), and mismatched components still bog down projects and inflate budgets. There's a better approach: fly first, build second. High-fidelity mission simulation lets you design and test complete spacecraft configurations--bus, payload, power requirements, comms links, and more--before hardware is purchased or built. Engineers can validate subsystem performance, model orbital dynamics, and identify design gaps long before integration, eliminating costly surprises before ever purchasing the first component. This session will also examine the risks of custom-built flight software, which can create complexity and distract teams from mission objectives, versus deploying modular, proven off-the-shelf systems that work seamlessly with a wide range of hardware and mission designs. Attendees will learn practical strategies to design faster, buy smarter, and reach orbit with confidence--accelerating timelines and freeing teams to focus on mission outcomes, not integration headaches.

John Trionfo

President, Defense Solutions

Antaris

John is the President of Defense Solutions and the Chief Growth Officer at Antaris. He is responsible for the company's go-to-market strategy and for guiding Antaris's engineering efforts to develop and implement new products and capabilities. He has served as the Principal Investigator on three USSF projects focused on developing TrueTwin simulations to support various missions for the USSF and the SDA. All programs exceeded delivery specifications and were completed ahead of schedule. Prior to joining Antaris, John was the COO of SMALLab Learning, where he oversaw the implementation of 3D interactive learning spaces in K-12 schools worldwide. He also served as the VP of Market Development at TARGUSinfo (acquired by Neustar in 2011), leading efforts to launch new data and analytics products for the telecommunications, e-commerce, and U.S. government sectors. John previously held leadership roles at Emultek, where he managed projects delivering simulation and training systems for platforms including the Apache AH-64D attack helicopter, Patriot Missile System, B-1B, and the Boeing 737. Additionally, he held leadership positions at Cygnus Solutions and Red Hat, where he helped drive the creation of the open-source software ecosystem.

Rethinking the Device in 6G: Architecture, Constraints, the Case for Disruption

Proposed 6G changes place unprecedented demands on the handset device: high-gain, multi-band RF performance, support for non-terrestrial networks (NTN), robust waveform adaptability and edge processing. Yet mainstream handheld devices, such as smartphones, are increasingly compromised in exactly these areas. Modern handsets suffer from degraded RF performance due to antenna miniaturization, dense integration, and coexistence trade-offs. The result is a widening gap between what 6G networks will require and what conventional device architectures can deliver (designing all handsets for the 1-5% of scenarios that require NTN-grade RF is technically disproportionate and architecturally inefficient). This talk argues for a shift toward a modular, role-based device ecosystem. It examines the technical challenges of integrating NTN, 6G compliant radios, Doppler-tolerant PHYs, and intelligent scheduling into consumer-constrained platforms. Emerging alternatives, such as vehicular relays, wearable RF nodes, and disaggregated PHY runtimes, offer more viable paths to meeting 6G's performance targets. These changes signal a deeper architectural disruption. The tightly integrated chipset/handset pipeline is not well suited to the flexibility and diversity 6G demands. Instead, we anticipate a more fragmented device landscape, composed of interoperable roles, optimized for context and capability. Without this transition, 6G risks reinforcing the limitations of legacy assumptions, rather than delivering on its promise of true ubiquity.

Paul Tindall

Consultant

TTP plc

Paul Tindall is a Senior Consultant in TTP's Deep Tech business unit in the Satellite and Space group, specialising in Non-Terrestrial Networks. Prior to this Paul was the R&D Director at Sepura, developing critical communications products for use in Public Safety. He was R&D director at Viavi, developing 5G Network assurance products. At U-Blox/Cognovo he was the Software Architect, creating a novel Software Defined Modem (SDM) Platform for the latest generation of Wireless User Equipment using Model Driven Development techniques. He was the Technical Director and Uber-Architect at TTPCom SW Business Unit where he developed wireless technology for 13 years. Paul also worked in the Defence industry on a variety of MOD Defence projects. Paul has a 1st class honours degree from the Royal Military College of Science and is a Fellow of the British Computer Society (BCS).

Integrated Sensors for National Missile Defense

Advanced sensors will be a key part of any effort to field an extensive national missile defense umbrella by late 2028. What are the best approaches to accelerate the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) and other sensor layers?

Maintaining Mission-Critical Communications in the Harshest Locations

Government agencies and militaries around the world rely on mission-critical remote communications solutions to stay connected at home and abroad in the most challenging environments and locations around the globe. Portable and transportable terminals are essential for satellite communications in various scenarios, especially when traditional network infrastructure is unavailable or unreliable. This session explores the critical role of portable and transportable terminals in meeting the unique and dynamic needs of modern military organizations. Discussion topics include: advancements in portable and transportable terminal technologies; ensuring high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity in challenging conditions; deployability and scalability of terminals for diverse operational needs; and tailoring communication solutions for tactical and strategic operations. This session will also include case studies, sharing real-world applications that illustrate how portable and transportable terminals are being implemented to enhance the capabilities of defense and military forces.

Nicole Robinson

President, Gilat DataPath

Gilat DataPath

Nicole Robinson serves as President of Gilat DataPath. She brings extensive leadership experience in satellite communications, government solutions, and business growth. Previously, Nicole served as Chief Growth Officer at Comtech Telecommunications Corp. and as President of Ursa Space Systems. She also held the position of Senior Vice President, Global Government, at SES Satellites, overseeing strategic government initiatives. Earlier in her career, Nicole worked at General Dynamics as the Strategic Communications Lead for the U.S. Standing Joint Force Headquarters (SJFHQ) and managed communications for the National Museum of the U.S. Army at SUPRA Corporation. Nicole holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Radford University, an MBA in Business Administration and Management from Liberty University, and a Master of Computer Applications. She also completed the Senior Executives in National and International Security program at Harvard Kennedy School.

Money Mechanics: Tax, Credit, and Capital Strategies (Finance Forum)

5G-GOVSATCOM: Seamless Handover Between TN and NTN Within the EU-GOVSATCOM Program

5G non-terrestrial networks (5G-NTN) satellite networks will soon be able to handle all types of applications and provide service to a massive number of users. In this complex and dynamic network ecosystem, and end-to-end adaptation of 5G-NTN towards the EU-GOVSATCOM services, requirements and use cases is of capital importance to efficiently deploy European governmental satellite services. To enable such a vision, 5G-GOVSATCOM targets the development and evaluation in a natural user environment of different key enabling technologies that aim to provide full integration of 5G-NTN in the EU-GOVSATCOM framework. In the radio technologies domain, 5G-GOVSATCOM targets the development of necessary adaptions and enhancements of radio access procedures to attend to geostationary mobile terminals in the exclusive governmental X-band. Furthermore, the integration of 5G-NTN user equipment with an antenna operationally focused on on-the-move and on-the-pause scenarios are planned. In parallel, in the inter-networking segments, 5G-GOVSATCOM aims to provide a seamless handover between terrestrial networks and NTN via a smart gateway while enhancing core-network functionalities. Finally, all project developments are planned to be first validated in a controlled lab with satellite connectivity and, subsequently, experimentally tested in close collaboration with final users. These latter tests will constitute the first 5G-NTN trials with final users devoted to i) ubiquitous telemedicine in maritime areas and ii) crisis management connectivity bubble.

Dr. Miguel Angel Vazquez

Head of Space and Resilient Communications and Systems

Centre Tecnologic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya

Dr. Miguel Ángel Vázquez leads the Space and Resilient Communications and Systems (SRCom) unit at CTTC, focusing on xG NTN, tactical communications and optical/quantum communications. He has spearheaded major European projects such as 5G-GOVSATCOM and 5G-HUB, working closely with leading industry partners. With a track record of 50+ publications, he drives innovation at the interface of space and terrestrial networks, positioning CTTC as a key technology provider for the NewSpace and defense markets.

Satellite: Enabling Enterprise & The AI-Powered Network of the Future

There was a time when copper ISDN lines were the reliable backup, and broadband was the last resort. LTE was once dismissed as well, for either being too expensive or for not providing adequate performance. Now, we're seeing history repeat--this time with satellite connectivity. But the narrative is changing fast. Satellite is emerging not just as a viable alternative, but as a critical foundation for next-generation connectivity. As players like Starlink, Amazon, and others compete in a new-era space race to expand satellite coverage, enterprise demands are also evolving. The rise of AI-driven applications is creating unprecedented needs for high-availability bandwidth--anytime, anywhere. Satellite is uniquely positioned to support these demands, reaching areas where traditional connectivity solutions fall short. Further, satellite is rapidly closing the gap in solutions for both performance and reliability. Not only does it work well for tough-to-reach places, but similar to 5G, it's evolving into a suitable enterprise connectivity option. This session will explore real-world use cases from organizations such as DB Schenker, Pernod Ricard, and CF Industries--companies that began with satellite as a backup solution but are now leveraging it as a primary component of their global network architecture. Join us as we unpack the strategic role of satellite in building future-ready, AI-optimized networks. Our panel will dive into the "how" behind deploying secure, scalable satellite-first architectures that support distributed users and AI-powered operations across the globe.

Jason Pennell

Sr. Solutions Architect, Global Solutions & Implementation

Advantage Communications Group (Advantage)

Jason is a technology advocate with a passion for how innovation reshapes the way we work, communicate, and grow. At Advantage, he collaborates with business leaders and IT professionals worldwide to design and implement technology strategies that drive meaningful business outcomes. With a focus on aligning solutions with organizational goals, Jason helps clients navigate complexity and unlock the full potential of their technology investments.

Steve Rome

CRO, Co-Founder

Advantage Communications Group (Advantage)

A passionate leader gifted at architecting, sourcing, and managing communication technology solutions. Armed with an MBA in Finance, Marketing, and International Business from one of the most prestigious schools in the US, Steve co-founded Advantage Communications Group 20 years ago to help businesses realize success through optimizing their telecom and technology services lifecycle. Steve leads the Strategic Sales team at Advantage and has shaped how over one thousand organizations worldwide buy and manage their communications technology. Steve serves on several industry leading carrier advisory boards including ATT, Comcast, Verizon, and Zayo.​

The Future of the Space Development Agency

What does the future hold for the Space Development Agency, as the latter interfaces with Space Systems Command and the Missile Defense Agency to move cutting edge communications and sensor systems into the field? What are the prospects for proliferated low Earth orbit systems, e.g. Tranche 2 of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture?

Speaking Wall Street: Investor Relations for the Space Economy (Finance Forum)

This session will focus on bridging the communication gap between space companies and financial markets. Learn how to translate technical achievements into business metrics, managing expectations around long development cycles, and communicating regulatory risks from a range of industry thought leaders - including institutional investors, new space companies, and IR professionals from the dot com days.

Targeted, Jammed, Spoofed... Now What?

From military vessels operating in remote seas to organizations providing financial services, many industries rely heavily on GPS to synchronize their timing and location data. However, the rise in GPS/GNSS threats such as jamming, spoofing, and interference, can lead to devastating impacts to infrastructure stability, operations, and asset safety. This presentation will share how GPS/GNSS interruption isn't limited to the military and will explain the potential consequences of vulnerabilities on commercial organizations as well. It will stress the importance of integrating a robust secondary assured positioning, navigation, and timing (APNT) strategy to ensure operational security and business continuity. It will also explain what steps need to be taken to enhance resilience for the future.

Robert Gillette

Director of Assured Positioning Navigation and Timing

NAL Research

Robert Gillette is the Director of Assured Positioning Navigation and Timing (APNT) solutions at NAL Research, leveraging more than two decades of expertise in program management and business development for the U.S. Department of Defense and foreign partners. Robert's approach is grounded in implementing solutions that impact customer mission success in contested environments. In his role, he spearheads NAL's APNT business area, drawing upon his extensive experience in satellite communications, signal intelligence/electronic intelligence, software defined radio development, and APNT. A graduate of the US Navy's Nuclear Power School, he pursued engineering studies at Auburn University and earned an MBA from the University of Utah.

Laser Precise Navigation: Integrating Optical Communications with PNT Systems

The presentation aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the principles, benefits, challenges, and future potential of Free-Space Optical Communications (FSO) technology in enhancing the accuracy, security, and reliability of Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems. Participants will gain valuable insights into the technology's current applications and future trends, supported by case scenarios and innovative solutions. In theory, the integration of FSO could revolutionize the accuracy, reliability and security of PNT systems. Government and private partnerships are starting to study and research this concept and believe that FSO technology can enhance accuracy of PNT without the additional cost required for building up the ground infrastructure needed to support the tens of thousands of satellites that are set to be launched in the coming years. In addition, the use of FSO would be more affordable and more reliable because ranging and synchronization of the laser system will be used from satellite to satellite. This workshop will introduce participants to the fundamental principles of FSO and its advantages over the current terrestrial infrastructure. Objectives: • To explore the critical role of PNT systems in various sectors and the limitations of current technologies. • Limitations of current PNT technologies: signal vulnerabilities and coverage gaps. • To demonstrate how FSO can complement and enhance PNT systems. • To present real-world use cases of FSO in PNT systems. This workshop focuses on innovative technologies and their applications in navigation systems.

Joachim Horwath

Chief Technology Officer

Mynaric

Being the co-founder of Mynaric and holding the CTO position since 2009, Joachim Horwath combines more than 20 years of experience in laser communications and has led the company's technical direction since its inception. In addition to necessary technical control, Joachim and his team perform important pioneering work on future technologies to ensure Mynaric's leadership in industrializing laser communications in the years to come.

Scaling Beyond Venture: Growth Stage Financing (Finance Forum)

Financing transition from startup to scale-up is no easy task. Strategic scaling is even more difficult for established, publicly traded companies. This session will provide attendees with insights and strategies on scaling from growth equity investors, investment bankers who've worked on space IPOs/M&A, and executives from companies that have successfully navigated this transition. The discussion will include debt financing options, strategic partnerships, acquisition integration, and preparation for public markets - especially relevant given recent space IPOs.

Danil Subkhankulov

Managing Director

Cerberus Capital Management

Deploying AI/ML for Tactical Edge RF Awareness

This session focuses on the operational deployment of compact AI/ML models into a cognitive system to support RF awareness in tactical and space environments. Eric Mason will provide an overview of the cognitive system that drives HawkEye 360's (HE360) mission-critical analytics, ensuring EMSO effectiveness in a congested RF environment. The focus will be on training, deployment, and monitoring of edge ML/AI processing in a low SWaP system with limited ground connectivity. He will discuss the impact of the mission in a changing electromagnetic environment and how limitations on hardware impact both system design choices. Potential Key Talking Points: • Cognitive RF systems to optimize Tasking, Collection, Processing, Exploitation, Dissemination (TCPED) processes • Designing ML models for RF characterization with limited processing and memory for edge applications • Managing dynamic signal environments via continual model tuning • Role of lightweight inference pipelines in tactical RF missions (e.g., maritime domain awareness, border monitoring) • How space-based RF data combined with AI accelerates decision timelines in EMSO missions

Eric Mason, Ph.D.

Director, Data Science

HawkEye 360

Dr. Eric Mason is an expert in Radio Frequency Machine Learning with over eight years of experience advancing RF sensing technologies across government laboratories, academia, and commercial space. As Director of Data Science at HawkEye 360, he leads the development of AI-driven algorithms that power next-generation RF signals intelligence from space--enabling greater situational awareness in congested and contested electromagnetic environments. Prior to joining HawkEye 360, Dr. Mason served as a Research Scientist at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, where he led multiple funded programs focused on RF machine learning, geolocation, and radar signal processing. He has authored over 20 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters and has delivered more than 25 technical presentations at conferences, program reviews, and symposia. Dr. Mason holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Manhattan College. His expertise spans applied mathematics, signal processing, optimization, and AI/ML, with practical experience deploying models in Python using TensorFlow, PyTorch, and scikit-learn.

VIP Session: Accelerating Commercial Integration in National Security Space Architectures

The Pentagon has established organizational, financial, and contractual pathways that will accelerate commercial integration into military operations throughout the spectrum of conflict. Multiple elements of the Intelligence Community, US Space Command, and the US Space Force have created structures and resources for applying commercial solutions to national security problems. This structural foundation will enable a future where national security space mission sets will continue to grow beyond SATCOM, to include space domain awareness, multi phenomenology sensing, and satellite control. This panel will evaluate this complex challenge and address how it can be overcome. Speakers will debate the continued challenges around policy, resources, and technical integration. Finally, the panel will define "commercial" and "integration" in a manner that will deliver a pathway toward successful commercial integration in national security space architectures.

Integrating on Hard Problems to Secure America's Space Dominance

Opportunities and threats in space are evolving rapidly. Building resilient and responsive architectures, while working at the frontier of technology, is necessary for each sector of government and commercial space to keep up. Outpacing adversaries and their capabilities is a national imperative. Solving emergent hard problems demands deep technical expertise, fresh innovation from established and emerging commercial space companies, and seamless collaboration across the nation's space enterprise. ​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. Elements of this framework 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.

SatcomLLM: Open-Source LLMs for Satellite Communications

This presentation focuses on the technical development and implementation of SatcomLLM, a European Space Agency-funded project building a domain-specific open-source large language model (LLM) for the satellite communications sector. The talk will focus on how we engineered, fine-tuned, and deployed a specialized LLM designed to assist in operational, regulatory, and engineering tasks relevant to the satellite industry. The core of the presentation will center on the design of the SatCom Expert Virtual Assistant (SCEVA), a system powered by an adapted open-source LLM that supports users in areas such as link budget review, anomaly detection in telemetry, engineering design, proposal writing, and satellite mission planning. The presentation includes concrete examples of how SCEVA interacts with technical input and outputs structured, actionable content. Attendees will leave with a practical understanding of how open-source LLMs can be safely and effectively customised for satellite communications and how to design use-case-driven training pipelines.

Marcello Politi

SatcomLLM: Building Trusted Open-Source Language Models for Satellite Communications

Pi School

Marcello Politi is the Technical Lead of SatcomLLM, an ESA-funded project developing an open-source large language model tailored for satellite communications. He also contributed to the Eve project as a deep learning scientist, focusing on the integration of AI systems in space-related applications. He has previous experience at the European Space Agency and is an active member of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), where he contributes to initiatives connecting emerging space professionals with global institutions. His work bridges advanced machine learning with the operational needs of the space sector.

VIP Session: Creative Exit Strategies for Space Investors

As the capital markets continue to suffer disruption, Mergers and Acquisitions provide a useful exit for early-stage venture capital investors. The markets reward creative thinking. The Finance Forum's VIP-level closing session features investors and financiers who have succeeded in the most creative combinations and exit strategies we've seen in the satellite industry. Learn how to handle incoming acquisition offers and think outside of the box when responding to expressions of interest directly from those involved in negotiations. For entrepreneurs, this session provides extremely valuable insights on the role investors play during your most critical transitions. VIP Sessions are accessible only to attendees with a Premium Pass. Press will not be admitted and strict Chatham House rules will be in effect.

Matt OConnell

Operating Partner

DCVC

Matt joined DCVC in 2020 as an Operating Partner. He focuses on companies in the Defense, Intelligence and Space sectors. He spends most of his time helping those companies grow through strategic advice and introductions. His goal is to help the defense and intelligence sectors achieve their missions and to make the world safer by using innovative technologies. Matt has also served on several Government and industry advisory commissions. He is currently a member of the Boards of Fortem Technologies and Jupiter Intelligence. He was Chairman of Capella Space from 2022 until its sale in 2025. Matt has had a number of leadership roles in the satellite, digital mapping and intelligence industries. He founded GeoEye, a leading global provider of satellite and aerial imagery and digital mapping information, in 2006. GeoEye was publicly traded (GEOY). In January, 2013, he concluded its sale for $1.3B to DigitalGlobe. He was CEO of OneWeb from October 2015 to July 2016. Matt holds a law degree from Univ. of Virginia School of Law and a B.A. in Classics from Trinity College.

Real World Vulnerabilities in Satellite Ground Systems

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.

Daniel Gizinski

President of Satellite & Space Communications Segment

Comtech

Daniel Gizinski was named President of Comtech's Satellite & Space Communications Segment in November of 2024. Previously, Daniel served as Chief Strategy Officer and President of the Comtech Satellite Network Technologies ("CSNTI") division. Daniel also held prior appointments as the Company's Chief Strategy Officer from 2022-2024 and President of CSNTI in 2022. During his tenure at Comtech, he has held various senior management positions, including serving as Vice President of Product and Strategy for Comtech Systems, Inc. Earlier in his career, Gizinski held program management and leadership roles at General Electric, Sierra Nevada Corporation, and L3Harris Technologies. Gizinski holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Virginia and a master's degree from Duke University.

Enabling Interoperable SatCom with DIFI

Typical SatCom ground system deployments rely on single vendor solutions that involve complicated and time-consuming integration work when looking to support other vendors and other satellite network operators. The mission of the Digital Intermediate Frequency Interoperability (DIFI) Consortium is to provide a simple, open, interoperable Digital IF/RF standard that replaces the natural interoperability of analog IF signals and helps prevent such vendor lock-in. In this presentation, we will examine the DIFI standard, its implementation to enable the virtualization of ground-system infrastructure, and demonstrate a multi-vendor solution for showcasing DIFI in action. This paper will discuss the DIFI ecosystem converter test with our radio frequency (RF) and network emulation solutions. In the RF domain of the DIFI RF/IF converter (IFC), Keysight's M9484C VXG vector signal generator will be used to generate a "golden" RF signal. On the other side of the IFC, we have the Ethernet domain. This is where Keysight's Pathwave Vector Signal Analysis (VSA) software comes into play. Keysight's PathWave Vector Signal Analysis software offers a comprehensive set of tools for demodulation and vector signal analysis of modern custom modulation, DVB-S2X, and 5G communication standards, and more. The VSA software can demodulate the DIFI signal coming from the IFC in the Ethernet domain, showing the "health" of the waveform that's being transferred, the RF signal that is being transferred through the converter via DIFI/VITA49. Keysight's Ixia BreakingPoint software runs on a traffic generator for network security test, then acts as the "golden" modem response and upstream source that provides the stateful entity on the other side of the IFC to send DIFI packets upstream to the converter. Therefore, Keysight provides two sides (downstream RF and upstream DIFI Ethernet) to the IFC. This paper will also discuss Ethernet traffic test scenarios for integrators. These examples represent real-world, planned implementations of DIFI in satellite communications (SatCom) signal services. using real-world examples.

Marty Hoffman

Systems Engineer

Keysight Technologies

SATShow Week's Tuesday Opening Keynote Address

SATShow Week's Tuesday Opening General Session: Industry Leaders Forecast

The marquee event of SATShow Week brings CEOs of the world's leading operators together for a discussion that sets the tone for the industry and establishes benchmarks for the year. This session historically sets the stage for new technologies, new solutions, and new directions for satellite services. This is the reason our Tuesday Opening General Session is described as SATShow Week's "can't miss" event. This session is open to all attendees.

Ali Al Hashemi

CEO of Space Services and Chairman of GSOA

Space42

Ali Al Hashemi is the Chief Executive Officer of Space Services at Space42, the leading AI-powered SpaceTech company in the UAE. He leads the company's satellite infrastructure strategy and drives efforts to build sovereign space capabilities for the UAE and beyond. Prior to the merger of Bayanat and Yahsat to form Space42, Ali served as Group CEO of Yahsat, where he played a key role in the company's transformation and growth. He led Yahsat's successful listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) in 2021, and the strategic acquisition and integration of Thuraya. With over 20 years of experience in the satellite and telecommunications sectors, Ali has delivered commercial growth, strengthened government and global partnerships, and enabled infrastructure innovation across the industry. He is Chairman of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) and the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (JOSOA). He also serves on the boards of the UAE Space Agency and the National Space Science and Technology Center. Ali holds an MBA from London Business School and has been recognized by Forbes as one of the Middle East's Top 100 CEOs and a sustainability leader.

Adel Al-Saleh

CEO

SES

With more than 30 years of experience working in senior management roles at leading IT and telecommunication companies, Adel Al-Saleh was appointed Chief Executive Officer of SES in February 2024. Adel joined SES from T-Systems, the IT subsidiary of leading European Telecommunication provider Deutsche Telekom, where he was CEO since 2018. He was also a Board Member of Deutsche Telekom. Before that, he was the CEO for Northgate Information Solutions (NIS) Group from 2011-2018. Adel also held a variety of senior leadership roles at IMS Health and IBM for the first 25 years of his professional life. Adel graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and holds a Master of Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University. Adel is a US and UK national.

Jean-François Fallacher

CEO

Eutelsat

Jean-François Fallacher has been serving as Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat Group since June 2025. With over 30 years of experience in the European telecommunications sector, he has held senior leadership positions across several national markets. Prior to joining Eutelsat, he served as CEO of Orange France, Orange Spain, Orange Poland, and Orange Romania. Throughout his career, he has led major industrial and infrastructure programs, including the nationwide deployment of fiber and 5G networks, as well as large-scale integrations involving both public and private stakeholders. A French national, Jean-François Fallacher is a graduate of École Polytechnique and Télécom Paris.

Daniel S. Goldberg

President and Chief Executive Officer

Telesat LEO Inc

Dan Goldberg became President and Chief Executive Officer of Telesat in 2006. Prior to joining Telesat, Mr. Goldberg served as Chief Executive Officer of SES New Skies, a position he held following the purchase of New Skies by SES. During that time, Mr. Goldberg also served as a member of the SES Executive Committee. Prior to the acquisition by SES, Mr. Goldberg served as Chief Executive Officer of New Skies, and before that served as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. Before joining New Skies, Mr. Goldberg served as Associate General Counsel and Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs at PanAmSat. He began his career as an associate at Covington & Burling and then Goldberg, Godles, Wiener & Wright, law firms in Washington D.C. Mr. Goldberg is currently serving as the Chairman of the Board for the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) and was the inaugural Chair of the Space Canada board of directors. He obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, graduating with the highest honors, and earned a law degree from Harvard Law School, where he graduated cum laude.

10th Annual Startup Space Entrepreneur Pitch Contest

SATShow's rock star startup competition returns! Ten entrepreneurs from ten startup companies will engage in a battle of business pitches before a panel of the space industry's most active and influential investors. They will compete for a prize package that includes guaranteed investor pitch meetings and a chance to win millions in financing. Since its launch in 2016, our Startup Space Entrepreneur Pitch Contest has helped transform breakout companies such as LeoLabs, Orbit Fab, Astroscale, Ursa Space, and more than 120 other space startups from around the world into market leaders. Join us to celebrate Startup Space's 10-year anniversary with ten new competitors revealing bleeding edge solutions that will revolutionize our industry! Startup Space is generously sponsored by JSAT and produced in partnership with Rafferty Jackson of Jack Industries.

Mark Boggett

CEO

Seraphim Space

Mark is the CEO and co-founder of Seraphim Space, an investment firm exclusively focused on SpaceTech domain globally. Seraphim launched the world's first Space VC fund in 2016. On top this, it now operates its Seraphim Space Accelerator and a space growth fund, listed on the London Stock Exchange. Across these three elements Seraphim has built a portfolio of well over 100 SpaceTech startups - the world's most prolific investor in the space domain.

Terence Craig

Chief Investment Office, The Impact Seat & Advisor

Toyota Ventures

Terence Craig is the chief investment officer for The Impact Seat, where he leads investment activities and provides post-investment support for over 60 portfolio companies and monitors LP investments in several venture funds. An experienced technologist, speaker and author, Terence has founded multiple companies and has served as the chief technology officer at multiple venture-backed companies, including the Mayfield-funded Consensys Software and several pioneering enterprise and big data software companies. Terence was one of the earliest Black CEOs and founders to raise venture capital, and he uses that experience and expertise to improve the startup ecosystem. His goal has been to support other "non-traditional" founders in navigating the startup landscape. His efforts to increase inclusion in the startup ecosystem led Terence to join the executive team at Astia Angels, where he ran a pilot investment program to support women of color.

Rafferty Jackson

Board Member, Advisor, Investor

Jack Industries

Rafferty Jackson helps founders, leaders, and investors tell complex deep tech stories to broader audiences through universal storytelling techniques. As an operator, she has taken technology and CPG companies through hyper-growth scaling, investments, global expansion, mergers, acquisitions, and IPO including selling Beats by Dr. Dre to Apple for $3B. Now, she is the Non-Executive Director at Opteran Technologies, neuromorphic autonomy software for machines, and she is an advisor to Xona Space Systems, resilient precision PNT through a LEO constellation, to Eartheye Space, SAAS on demand earth imagery delivered near real time with business insights, and to New Vista Capital, strategy and network connections for aerospace and national security startups. In 2024, Rafferty was appointed to the Independent Investment Committee of Seraphim Space Ventures Fund II and 2025 marks her 9th year at Satellite with the Startup Space Competition.

Michael Palank

General Partner

MaC Venture Capital

Michael Palank has been General Partner at MaC Venture Capital since its inception in January 2019. At MaC, Michael focuses on seed-stage consumer and enterprise startup investing across a number of sectors. Prior, he was General Partner at M Ventures, a Los Angeles and Bay Area based early-stage venture fund. Michael was a member of the founding team of MACRO Media, a disruptive media company founded by Charles D. King and focused on the multicultural market where he led digital strategy and operations. Michael has six and a half years experience working both inside and alongside early-stage startups in the media and technology sector. He ran business development and became GM of TopFloor, a venture-backed e-commerce startup formed out of technology studio Science. Additionally, Michael has consulted with over two dozen startups aiding in business model development, financial modeling and early-stage fundraising strategy. Michael worked closely with LA-based media and events company BeautyCon on their initial seed round which included investments from Hearst, Raptor Group, CAA, Maker Studios (now with Disney) and Fullscreen (now with AT&T). Michael entered the LA tech ecosystem in 2012 as a new business consultant for Amplify, one of LA's top incubators turned early-stage venture capital firms. Prior to working in startups, Michael spent eight years working in media and entertainment, first as an agent trainee and agent at The William Morris Agency and then as Director of Business Development at Will Smith's production company, Overbrook Entertainment. Michael started his career as a financial analyst at the Chicago-based hedge fund Coghill Capital Management. He has degrees in finance, accounting and psychology from DePaul University where he graduated with honors in the top 5% of his class. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Kottie and their two kids, Teddy and Lola.

Dr. Alison Perez PhD

Senior Investment Manager

Lockheed Martin Ventures

Dr. Ali Perez joined Lockheed Martin Ventures in 2021. Ali is responsible for investments in space, AI, human potential, biotechnology, man-unmanned teaming, digital transformation, and advanced manufacturing. Her role also supports post-deal integration and transition of technology from the Ventures portfolio into Lockheed pursuits and programs. She runs the Ventures Internal Research and Development program that provides LM engineers with opportunities to collaborate with start-up companies that Lockheed Martin Ventures has invested in. Ali received an M.S and Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Texas at Dallas. Ali also received her B.A in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina.

John Richmond

Investment Manager

Lockheed Martin Ventures

John Richmond is an Investment Manager with Lockheed Martin Ventures, the Venture Capital arm of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Mr. Richmond is responsible for identifying and investing in startup companies whose technologies fit within an array of investment landscapes and strategically align with Lockheed's four business areas. Mr. Richmond has advised startup founders as an independent consultant helping them grow through financing, team building, technology maturation, and bringing products to market. Mr. Richmond has over 12 years of experience as an active-duty Air Force officer, where he was an Astronautical Engineer and Program Manager for a wide range of DoD and IC space acquisition programs. He has managed large technical teams and supported senior joint and coalition leadership on the employment of combat weapon systems globally. Mr. Richmond continues to serve as an Air Force reserve officer. John graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy as a distinguished graduate with a B.S. in Astronautical Engineering and a minor in Mandarin Chinese. He went on to complete an M.S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.

CTO Forum

SATShow Week's Exhibit Hall conference program opens with our annual CTO Forum - a panel session bringing engineering leadership from across the satellite supply chain to discuss the biggest technological challenges facing the industry in this exciting period of transition. More details to be announced soon!

Stuart Daughtridge

Vice President Advanced Technology

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions

Mr. Daughtridge has been with Kratos-Integral Systems since 1999, and in the satellite and aerospace industry since 1986. Prior to his current role, he held several senior management positions, including SVP & GM of the Integral Systems Products Group, SVP & GM of the Integral Systems Commercial Group, as well as Program Manager of several major commercial programs. Before joining the Company, Mr. Daughtridge held various management positions with Orion Satellite Corporation, and was a satellite systems engineer for both Intelsat and Spacecom.

Pioneering mmWave Radar for Space Situational Awareness

In this technical presentation, Richard Jacklin will examine cutting-edge radar developments, focusing on the distinctive implementation of mmWave technology within the 30-300 GHz frequency range for space-based applications. Imagine the need to retrieve a non-functional satellite or rocket body from orbit, or ensuring the safe rendezvous of two spacecraft for an extended mission - precise "sight" in all conditions is crucial. Non-geostationary orbits present challenges; the eclipses leave spacecraft in darkness, creating obstacles for visible light cameras. When a craft is directed towards the sun, LiDAR systems struggle due to solar interference in the laser spectrum. To prevent space accidents and ensure mission success, it is evident that additional sensor capabilities are imperative. Enter radar - a familiar technology in radio-based detection and ranging, extensively utilised in space endeavours from docking to historic lunar landings during the Apollo missions. This presentation will review the state-of-the-art in radar advancements, specifically the unique application of mmWave solutions operating within the 30 - 300 GHz spectrum for space application. It will explore radar's fundamental principles, the technological advancements enabling compact and efficient radar systems for both small satellites and larger spacecraft, and its role in complementing existing sensors through "sensor fusion" for AI-driven guidance and navigation systems. The discussion will extend to the potential application of radar sensors in lunar environments, where dust poses a significant challenge - where mmWave radar excels. Key takeaways for the audience: 1. Introducing an innovative sensor for In-Space Operations and Services along with space debris mitigation. 2. Understanding the complexities of spatial perception and the limitations of current sensor technology, including the survival requirements of delicate sensors in varied environmental and launch conditions. 3. Exploring diverse applications, such as the detection of micro-meteoroid debris of millimeter size and its potential implications beyond conventional orbits, including lunar and martian exploration.

Richard Jacklin

Space & Satellite Commercial Lead

PLEXTEK

Richard Jacklin is Space & Satellite Commercial Lead for Plextek, helping customers design and produce highly innovative electronic, radar and radio communications enabled solutions in the Space and Satellite market. In the last 12 months, he has been invited to speak about the introduction of millimetre wave radar technology into space at events including CONFERS (Washington DC), Ignite Space (UK Space Centre), AI for Space Sustainability (University of Strathclyde), and In Orbit Servicing Assembly & Manufacturing Conference 2025 (Belfast). His career in wireless electronics, now over 30 years, has included roles in companies including Ericsson, Samsung, UL, Keysight, PPM and NI. He has presented and contributed to many forums including Cambridge Wireless, GSMA working groups, and Satellite Innovation Group. Richard graduated from the University of Portsmouth with a degree in Electronic Engineering, he was also awarded Chartered Engineer status and Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET).

CAM Drive: the Future of Advanced Propellantless Propulsion

The Conservation of Angular Momentum (CAM) Drive is a technological breakthrough with propellantless orbit transfer capability. The CAM Drive concept has been developed for over 10 years through model fabrication, measurements, test data, and analyses. In demonstrating CAM Drive concept, VSS made a significant discovery with physical measurements of inverted force couples by throttling Electric Ducted Fan (EDF) motors, which provides inertial forces for Hyper Transfer Vehicles (HTV). CAM Drive enables efficient and rapid hyper transfer orbits by using clean, non-toxic solar electric power. The experimental data and HTV predictions from CAM analyses provide a new and exciting way of looking at fundamental conservation, and the 1st principle of aeronautics, which is circulation. In 2023, a concept development was sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). This Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant to Vortex Space Systems (VSS) was performed in collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. The successful NSF Phase I showed a single HTV mission for orbital debris removal resulted in a cost metric reduction of $210/kg for 1200 existing orbit debris rocket bodies in 5 years. This is compared to a 2023 NASA cost benefit study using seven servicing vehicles with bi-propellant orbit debris remediation at $7,464/kg for 160 objects over 5 years. HTV is 7.5 times more efficient than NASA's bi-propellant system due to refueling the servicing vehicle after two orbit/deorbit debris removal cycles. The NSF results for HTV are available in the online video link: Propellant-Free Spacecraft: Orbital Mobility - SciTube (https://scitube.io/dennis-lee-propellant-free-spacecraft-the-future-of-debris-removal-and-orbital-mobility/). This presentation provides examples of high velocity geosynchronous and lunar hyper transfer orbits, i.e., greater than Hohmann transfer velocity. Hyper transfer orbits are based on known hyperbolic orbital dynamics. These first order approximations provide continuous hyper transfer orbital momentum along the velocity vector, which is possible using CAM Drive technology. There is value in fuel-free and propellantless thrusting, especially with geosynchronous telecommunication satellites. For a 15-year comsats, the launch services cost are reduced by removing 3000kg of Xenon ($15M), reducing Geosynch transfer time by 3 months ($3M), and 5-years of mission extension at $20M per year for a total lifecycle savings of $118M. CAM Drive technology implemented on HTV can provide continuous constant thrust acceleration maneuvers and save substantial orbital operational resources. CAM Drive technology accomplishes this performance with solar electric power without expendable propellants. The paper/presentation addresses the CAM Drive theory of operations, engineering used for concept development, and demonstration. VSS is developing a commercialized Minimum Viable Product (MVP) CAM Drive for smallsat applications. Under an active grant from Montgomery County (Maryland) Technology Innovation Fund, VSS is designing, building, and testing a suite of MVP CAM drive pathfinders for commercialization. These pathfinder MVP designs are being developed with University of Maryland mechanical engineering students working on Summer and Fall internships for VSS and will be presented at Satellite 2026 Conference. The MVP test results will be presented at Satellite 2026. The spaceflight qualified MVP was proposed to an NSF 2-year Phase II SBIR.

Dennis Lee

CEO

Vortex Space Systems, LLC

Vortex Space Systems (VSS) company founder, Dennis S. Lee, is the NSF Phase I Principal Investigator (PI), currently manages and operates VSS. He is an honorably discharged veteran of the US Air Force. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical & astronautical engineering (University of Washington,'77). Mr. Lee has 48 years of extensive systems engineering and flight hardware project management experience with NASA and USAF spaceflight missions. VSS company project management has the necessary credentials for taking the CAM Drive innovation to market.

Sovereign SATCOM Networks: Maintaining Control of Your Data in Tumultuous Times

Governments around the world recognize the value that alliances deliver when it comes to satellite communications (SATCOM). However, today's geopolitical environment and rapidly evolving threats are causing allied nations to determine ways to maintain the sovereignty of their data and eliminate their dependence on information sharing by other countries. As such, they are implementing advanced communications services that deliver secure, resilient global connectivity and enhance warfighters' situational awareness and operational effectiveness. For example, the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command's Protected Tactical SATCOM-Global (PTS-G) program is focused on providing military users around the world with resilient, agile communications through proliferated small satellites. These satellites operate in Geosynchronous orbit and offer anti-jamming capabilities to enhance the warfighters' situational awareness and operational effectiveness to meet emerging threats. This panel discussion will outline the steps that governments and commercial providers around the world are taking to build and maintain sovereign networks that provide the resilience and agility required to effectively operate. The panel will also discuss the collaboration between these nations and commercial industry to develop these capabilities.

Reshapable Reflectors to Enable Resilient Multi-Orbit SATCOM

Mithril Technologies is excited to present on our RF reflector steering and shaping capabilities, which will permit new satcom capabilities for higher orbits. We will be presenting on ongoing work which is building on our IEEE Phased Array paper from last year on using our reshapable reflectors for adaptive nulling of signal jammers. The presentation will include a video demonstration of how we have been able to demonstrate this capability in a lab environment and a rendering of how this will be used on-orbit for jamming-resilient satcom systems. This represents a next-generation RF situational awareness & satcom capability that can be used for robust multi-orbit satcom architectures, considering our ability to focus & steer our beam for dynamic switching between space-space and space-ground as well as null out adversarial jammers.

Bruce Hecht

RF Technology Lead

Mithril Technologies, Inc.

Scarlett Koller

CEO

Mithril Technologies, Inc.

After five years in systems integration and test at SpaceX and JPL, Scarlett returned to MIT to arm herself with an MS in Aerospace Engineering and an MBA from MIT Sloan before co-founding Mithril Technologies. Mithril is now developing and commercializing a new type of satellite antenna to expand the capabilities of satellites in GEO for a wide range of industry verticals in defense, communications and earth observation.

Accelerating Ecosystem Innovation Through Open-Source Network Orchestration APIs

Aalyria has developed publicly available, open-source, and production-validated APIs for network orchestration that every player in the ecosystem can leverage and contribute to. Our goal is to create a developer ecosystem around this open-source repository, and to that end, Aalyria has contributed these APIs to the Outernet Council, a neutral non-profit organization, which manages the project's open governance structure (outernetcouncil.org). This presentation will explain the technical foundations of these APIs, demonstrate how they solve orchestration challenges across the ecosystem, and invite participation from everyone in the industry. Satellite operators can use these APIs to orchestrate first-party assets with out-of-the-box support for next-generation architectures, like digital ground segments, highly configurable software-defined payloads, and free-space optical link modeling. Equipment vendors can build a single integration to these APIs to make their hardware instantly deployable in any commercial, government, or hybrid network. Mobile and satellite network operators can bring the vision of 5G/6G NTN to life by dynamically enacting seamless handovers across the terrestrial and non-terrestrial network through these APIs.

Nihar Agrawal

Software Engineer

Aalyria

Former Google software engineer, Payload Pioneers award recipient (2024)

Partner Session sponsored by Radeus Labs, Inc.

Multi-Layer ISR from Space: Fusing Optical Imagery, RF, and SAR

Combining unique remote sensing datasets from orbit delivers a more complete operational picture for defense, intelligence, and civil agency missions. This discussion will explore how fusing data from different space-based phenomenologies improves operations and unlocks new insights by using optical imagery, RF, and SAR data together. Produced in Partnership with SIA.

Battle of the Big Rockets: Competitive Heavy-Lift Launch Services

It's no secret why today's launch service sector is firing off rockets at breakneck speed - mega-constellations for global connectivity and increased government activity in space are driving demand. At the same time, customer needs are also evolving. Costs are also rising due to a number of factors, some outside of the launch sector's control. In this session, speakers from launch services building and flying some of the world's biggest rockets will outline their approach to remaining cost-effective and,flexible, the importance of reusability in reducing risk, and future offerings to attract new customers. The panel will also address the viability of lunar and Mars missions, which require massive investments in manufacturing and in-space infrastructure. Will these investments pay off? Join us for this lively launch-centric debate!

Mr. David Hartshorn

Hartshorn Consulting

David Hartshorn has more than 35 years of experience in the satellite communications industry. He most recently served as CEO of Geeks Without Frontiers, a non-profit technology-neutral organization that applies financially sustainable innovation to solve connectivity challenges worldwide.

David Cavaillolès

CEO

Arianespace

David Cavaillolès Arianespace Chief Executive Officer ArianeGroup Executive Committee Member David Cavaillolès is the Chief Executive Officer of Arianespace. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of ArianeGroup, Arianespace's parent company. David Cavaillolès began his career in the French public sector holding positions of responsibility in the finance, innovation and industry sectors. He was appointed ministerial advisor for French space policy in 2017, working notably on securing the Ariane programme and preparing the future of space launchers in Europe. He then joined Capgemini in 2019 where he held various management positions contributing to the company's business development, with a specific focus on technology. He is a graduate of prestigious French higher education institutes Ecole Polytechnique and ENSAE Paris.

Laura Maginnis

Vice President, New Glenn

Blue Origin

Nobuyuki Shiina

Deputy General Manager

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Nobuyuki Shiina is the Deputy General Manager at Busness Development Department, Space Systems Division at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI). He is responsible for sales & marketing for the H3 Launch Service. In addition to the launch services, his role also covers business development for all of MHI's space products to overseas customer. From 2002 to 2009, Nobuyuki Shiina worked at Hitachi High-Technologies, Ltd. in a sales & marketing team for semiconductors and related electronics for consumer products. Since 2009, he has been leading the sales & marketing of MHI Launch Services at Space Systems Division in MHI. Shiina holds a Master of Science degree from Tohoku University.

Digitized IF Transport Frameworks for Software-Defined Infrastructures

Digital Intermediate Frequency (Digital IF) is transforming satellite communications (SATCOM) and RF systems by replacing traditional analog signal paths with digitized signals that can be transmitted over standard IP networks. By moving the analog-to-digital conversion closer to the antenna, Digital IF allows signals to be packetized and routed across both local and wide-area networks using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Ethernet switches and fiber optics--eliminating the need for bulky analog cabling and costly RF switch matrices. This modernized architecture significantly reduces infrastructure complexity and cost, while also enhancing flexibility, scalability, and modularity. However, this innovation introduces a new challenge: massive data volumes. A single wideband signal (e.g., 500 MHz bandwidth) digitized at high resolution can exceed 30 Gbps, and many systems process multiple such channels simultaneously. Transmitting this data reliably across long distances places intense pressure on conventional IP networks, which were not designed for high-throughput, real-time signal transport. Compounding the challenge is the need for absolute data integrity. This presentation will unveil a next-generation software-defined data transport solution designed specifically for Digital IF environments. This project, funded through multiple DoD SBIR programs, has demonstrated significant performance advantages in live testing. By enabling secure, fast, and reliable digital IF transport over standard IP networks, this technology unlocks the full potential of digitized SATCOM systems--delivering enhanced performance, reduced costs, and increased agility for both defense and commercial applications. It represents a critical enabler for modern, software-driven RF systems operating at scale in today's data-intensive, latency-sensitive environments.

Jing Song

Co-Founder, Managing Director

Genesis Codes

Jing Song is a technology entrepreneur and co-founder with extensive leadership experience across multiple technology companies. He currently leads Genesis Codes, advancing breakthrough data transmission technology that delivers 10X faster speed, 10% latency, and enhanced security and resiliency. As Principal Investigator on several Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects, he drives cutting-edge innovation supported by government funding. Earlier in his career, Jing served as an executive at Xerox, where he oversaw the development of more than 10 technology products and solutions that generated over $2 billion in cumulative sales. His expertise spans business leadership, technology strategy, and product delivery. Jing holds a Master's degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering and an MBA from the University of Rochester.

Partner Session sponsored by Kratos

Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations in Space, Fighting Through Congestion and Interference

As space operations fight for spectrum, EMS has become a strategic tool. Interference detection, attribution and spectrum agility are critical capabilities for mission success. Space-based RF sensing expands electromagnetic awareness beyond the reach of terrestrial systems, ensuring decision advantage across contested domains. This discussion will highlight the role of edge processing - analyzing and acting on RF data directly at the point of collection to accelerate the decision loop and support strategic missions.

Agentic AI for Satellite Communications

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) agent market is projected to reach almost $50B by 2030. However, many satellite companies are wondering how to apply agentic AI to increase efficiency and solve problems in the space domain. This presentation outlines how AI can reason, plan and complete tasks in Geospatial Data Analysis, Space Manufacturing, Aerospace, and Satellite Communications. It features two practical SatCom AI demonstrations: a multi-agent system for link-budget and capacity planning, as well as an RF interference detection solution using multi-modal generative AI. Attendees will learn how AI technologies can address key challenges in the satellite industry, enhancing efficiency and innovation in space-based communications.

Mr Alan Campbell

Principal Space Specialist Solutions Architect

Amazon Web Services

Alan Campbell is a Principal Space Specialist Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services (AWS). His focus is on empowering customers with innovative new Cloud-based scalable solutions for the Aerospace & Satellite segment. Alan specializes in Data Analytics and AI / ML enabling key insights in Satellite Communications, Earth Observation, and IoT platforms. Prior to joining AWS, Alan directed the Panasonic Avionics Satellite Engineering team, delivering premium QoE to Inflight passengers. He led a major Cloud & Data migration of 100+ applications resulting in $50M cost savings and SLA improvements. Alan's experience ranges from a Fellowship award at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, to authoring a book on Embedded Systems at Texas Instruments. He is a Founding Member of the Satcom WAVE consortium, and holds multiple Cloud certifications, satellite credentials and patents.

Kathy O'Donnell

Leader of Space Solutions Architecture

Amazon Web Services

Rethinking Resilience: Tactical SATCOM for Denied Environments

While most SATCOM systems today rely on high-frequency bands, line-of-sight, and complex infrastructure, this presentation will explore a new paradigm: a low-signature, infrastructure-independent capability that ensures communication continuity even in contested, jammed, or denied environments. The discussion will focus on the growing gap between SATCOM as designed, and SATCOM as actually used in the field. Through real-world examples and operational insights, we will highlight how lighter, simpler, and more mobile systems are enabling frontline units, not just elite teams, to maintain critical voice, data, and situational awareness without delays, training bottlenecks, or complex deployment. Attendees will learn: Why legacy SATCOM systems often fail at the moment of need. How to rethink connectivity when infrastructure is unavailable or unreliable. What "tactical resilience" really looks like at the user level. How new low-profile SATCOM solutions integrate with common digital tools like ATAK, support Blue Force Tracking, and provide secure communication on the move.

Partner Session sponsored by JSAT

Wednesday Opening General Session Keynote

SATShow Week invites all attendees to join us for our Wednesday Opening General session program, which kicks off with our opening keynote speaker. Speaker details will be announced soon!

The Space Economy: Navigating Market Volatility in Fair or Foul Weather

We invite all SATShow Week attendees to join us for our Wednesday Opening General Session - a detailed and interactive exploration of the state of the space economy and how geo-economic and technical trends will influence the satellite industry during a time of heightened market volatility. Moderators Karen Jones and Brian Weeden from Aerospace Corp. will lead the discussion with panelists from government, commercial space, investment, and advisory sectors. Speakers will be asked weigh in on a range of trends and events, including: the growing demand for sovereign space systems, impact of tariffs, industry consolidation, expanding direct to device services, competition for spectrum, and more. Panelists and audience members will vote on whether selected key trends add or detract from the space sector's current growth trajectory. Join us for a lively and interactive plenary session!

Karen Jones

Sr. Space Policy Analyst and Space Economist

The Aerospace Corporation, Center for Space Policy and Strategy

Karen L. Jones is a senior space policy analyst and economist in the Center for Space Policy and Strategy at The Aerospace Corporation. In this role she analyzes space market trends and technologies that impact government missions and commercial markets. She has published numerous papers addressing: game changing technologies, direct-to-device satellite connectivity, disruptive innovation, public private partnerships, blockchain, undersea cables, wireless technologies and space based remote sensing strategies to address climate change and environmental accountability. Karen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Louisiana State University and a Master of Business Administration from Yale University.

Dr. Brian Weeden

Director of Civil and Commercial Policy, the Center for Space Policy and Strategy

The Aerospace Corporation

Partner Session sponsored by Kratos

How D2D Technology Can Enable New Use Cases for USG

This session will examine how Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite technology can enable transformative capabilities for critical U.S. Government operations. Panelists will explore how delivering space-based broadband directly to devices creates new operational possibilities -- including tactical communications for military personnel in remote outposts and enhanced maritime domain awareness. Panelists will also explore increasing government interest, demonstrating clear demand for resilient and secure satellite connectivity solutions. Produced in partnership with SIA.

What the Raptor Engine Taught Me (That the Industry Still Hasn't Learned)

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.

Jeff Thornburg

Co-Founder & CEO

Portal Space Systems

Jeff Thornburg is the CEO of Portal Space Systems. He started his career in the U.S. Air Force and earned his master's in aeronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology. While stationed at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Thornburg contributed to groundbreaking programs, including performing the world's first hydrogen full-flow staged combustion cycle engine demonstration. Thornburg has held key roles in most of the private sector's most prominent commercial space companies, including VP of propulsion engineering at SpaceX, director of mechanical engineering and manufacturing for Amazon's project Kuiper, vice president of propulsion engineering at Stratolaunch, senior vice president of engineering at Agility Robotics, and chief of engineering at Commonwealth Fusion Systems. As SpaceX's second-ever head of propulsion engineering, he architected and developed the Raptor Engine for the Starship and Starship Booster programs. He also oversaw the successful launches of six Falcon 9s and streamlined certification processes with government agencies like NASA and the U.S. Air Force. Throughout his career, Thornburg has been recognized with awards from NASA and the Air Force, including a NASA Space Flight Awareness award, the NASA Made It Happen award, the NASA Stennis Space Center Propulsion Test Director's Leadership Award, and an Air Force Research Laboratory Technical Program Manager of the Year.

Ground Segment-as-a-Service: Unlocking the NaaS Model for Teleports

Virtualized ground infrastructure and Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) models are reshaping how satellite operators access global connectivity. With offerings such as AWS Ground Station, Azure Orbital, and KSATlite, the traditional model of dedicated antennas and fixed infrastructure is giving way to flexible, on-demand ground services. Yet many teleport operators remain hesitant, wary of cannibalizing existing business in favor of emerging service models. One analogy compares this hesitation to the early days of Airbnb, when property owners feared short-term rentals would undermine long-term leases--until the financial upside became undeniable. This panel will explore how teleports can embrace NaaS, the risks and opportunities of virtualization, and what lessons from other industries can teach us about adoption curves, business sustainability, and future growth in the ground segment. Produced in partnership with the World Teleport Association (WTA).

Robotic Satellites at the Tipping Point

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 mission�'ending single�'points�'of�'failure, escalating replacement costs, and a mounting debris hazard. Robotic satellites are no longer aspirational--they are operational, affordable, and urgently needed. Sho Nakanose will show how GITAI's 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.

Sho Nakanose

Founder & CEO

GITAI USA Inc.

Sho Nakanose the Founder and CEO of GITAI, the world's leading space robotics startup. Our goal is to provide safe and affordable labor in space while reducing operational costs by 100 times. We are proud to have successfully conducted a tech demo inside the ISS in 2021, a historic milestone for our team. Our innovative work has attracted contracts from major US space companies, TOYOTA, the Japanese government, JAXA, DARPA and US government agencies. I am honored to have been selected as one of the awardees by "Innovators Under 35 Japan 2020" hosted by MIT Technology Review. I am also proud to be the first Japanese to be selected for the main program (Global Solutions Program) of Singularity University at NASA Ames Research Center in the US. As a leader in the space industry, I am committed to driving innovation and creating a better future for humanity.

The Relentless Pursuit of Ubiquitous Connectivity through 5G NTN Networks

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. 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. Claussen's keynote will explore how the satellite industry and companies like ST Engineering iDirect are helping to shape that future with intelligent orchestration, open standards and AI-powered ground systems. Ultimately, 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.

Don Claussen

Chief Executive Officer

ST Engineering iDirect

Don Claussen is Chief Executive Officer of ST Engineering iDirect, a global leader in satellite communications (satcom). Prior to joining ST Engineering iDirect, Claussen was a Vice President at Intelsat General Corporation responsible for strategy, business development, product management and service delivery. During his tenure at Intelsat General Corporation, he aligned the Product Development and Service Delivery teams to launch a Multi-Orbit SATCOM capability providing end users seamless access to GEO and LEO SATCOM services from a single user interface. With over 15 years of technology leadership positions, Claussen served as a general manager of portfolio businesses at Viasat and L3Harris Technologies where he successfully led business growth, organizational change, and business integration. He also has held technical positions in various technology companies and has designed and deployed SATCOM systems for commercial and government customers. A veteran of the U.S. Army with eight years of active service, Claussen holds an MBA from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Colorado Technical University in Business Administration & Management, and has attended Executive Leadership Courses at the University of Southern California and the University of Pennsylvania.

Partner Session sponsored by Mavenir

Partner Session sponsored by Kratos

Office of Space Commerce TraCSS Post-Production Release: An Overview & Update

This keynote will provide an overview and update of the Office of Space Commerce's Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS), the U.S. civil space situational awareness system, months into its full-production release. Attendees will hear updates on how the system is progressing, its continuing agile development schedule, and how satellite owner/operators can sign up to access the system.

Satellite Industry in India & APAC: Trends, Opportunities, and Challenges

The satellite sector in India and Asia-Pacific (APAC) is expanding rapidly, driven by privatization, rising digital demand, and strategic investments. India's policy reforms through IN-SPACe have unlocked private sector participation, with startups like Skyroot and Pixxel driving innovation. The government's goal is to grow the space economy to $44 billion by 2033. Across APAC, nations like Japan, Australia, and Southeast Asian countries are also investing in satellite infrastructure for broadband, defense, disaster management, and environmental monitoring. LEO/MEO constellations, IoT, and Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) services are leading new deployments. In this session, we'll be exploring opportunities in rural connectivity, defense, satellite manufacturing, and analytics in India, as well as maritime, aviation, and remote area connectivity; launch and EO services across Asia-Pacific. We'll also address challenges such as regulatory uncertainty and spectrum allocation issues, dependence on imported satellite components, limited space situational awareness (SSA), and shortage of satellite and space-tech professionals.

Manesh Singh

Founder & Principal Consultant

MDRM Consultants & Advisors / BYG

Seasoned strategic business leader with over 25 years of experience across the satellite, telecom, and interconnect industries. Demonstrated expertise in setting up, scaling, and managing high-growth businesses across India and the APAC region, with a strong track record in strategy development, market expansion, and full P&L ownership. Held senior leadership roles at global technology firms including ND Satcom AG, Nortel Networks, PEI-Genesis Inc., AEG Power Solutions, and the Tata Group. Served at the board level for PEI-Genesis India and Venturi Wireless, contributing to strategic direction, corporate governance, and sustainable regional growth. Pioneered the introduction of DAMA-SCPC and TDMA-Frame Relay-based VSAT network technologies in India and APAC, significantly advancing satellite communication capabilities across the region.

Ashwin Mahavadi

Sr Vice President

Skyroot Aerospace

Ashwin is a structural engineer by training.

Terabit Optics, Cloud Agility, Digitization, and AI: The Modernization Roadmap for Satellite Networks

Satellite networks are being reshaped by a new class of transformational technologies. This panel explores how Terabit Class high-capacity optical ground systems, transport, waveform virtualization, and generative AI/ML are enabling more adaptive, efficient, and autonomous satellite systems--supporting applications such as signal classification, spectrum monitoring, and real-time network optimization. This session challenges industry stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of these technologies so that multi-orbit SATCOM remains an innovative, indispensable component of global connectivity well beyond 2030.

Dr. Juan Deaton PhD

WAVE Consortium Executive Director & Chief Alignment Officer

Alignment

Dr. Juan Deaton is Executive Director of the Waveform Architecture for Virtualized Ecosystems (WAVE) Consortium, where he leads efforts to standardize waveform virtualization on common compute platforms. Under his leadership, WAVE has brought together the Department of Defense and major commercial SATCOM operators to enable an open, interoperable, and scalable architecture for waveform deployment. While employed as a senior research scientist at Apothym Technologies Group, Juan served as a board director of the Digital IF Interoperability (DIFI) Consortium and was a key contributor to the DIFI v1.1 specification. During this time, Juan started and chaired MILCOM's first "Digital Transformation of SATCOM," which is now in its fourth year. In his work as an author, he wrote the Defense Technology Information Center's report, Digital Transformation of Satellite Communication Networks and has published several articles in Constellations and Via Satellite. Most recently, he is serving on the inaugural Tech Seminar Advisory Committee for SATShow 2026. During most of his time, Juan runs Alignment Consulting & Engineering, where he advises satellite operators, startups, and government agencies on digital transformation, waveform strategy, and advanced signal processing. Juan earned his Ph.D. and M.S. from Virginia Tech, as well as a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Idaho.

Advancing Defense Capabilities with New Satellite Propulsion Technologies

The discussion will highlight the importance of new technologies in enhancing the capabilities of military satellites and spacecraft. Topics will include the role of additive manufacturing in creating more efficient and resilient propulsion systems, and the benefits of advanced green propellants for sustainable and safer space missions. The goal is to bring recent R&D developments to the forefront, summarizing their potential impact on defense strategies and operations. By engaging with the latest research and technological advancements, this panel aims to provide the GovMilSpace audience with a comprehensive understanding of how these innovations can be leveraged to strengthen national security and defense capabilities. The R&D is groundbreaking - but what does it mean for defense customers?

Dr. Shae Williams

Staff Project Engineer

Moog Inc.

Dr. Williams received his doctorate from Purdue University for work designing new RF microthermal electric propulsion thrusters. Since then, he has spent 13 years in industry at small and large companies focused on in-space propulsion, rising to Chief Engineer and head of the engineering division at Digital Solid State Propulsion in Reno, Nevada. There, he focused on liquid and solid propulsion enabled by novel new chemistry formulations, culminating in a successful flight of the Spinsat mission. Dr. Williams is currently a Staff Engineer in Moog's Engines group, with the portfolio of determining group strategy, developing new technologies in in-space propulsion, and bringing them to market.

Unlocking Commercial Value in Africa's Emerging Markets

As satellite operators seek growth beyond saturated markets, Africa is emerging as a key frontier -- commercially, strategically, and demographically. This panel will explore trends shaping commercial satellite expansion in the region, including rising demand from mobile operators and governments, evolving pricing models, regulatory shifts, and emerging partnership frameworks. Drawing on direct experience deploying satellite solutions across Africa, the session will unpack the challenges of market penetration, infrastructure integration, and local adaptation -- offering actionable insights for global players looking to navigate commercial growth in high-potential, underserved markets.

Jean-Philippe Gillet

Senior Vice President, Media, Mobility and Networks

SES

Jean-Philippe Gillet leads Intelsat's Networks business. He is responsible for the development of Intelsat's broadband strategy, product development and execution of Intelsat's broadband initiatives worldwide. Prior to his current position, Mr. Gillet served as Intelsat's Vice President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa from 2014-2017. From 2006-2013, he served as Intelsat's Vice President, Sales for Europe and the Middle East. From 2003-2006, he served as Intelsat's Vice President, Media Sales. Prior to joining Intelsat in 2003, Mr. Gillet served for five years as Vice President of International Sales for Globecast North America (France Telecom Group). Prior to that position, he served three years as Globecast's Director of Sales for Europe, the Middle East and North America. Before joining Globecast, Mr. Gillet served as Sales and Marketing Manager for France Telecom from 1990-1995. Mr. Gillet earned a Master of Science Degree in Information Technology from Ecole Superieure de Commerce in France. Prior to his Master's program, he studied at the Ecole Superieure d'Informatique Engineering School in France.

Reuben Oshomah

Regional Director West Africa

Avanti Satellite Communications

Reuben Oshomah is a business leader and strategist with two decades of experience driving digital infrastructure growth across Africa. As Regional Director for West & Central Africa at Avanti Communications, he leads the company's expansion across underserved and complex markets -- working with mobile operators, towercos, governments, and partners to deliver commercially viable satellite connectivity at scale. Reuben has played a pivotal role in deploying satellite solutions that enable real-world impact -- powering education, fintech, healthcare, and enterprise services across multiple African countries.. His work sits at the intersection of commercial strategy, public-private collaboration, and inclusive innovation in emerging regions. He has spoken on prominent platforms including: MWC Africa (Kigali) - on digital inclusion and rural connectivity ITW Africa (Nairobi) - on satellite's role in bridging infrastructure gaps Nigeria e-Government Summit - as a yearly panelist on telecom infrastructure for digital public services He is also a TEDx Speaker - delivering talks on taking bold action and creating change. Reuben was previously invited to speak at SatShow 2025 but was unavailable to attend. He now returns to the conversation with a deeper body of experience and fresh insights on unlocking commercial value through satellite in high-growth markets. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/reubenoshomah.

Partner Session sponsored by Kratos

Battlefield to Cloud: Enabling Data-Driven Decisions at the Tactical Edge

In today's complex multi-domain battlespace, information dominance is becoming the key differentiator. Disconnected tactical systems and limited bandwidth have long prevented commanders from accessing, analyzing, and acting on critical data in real time. But emerging solutions are transforming how data is processed and delivered at the tactical edge. This panel will bring together senior representatives from the Army, the Navy, and the Space Force to explore how advanced analytics, tactical cloud infrastructure, and resilient connectivity are converging to shape the future of battlefield decision-making. Attendees will learn: - How emerging space-based networks are solving real-world challenges in multi-domain operations - The operational imperatives behind connectivity at the edge and the risks of delay - Perspectives from each service branch on modernization, interoperability, and mission impact

Small and Medium-Lift Launch Services: Flexibility and Customization

Small and Medium-Lift launch vehicles serve a wider range of customers, offering several advantages in flexibility and customization, as well as lower costs. These disruptive, dedicated rockets are also rapidly evolving to allow for more control over launch timing and orbital placement. In this session, launch sector leaders will outline upcoming new services that will be made available to customers during the next few years. The discussion will also include building new space ports, the impact of vertical integration, and how they plan to keep space accessible to everyone who needs it.

Brian Rogers

VP - Global Launch Services

Rocket Lab

As Vice President - Global Launch Services, Brian is responsible for Rocket Lab's global defense and civil launch portfolios. With a career spanning space and launch segments, Brian brings a transformative perspective to U.S. Government and Allies' developmental and operational systems. Before joining Rocket Lab, Brian was Advanced Systems Manager at Ball Aerospace, leading technology development programs for Defense and Intelligence customers across spacecraft and remote sensing payloads. Brian's aerospace career includes leadership roles in launch vehicle design, manufacturing, and launch support of the Atlas V, Delta IV, and Vulcan-Centaur launch vehicles with United Launch Alliance, and systems engineering of the Ares launch vehicles at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado, a Master of Science in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Denver, a Master of Business Administration from Colorado State University, and was awarded a US Utility Patent in 2014.

AI-Enabled Cyber Defense for End-to-End Space Systems

The cybersecurity landscape for space systems is evolving rapidly, with threats now spanning the entire lifecycle of a mission - from initial design to data delivery. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a vital enabler of space system cybersecurity. AI enhances threat detection, automates anomaly recognition, accelerates incident response, and supports self-healing operations. In this session, you'll learn how AI delivers proactive defense where traditional methods fall short - especially in complex, distributed, and high-latency environments like space. We'll also address how the use of AI introduces its own set of security challenges. If not protected, AI models can be manipulated via adversarial attacks, poisoned training data, or compromised inference pipelines--leading to false positives, operational disruptions, or even satellite misbehavior. This makes AI cyber hardening essential. For space sector executives, this session focuses not just simply on a technical concern - but a strategic and reputational imperative.

Ms Manjula Sriram

Chief Information Officer

Iridium Communications

Manjula Sriram is the Chief Information Officer at Iridium Communications Inc., the only satellite communications company that offers truly global voice and data coverage. In this role, she focuses on driving strategic and tactical planning, development, evaluation, and coordination of Iridium's technology roadmap and provide the vision and leadership necessary to drive the company's network infrastructure into the future. This includes overseeing the implementation, maintenance and compliance of the entire enterprise-wide technology, security, business intelligence and analytics and billing systems undergirding the telecommunications services provided by Iridium. With her more that fourteen years of senior IT management experience, notable prior roles included Vice President in the role of CIO for The Joint Chiropractic where she was responsible for the commercial and enterprise IT infrastructure for the company's corporate and clinical operations, servicing approximately 700 standalone chiropractic offices. Prior to this, Ms. Sriram spent four years as the Director of Customer Implementation & Support for Early Warning Service, a financial systems company, to provide risk management solutions over a diverse network of 2,300 financial institutions, government entities and payment companies. Ms Sriram holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science & Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University.

Advanced On-Orbit Space Operations: Supporting ISAM, RPOD & ISTAR

As space missions grow in complexity, achieving persistent, reliable communications across Low Earth Orbit (LEO), cislunar space, and the lunar surface has become mission critical. From In-Space Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) to Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (RPOD), and Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR), tomorrow's orbital infrastructure will depend on always-on connectivity for safety, precision, and mission success. These are some of the biggest growth opportunities in the industry and will propel satellite and space into the future. In this session, we will explore the future of space-based communications that go beyond traditional ground station coverage. Our panel will share the latest developments in on-orbit Wi-Fi, network relays, and hybrid communications architectures that keep spacecraft, onboard equipment, space stations, and lunar infrastructure continuously connected. While also discussing recent and upcoming missions. Attendees will gain insights into: • How persistent in-space communications support ISAM and RPOD operations in LEO and cislunar orbits. • Technical and operational challenges of lunar communications both for cislunar and lunar surface communications. • Enabling autonomy, fault response, and data synchronization for orbital robotics and systems. • Use cases from emerging government and commercial missions, including NASA Artemis, DARPA's initiatives, and orbital service platforms. With the rise of sovereign space assets, defense needs, and private infrastructure development, this panel will provide a forward-looking roadmap for how persistent, secure, and scalable communications will underpin the next decade of in-space operations. We have access to panelists for this session including executives from Momentus Space, Solstar Space, and others. This session will be appropriate for engineers, program managers, mission architects, and technology strategists from NASA, DoD, DARPA, commercial satellite companies, spacecraft manufacturers, and orbital services firms.

Sustaining the Shield: How Servicing Supports Proliferated Defense Architecture

As the United States accelerates its investment in defense constellations such as the Golden Dome for America, it faces a strategic inflection point: launching more satellites is no longer enough. To ensure space superiority in contested environments, military space systems must be logistically supported, just as terrestrial forces rely on robust sustainment infrastructure. This panel will explore the role of on-orbit servicing - including refueling, inspection and maneuvering - in enabling replenishable and resilient space architectures. Once considered aspirational, these capabilities are now becoming operational realities, enabling persistent coverage, rapid asset repositioning, and satellite lifecycle extension for critical defense infrastructure. This session will feature voices from government, industry, and national security who are shaping the future of sustainment in space. Panelists will discuss: • How space logistics build on terrestrial logistics as the next frontier of military advantage • How servicing supports the Space Layer of the Golden Dome and Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture • Maneuver and refueling as force-multiplying capabilities Attendees will gain insight into how space logistics extend the U.S. military's historical edge in global sustainment, and why next-gen defense space architectures must include a servicing layer to unlock new levels of mission assurance, strategic deterrence, and operational readiness in an increasingly contested domain.

Dennis Wille

Sr. Director of Business Development, National Security

Astroscale U.S.

Dennis Wille is a national security space professional with a depth of experience in leadership, team building, communication, and problem solving. After nearly 29 years, Dennis recently retired from the United States Army having served initially as an Armor Officer, then transitioning into the Army's cadre of space operations professionals. Upon retirement, Dennis joined Astroscale U.S. where he works to grow the national security space community's adoption of on-orbit servicing policies and capabilities.

The Case for a Circular Space Economy

Today's space economy operates around a linear lifecycle model. However, the systems, standards, and CONOPS we rely on in this static and linear model don't work with the complex, multi-mission, and multi-user dynamic environment emerging today. This panel presents a new conceptual model, called the Circular Space Economy (CSE), which is a systems-level approach to how we design, build, and operate in space. The CSE is about enabling new markets, like in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM), materials marketplaces, as well as shared infrastructure platforms, all while extending asset lifespans, lowering operational costs, and reducing risks associated with debris. This model aims to deliver a long-term competitive advantage, and not just a simple systems upgrade. This panel will present a high-level vision of what a circular future could offer the industry and the steps we can take to get there.

Daniel Porras

Corporate Counsel

Rogue Space Systems Corporation

Daniel Porras is a career space lawyer who currently serves as Corporate Counsel and Director of International, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Rogue Space Systems Corporation, a company building orbital robots for in-space logistical services. Daniel has spent much of his career focused on the development of international laws and policies for the long-term sustainability of human space activities. He formerly worked as the Space Security Fellow at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in Geneva where he served the Conference on Disarmament, the official multilateral forum to negotiate disarmament and arms-control agreements. He was also Director of Strategic Partnerships at Secure World Foundation, and Associate Officer for the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law. Daniel is a member of the California Bar and holds a Masters in International Economics Law from Georgetown University.