Whether you’re a start-up or a shooting star, this exclusive multi-session online event will accelerate your progress toward securing the funds you need and the financial partners you can trust to boost your prospects in space.
This episode features Dale Nash, CEO and Executive Director of Virginia Commercial Spaceflight Authority. Also known as Virginia Space, the authority owns and operates the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) including three Launch Pads and a Payload Processing Facility, as well as the MARS UAS Airfield.
Mr. Nash has 38 years of experience in the aerospace industry. He headed the Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska for six years prior to joining VA Space. He has also served in senior management positions working Space Shuttle launch operations and program development on the Orion program with United Space Alliance, Lockheed Martin, and Thiokol Corp.
Mr. Nash has a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the University of Utah and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida.
This podcast discussion features Kelvin Coleman, the FAA’s deputy associate administrator for commercial space transportation. His office is responsible for licensing commercial operators for space launch and re-entry. Prior to joining AST more than 20 years ago, Mr. Coleman worked for the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command as both a systems engineer, and as a guidance, navigation, and control engineer for several weapon system acquisition programs.
Mr. Coleman holds a B.S. in Electronics and Computer Engineering from George Mason University and an M.B.A. from Marymount University.
This podcast discussion features Alex Macdonald, NASA’s chief economist. He also serves as program executive of the International Space Station National Lab. He was previously the Senior Economic Advisor in the Office of the Administrator and was the founding program executive of NASA’s Emerging Space Office. Dr. Macdonald is a former executive staff specialist on commercial space at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a former research faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University, and has worked on small satellite mission design at NASA’s Ames Research Center.
Dr. Macdonald received his undergraduate degree in economics from Queen’s University in Canada, his master’s degree in economics from the University of British Columbia, and his doctorate from the University of Oxford.
Several critical space policy decisions are looming in the year ahead, regardless of election year changes in the Administration or Congress. The panel will explore these decisions – from NASA’s human lander program to orbital debris frameworks to Space Force stand-up – and how they could impact civil, commercial, and national security space for years to come.
The AIAA DEFENSE Forum Executive Steering Committee is pleased to provide this unclassified discussion that will delve into the effects of COVID-19 on the aerospace and defense community. Speakers from government, industry and academia will take an enterprise view and consider lessons learned from all angles, including productivity, supply chain, and workforce. Ample time will be included for questions from the audience, and findings and notes will be captured and shared with the industry.
This podcast discussion features Conner Prochaska, chief commercialization officer for the Department of Energy and director of the Office of Technology Transitions. His office advances the economic, energy, and national security interests of the United States by expanding the commercial impact of the department’s research and development portfolio.
Prior to his current roles, Mr. Prochaska was senior advisor and chief of staff of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). He previously worked at a public investment fund and also served as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Navy.
Mr. Prochaska earned his J.D. at The George Washington University School of Law and his B.A. at Texas A&M University.
This podcast discussion features Dr. Douglas Terrier, NASA’s chief technologist. In this role, Terrier serves as the agency’s principal advisor and advocate on technology policy and programs, helping plot the strategic direction of the agency’s space technology program.
Prior to his current position, Terrier was the chief technologist of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. He also was the deputy director of NASA Johnson’s Strategic Opportunity and Partnership Development Office. Terrier worked in the commercial aerospace sector for a total of 23 years with Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and General Electric Aircraft Engines.
Terrier earned a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering and a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas.
This episode features Kevin O’Connell, Director of the Office of Space Commerce at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Mr. O’Connell leads an office with responsibility as a space industry advocate within the Executive Branch of the U.S. government. Previously, Mr. O’Connell served as the CEO of Innovative Analytics and Training, a professional services firm focused on analysis and decision support for U.S. government and commercial clients. He also served as a senior consultant to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and as an independent advisor to the Director, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.
This podcast discussion features Erin Miller, VP of Operations for Space ISAC, National Cybersecurity Center. Erin has over a decade of experience building meaningful tech collaborations and has formed hundreds of formal partnerships between government, industry and academia to solve problems for warfighters and national security. Currently Erin is building a Public-Private Partnership (P3), called Space ISAC. This is the third non-profit launch Erin has led and has been passionate about P3 for her entire career.
Erin was the Managing Director of the Center for Technology, Research and Commercialization (C-TRAC) and brought three USAF-funded programs to bear at the Catalyst Campus for Technology & Innovation (www.catalystcampus.org) from 2016-2018. Her expertise in brokering unique partnerships using non-FAR type agreements led to the standup of the Air Force’s first cyber focused design studio, AFCyberWorx at the United States Air Force Academy, and the first space accelerator, Catalyst Accelerator, at Catalyst Campus in Colorado Springs – in partnership with Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX.
Erin serves on the board of cyber teaching certifications at Handshake Leadership. A company putting purpose over profit.