MITRE VISITOR INFORMATION (PLEASE REVIEW)

June 16 NESDIS Unclassified - Click here

June 17 Collateral Secret - Click here

June 18 TS/SCI - Click here

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Challenges and Needs - UNCLASSIFIED

Registration, Check-in and Breakfast (7 - 8:45 AM)

Facilities Brief: MITRE: Mr. Bruce Travers (8:45 - 9 AM)

Welcome Remarks - Summit Chairs:
SFA: Maj Jeff Mitchell, President New England Boston, Northeast Deputy VP, Mr. Nino Amoroso, AOC Patriots Roost Chapter President, Alex Cerruti, Signals and Electronics Director (9 - 9:10 AM)

SFA MC: Maj. Elizabeth Hough, Chief, Systems Engineering and Integration Team, System Delta 85, Battlespace Awareness, Space Systems Command, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts

Space Mission Orientation Keynote: Barbara Golf, USSF: Exec Agent for Space Domain (9:10 - 9:45 AM)

Space Based Missile Warning Update: Col. Steve Medeiros, USSF - Space Sensing System Delta 84 (9:45 - 10:15 AM)

Break (10:15 - 10:30 AM)

USSF Front Door Commercial Space Opportunities: Victor Vigliotti, Director, USSF Front Door (10:30 - 11 AM)

2027 National Security Badge Budget: Mike Tierney (11 - 11:30 AM)

Lunch (11:30 PM - 12:30 PM)

Lunch Brief for Acquisition PDUs: Executing Acquisition Transformation Through Digital Engineering and AI: Michael Rudolph (12:30 - 1 PM)

Raising Capital Fueling Innovation Panel: Moderator: Mark Fitzgerald - retired USAF Col, Boston law firm, panelists: Jessica Nelson, New North Ventures, Colin Supko, DraperSPARX, Eugene Chiu, In-Q-Tel (1 - 1:45 PM)

NE Space Dual-Use Startups Panel: Moderator: Chris Carella, panelists: Kanwar Singh, Skyline NavAI, Johannes Galatsanos-Dueck, Co‑Founder and CEO of Diffraqtion, Cindy Chin, CEO, Planetary Systems AI, Dillon Cox, Director of Growth, Sedaro (1:45 - 2:30 PM)

Break (2:30 - 2:45 PM)

Lightning Pitches: 5 minutes each (2:45 - 3:15 PM)

Northeast Economic Dev Leads Panel: Moderator: David Rikkers, Data Rights Law, panelists: John Wetzel, Mass Tech Collaborative, Laura Welch, Empire State Innovation Dev, John Karp, Maine Space Corp, Randy Makee, NHADC (3:15 - 4 PM)

SFA & AOC Awards Presentations: SFA, and the AOC Patriots Roost Chapter (4 - 4:30 PM)

Wrap Up & Thank You (4:30 - 5 PM)

SFA NESDIS Reception (5 – 7 PM)

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Enabling Technologies and Plans - SECRET &- US Citizens Only

Check-in and Breakfast (7 - 8:15 AM)

Facilities Brief: MITRE: Mr. Bruce Travers (8:15 - 8:30 AM)

National and International efforts: AOC: Mr. Brian Hinkley, AOC Former President, and Mr. Nino Amoroso, AOC Patriots Roost Chapter President (8:30  - 9 AM)

Welcome and overview of MITRE's technical efforts: MITRE: Ms. Katie Schroth, Vice President, Air & Space Forces, Air and Space Forces Center (9  - 9:30 AM)

Keynote: Space in C3BM, Col. Raj Agrawal, PhD, USSF Military Deputy, DAF PAE C3BM DAF Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Command, Control, Communication, and Battle Management (C3BM) (9:30 - 10:30 AM)

Break (10:30 - 11 AM)

Commercially Available Space Capabilities Supporting Orbital Battlespace: Dr. Shawana Johnson, Global Marketing Insights, CEO (11 - 12 PM)

Lunch (12 AM - 1 PM)

Supply Chain Risk Transparency & Assessment Through SCITT, BOMs and SoT™: MITRE: Mr. Robert Martin, Senior Principal Software and Supply Chain Assurance Engineer (1 - 2 PM)

Systems Integration and Space-Based Ontology: DIA Analytic Innovation Office: LTC Todd Quelet, USARMY (2 - 2:45 PM)

Break (2:45 - 3:15 PM)

Software Verification for Operational Space Missions: CMU SEI: Dr. Dio De Niz (3:15 - 4 PM)

Hors d ’Oeuvres hosted by an AOC Patriots Roost Chapter Sponsor (4 - 5 PM)

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Space Services and Space Operations - TS/SCI & US Citizens Only

Check-in and Breakfast (7 - 8 AM)

Opening Remarks and Technical Presentation on Space Sensing: Overview of Resilient Sensing Services to Achieve Collaborative Fusion: MITRE: Mr. Sean O'Neill, Technical Fellow, Engineering and Prototyping Subsector Office, (8 - 8:30 AM)

Keynote: Space ISR Operations: Joint Staff J32: Brig. Gen. Shannon O'Harren, Deputy Director, Operational ISR (8:30 - 9:15 AM)

Adversarial AI and Cyber Mission Assurance in Space Operations: CMU SEI: James Cunningham, Associate AI Security Researcher (9:15 - 10 AM)

Break (10 - 10:30 AM)

Space Resiliency in a Nuclear Environment: MITRE: Sam Burkhart, Principal Engineer, Nuclear Weapons Systems and C2 Platforms (10:30 - 11:15 AM)

Operationalizing 3D Gaussian Splatting for Space Missions: CMU SEI: Dominic Ross, Autonomy Engineer (11:15 - 12 PM)

Lunch (12 PM - 1 PM)

Keynote: Space Services Technologies: AFRL: Dr. Andrew Williams, Deputy Technology Executive Officer for Space (1 - 1:45 PM)

Keynote: A Warfighting Approach to Satellite Design: Aerospace: Jay G. Santee, General Manager, Office of the Senior Vice President for the Defense Systems Group (1:45 - 2:30 PM)

Break (2:30 - 3 PM)

Space Services Integration: MITRE: Dr. Erin McClure, Chief Engineer, Space Enterprise Integration Mission Division (3 - 3:45 PM)

Signal Lab and RF emulation capability / HWIL testing: MITRE: Mr. Andrew Van Overloop, Principal Embedded Software Engineer (3:45 - 4:30 PM)

Egress (4:30 PM)

Mrs. Barbara Golf -  USSF Executive Agent for Space Domain Awareness (SDA) at Space Systems Command - Keynote Speaker

Barb Golf is the USSF Executive Agent for Space Domain Awareness (SDA) at Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California.  In this role, she aligns and integrates near-term SDA DOTMLPF-P (doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, facilities, and policy) activities quickly into operations.  She is also dual-hatted as the lead for commercial operations, including the Joint Commercial Operations (JCO) cell, Commercial Integration Cell (CIC), and other initiatives such as Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Tracking (TacSRT).

Mrs. Golf is a 2003 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and served as a space acquisitions officer for radar systems and laser communications programs. She went on to support streamlined acquisition efforts for multi-billion-dollar Naval contracts to provide secure commercial handheld radios to combat units across the globe.  Later joining the Space Superiority Systems Directorate, Barb spearheaded space kill chain analyses to assess end-to-end capabilities against multiple threat vignettes, creating overarching strategic architectures with time-phased investments for three mission areas – Space Control; Space Situational Awareness; and Battle Management Command, Control, and Communications.  She evaluated technical readiness levels for prototype capabilities, supported military utility and risk assessments, and coordinated technical maturation across multiple Directorates and labs.  She has also provided technical support for developmental operations to the Joint Space Operations Center’s (JSpOC) Combat Operations Division, supporting the modernization of concepts of operation and emergency procedures with the Weapons & Tactics team and enabling response options to critical space events.  Prior to her current position, she was an operations trainer and crew evaluator for the National Space Defense Center for US Space Command, developing training as well as supporting prototype development and operational engineering teams tied to evolving threat missions.  In that role, she created the Joint Task Force-Space Defense (JTF-SD) Commercial Operations (JCO) cell, establishing a global virtual SDA operations center with commercial and Allied partners that now functions as the unclassified operations entry point for space commercial capabilities for USSF.

EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, Physics, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2009 Master of Science, Physics, San Diego State University, Calif.

CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. August 2003 – August 2005, Space Communications Project Lead, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.
2. August 2005 – August 2006, Laser Communications Payload Engineer, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.
3. August 2006 – August 2008, Acquisition Specialist, Joint Tactical Radio System, Space and Naval Warfare Systems (SPAWAR) Center, San Diego, Calif.
4. August 2008 – July 2009, Independent Review Team, VIIRS and NPOESS, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.
5. July 2009 – December 2013, Development Planning for Space Control, Space Domain Awareness, and Battle Management Command and Control, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.
6. January 2014 - May 2016, Protect & Defend Weapons & Tactics, Joint Space Operations Center’s Combat Operations Division, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
7. May 2016 – December 2018, White Cell Lead and Experiment Controller, Joint Interagency Combined Space Operations Center (JICSPOC), Schriever Air Force Base, Colo.
8. December 2018 – August 2022, Experiment Controller and Senior Trainer, National Space Defense Center, Schriever Space Force Base, Colo.
9. June 2020 – Present, Lead, Joint Commercial Operations (JCO), Schriever Space Force Base, Colo.
10. September 2022 – Present, USSF Space Domain Awareness Executive Agent, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.
11. June 2024 – Present, Lead, Commercial Integration Cell (CIC), Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA.

PUBLICATIONS
“High-Power Deuterium Raman Laser at 632 nm,” Applied Optics, Volume 43, Issue 5, February 2004
“Impact of Strange Quark Matter Nuggets on Pycnonuclear Reaction Rates in the Crusts of Neutron Stars,” 3rd Joint Meeting of the APS Division of Nuclear Physics and the Physical Society of Japan, Volume 41, Number 10, October 2009
“Joint Space Operations Center Mission System Application Development Environment,” Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Conference, September 2012

Col. Stevie Medeiros, USSF - Space Sensing System Delta - Keynote Speaker

Col. Stevie Medeiros is Commander of System Delta 84 (SYD 84), Space
Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. In this role, Col.
Medeiros is responsible for delivering space-based battlespace awareness and end-to-end sensor-to-shooter capabilities for the warfighter through rapid development and integration of Missile Warning, Missile Tracking, and Missile Defense with interagency, industry, and allied partners.

Col. Medeiros received his commission in 2002 after completing Air Force Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

Prior to his current position, the colonel was the Senior Materiel Leader, Strategic Missile Warning Ground and Integration Acquisition Delta, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. He also served as Chief, Pentagon Support Group, Mission Integration Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). He is a Program Management Advanced Practitioner and has held a wide breadth of assignments in the space, aircraft, laser, nuclear weapon, electronic warfare, and Battle Management / Command, Control, & Communications (BMC3) programs at multiple management levels.

EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, Texas
2002 Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2003 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Master’s Degree, Acquisition Logistics, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2003–April 2005, C-17 Site Activation Lead, C-17 Program Office, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2. April 2005–June 2006, C-17 Executive Officer, C-17 Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
3. June 2006–September 2007, Team Lead, Near Term Laser Applications Branch, Air Force Research Lab, Kirtland AFB,
N.M.
4. September 2007–April 2008, Deputy, Tactical Lasers Branch, Air Force Research Lab, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
5. April 2008–May 2009, Test and Targets Program Manager, Airborne Laser Program Office, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
6. May 2009–Mar 2010, Chief, Commander’s Action Group, Airborne Laser Program Office, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
7. March 2010–Jun 2011, Executive Officer, AFPEO Strategic System, AFPEO Strategic Systems, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
8. June 2011–July 2015, Lead Program Manager, Electronic Warfare Systems, Special Programs Directorate, Hanscom
AFB, Mass.
9. July 2015–June 2016, IDE Student, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. June 2016–June 2017, Program Element Monitor, E-3, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), Bolling
AFB, Washington, D.C.

Brigadier General Shannon O’Harren - Keynote Speaker

Brig. Gen. Shannon O’Harren is the Deputy Director for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operations on the Joint Staff. As DDISRO, he provides recommendations to the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for ISR asset allocation and authorities. He optimizes risk mitigation strategies with services, combatant commanders, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and interagency partners while utilizing modeling and simulation techniques to inform ISR operational employment decisions.

Brig. Gen. O’Harren earned his commission in 1992 as a graduate of the ROTC program at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He is a career Intelligence Officer and served as a National Aeronautics and Space Administration Military Liaison Officer and aircrew member. He has since held numerous key staff positions at the unit, operational, combatant command, Joint Staff and Office of the Secretary of Defense levels. He has directed and commanded specialty joint and interagency teams and supported numerous overseas contingency operations.

Prior to his current position, he served simultaneously as Military Deputy of the Secretary of Defense Anomalous Health Incidents Cross Functional Team and Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Sixteenth Air Force.

Colonel. Raj Agrawal - Keynote Speaker - Military Deputy, DAF PAE C3BM

Col Raj Agrawal is currently Chief, Future Operations, Headquarters Combined Joint Task Force – Space Operations. Col Agrawal earned his commission from the USAF Officer Training School in 2001 after serving for eight years as a schoolteacher in Texas. The colonel has commanded at the squadron level, will take command of Delta 2 in the Summer of 2023.

He has extensive operational command and control experience having served at the 614th, 613th, 609th, 603d, and 607th Air and Space Operations Centers. Col Agrawal is a graduate of the US Air Force Weapons School, US Army Air Defense Artillery Fire Control Officer School, a Distinguished Graduate of Air Command and Staff College and the Eisenhower School, a graduate of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies and has a Ph.D. in Business Administration.

Dr. Andrew D. Williams - Keynote Speaker

Dr. Andrew Williams serves as the Acting Director of AFRL’s
Space Warfare Directorate (AFRL/RJ) with responsibility for an
annual budget of $662M DAF funding. As the Acting Director of AFRL/RJ, Dr. Willaims guides a team of 1,500 military, contractors
and civilians in the discovery, development and delivery of space,
rocket propulsion, and strategic deterrence capabilities to the hands
of US Air Force and US Space Force operators.

Prior to his selection as the Acting Director of the Space Warfare
Directorate, Dr. Williams served as the Deputy Technology
Executive Officer (TEO) for Space, directing AFRL Space S&T
implementation to support USSF requirements while ensuring
alignment with DAF Strategic guidance.

Dr. Williams entered federal civilian service in 2003 as an AFRL
Palace Acquire Intern. In 2006, he served as the Thermal Systems
Lead and launched a new $35M research program in spacecraft thermal control. In 2009, he assumed the role as Deputy PM for the Integrated Structural Systems (ISS) program. In 2013, he was selected as ISS PM to direct its $140M research portfolio. In November 2021, Dr. Williams was promoted to the rank of Senior Scientific Technical Manager (SSTM).

EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University
2005 Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado
2016 Doctorate of Philosophy in Engineering, University of New Mexico
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 2003 – June 2006, Palace Acquire Intern, AFRL/RV, KAFB, NM
2. July 2006 – November 2009, Thermal Systems Lead, AFRL/RV, KAFB, NM
3. November 2009 – August 2013, Deputy Program Manager (ISS), AFRL/RV, KAFB, NM
4. August 2013 – April 2018, Program Manager (ISS), AFRL/RV, KAFB, NM
5. April 2018 – October 2018, Section Chief, Adv Power & Integrated Structures, AFRL/RV, KAFB, NM
6. October 2018 – November 2021, Space Mission Area Lead, AFRL/RV, KAFB, NM
7. November 2021 – April 2026, Deputy Technology Executive Officer for Space, AFRL/CJ, KAFB, NM
8. April 2026 – Present, Acting Director, Air Force Research Lab Space Warfare Directorate, AFRL/RJ, KAFB, NM
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
2009 AFRL Junior Civilian Engineer of the Year
2011 AFRL/RV Science, Technology & Engineering Award for Exploratory or Advanced Tech Development
2016 Federal Laboratory Consortium Notable Tech Development Award for Roll-Out Solar Array
2017 Associate Fellow in the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
2017 R&D 100 Award for the Roll-Out Solar Array
2017 Federal Laboratory Consortium Notable Tech Development Award for High Strain Composites
2017 Federal Laboratory Consortium Notable Tech Development Award for Oscillating Heat Pipes
2018 RNASA Stellar Team Award for the Roll-Out Solar Array
2018 R&D 100 Award for Oscillating Heat Pipes
2021 Exemplary Civilian Service Award
2024 Meritorious Civilian Service Award

 Mr. Jay G. Santee, General Manager, Office of the Senior Vice President for the Defense Systems Group - Keynote Speaker

Jay G. Santee is vice president, Strategic Space Operations, Defense Systems Group. In this role, he oversees the company’s support of the U.S. Air Force’s Space Warfighting Construct, which combines transformational and warfighting focused command initiatives to maintain space superiority in the 21st century. He also leads the corporation’s support to the Space Security and Defense Program and U.S. Strategic Command.

Prior to joining Aerospace, Santee was outcome leader for Resilient Affordable Space at MITRE, where he was responsible for directing and shaping MITRE’s contributions to the national security space enterprise’s fielding of a resilient, affordable space force.

Santee served 33 years in the United States Air Force, retiring as a major general in 2014. Santee’s last assignment was as deputy director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. In this capacity, he played a key leadership role in the removal and destruction of declared Syrian chemical weapons materials aboard the MV Cape Ray. Santee’s other assignments in the Air Force included, among others: acting deputy assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, vice commander of the 14th Air Force, Director of the Space Operations Center (now the Joint Space Operations Center), commander of the 21st Space Wing, and as
an operations division chief at U.S. Space Command.

Major Jefferson D. Mitchell

Jefferson Mitchell is an active duty Major in the United States Space Force. As an acquisition officer he supports Space Systems Command as the Branch Chief, Ground Based Radar Modernization. He is also the Space Force liaison to the MIT AI Accelerator guiding emerging technology transition to space operations. In addition, he leads as the Space Force Association Northeast Region Deputy Vice President and President of the Boston Chapter.

A graduate of Iowa State University, Jeff commissioned into the Air Force in 2013. His tours of duty include 3 years as a Missile Operations Officer in Minot, ND, 4 years in the intelligence community, 2 years expanding commercial and international partnerships for U.S. Space Command, a year at Space Training and Readiness Command evolving Guardian education readiness, and now at Hanscom Air Force Base. 

Mr. Antonino (Nino) Amoroso

Nino Amoroso is the president of the Association of Old Crows Patriots Roost chapter, and the Managing Director of Amoroso and Associates, LLC. 

Mr. Amoroso has over 48 years of  government and industry experience within the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR), information operations and electronic warfare communities, where he has spearheaded new initiatives and directed the procurement of Air Force, joint systems, special operations capabilities, counter-narcotics centers, coalition, command and control networks,  aerial ground surveillance systems and the rapid acquisition of critical technologies.  In his current and past positions he has had government and corporate responsibility for the planning, identification and execution of programs within the C4ISR area.  He has held government leadership positions up to the system program office and division level.  Mr. Amoroso has also represented corporate organizations to senior government and industry.

Focus areas include the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Intelligence Community, Targeting & Geospatial Intelligence, Commercial Intelligence, Battle Management, Aerial Ground Surveillance Systems, Battle Control Systems, International C4ISR programs, and Homeland Security (HLS).  Mr. Amoroso has an extensive operational background and has worked at all levels of intelligence from collection to applications.  He has had extensive experience and has led efforts in the areas of collection management and operations; indications and warning analysis at SECDEF level; development and delivery of special operations capabilities; counter drug/counter terrorism development and delivery of capabilities; and liaison and training activities in the areas of joint and combined combat coordination/intelligence operations. 

Dr. Alex Cerruti, Signals and Electronics Director at MITRE

Dr. Alex Cerruti is the Signals & Electronics Director in MITRE’s Electronic Systems Innovation Center and a Platform POC for Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT). He leads work at the intersection of electronic and space systems, with deep expertise in GPS/GNSS, anti-jam communications, navigation warfare, secure electronics, RF systems, and space architectures. Known for his strategic perspective and collaborative leadership, Dr. Cerruti helps shape and execute high-impact programs that align advanced technical capabilities with mission needs across complex system-of-systems environments. He previously conducted graduate research at Cornell University and has led key MITRE efforts in embedded GPS/inertial modernization, advanced GPS user equipment, and next-generation PNT capabilities.

Maj. Elizabeth Hough - NESDIS UNCLASSIFIED DAY MC

Major Elizabeth M. Hough is the Chief, Systems Engineering and Integration Team, System Delta 85, Battlespace Awareness, Space Systems Command, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. She is responsible for modernizing the Ground Based Radars to improve performance, extend service life, digitizing the legacy system and enhancing missile warning, missile defense, missile tracking and space domain awareness. She also serves as the liaison between the Space Force and Air Force for space command and control battle management capabilities.

Major Hough graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2011, commissioning through their Reserve Officer Training Corps. Her career has involved working in the B-52 System Program Office at Tinker Air Force Base where she worked on several programs to include 1760 Weapons in the Bomb Bay, Updating the Anti-skid system, New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, and managing 14 low-cost modifications. She worked to develop Capability Based Assessments for the 618 Air Operations Center as a Weapon System and Air Force Wide Electronic Flight Bag while at Headquarters Air Mobility Command. She also managed research and development programs in Directed Energy Weapons for the Air Force Technical Application Center and managing cost schedule and performance for their WC-135 program. At Schriever Space Force base, she was responsible for the transitioning of the Global Positioning System Next Generation Operational Control System from the program office into operations. Prior to her current position she was Chief of Staff for Mission Delta 31, responsible for personnel actions, operations, sustainment, and financial management for six squadrons and 982 personnel.

Mr. Victor Vigliotti, Director, USSF Front Door

Mr. Victor Vigliotti is the Director of the U.S. Space Force’s Front Door initiative, based at Space Systems Command in San Antonio, Texas. He is a senior DoD and Intelligence Community leader with over 15 years of experience in space acquisition, commercial integration, intelligence analysis, and Combatant Command operations.

Mr. Vigliotti leads the Front Door program,  a government-industry collaboration platform designed to simplify engagement between commercial space companies and U.S. Space Force, DoD, and allied agencies. The portal allows vendors to submit technology capabilities  into a single unified catalog, bypassing the need-to-know specific contacts. Submissions undergo vetting and are routed to the right stakeholders, including USSPACECOM, NORAD/NORTHCOM, NASA, the NRO, and international partners.

Mr. Mike Tierney - National Security Space Association

Mike Tierney serves as Chief of Legislative Affairs for the National Security Space Association (NSSA), where he leads congressional engagement and supports the development of policies that strengthen U.S. national security space capabilities.

Widely recognized for his expertise in defense space budgets and congressional space policy, Mike analyzes legislative, budgetary, and acquisition trends affecting the U.S. Space Force and broader national security space enterprise. He regularly engages with congressional staff, industry leaders, and other stakeholders on emerging policy issues and the strategic implications of federal space investments.

Prior to joining NSSA leadership, Mike spent more than a decade advising public and private sector organizations on federal budget, legislative, regulatory, and acquisition matters. His analysis has been featured in SpaceNews, Breaking Defense, Aviation Week, and other leading publications covering national security and space policy.

Mike previously served in Congress as a defense and national security policy advisor and holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.

Mr. Michael Rudolph

Michael Rudolph has been an Aerospace and Defense Industry Manager at MathWorks since 2019. In his role, he works with engineering leadership throughout the industry to understand ongoing and emerging technology trends from autonomous systems to multifunction RF systems. Before joining MathWorks, he spent a decade at Raytheon BBN Technologies performing interdisciplinary research on various sensor and RF systems for DoD customers like Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). He holds bachelor’s and master's degrees in engineering from Penn State University, and an MBA from University of Virginia's Darden School of Business.

Mr. Mark Fitzgerald

Mark Fitzgerald is a corporate and securities partner in the Boston office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Mark’s practice focuses on the representation of public and private growth companies in the life sciences, technology, and national defense sectors. From 1987 to 1992, Mark served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, and from 1992 to 2017, Mark continued to serve in the U.S. Air Force Reserve in a variety of assignments while serving as a member of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. Mark retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a colonel. Mark is a recent Co-Chair of the Veterans & Servicemembers Law Forum and served as a member of the 2019 & 2022 Adams Benefit Steering Committee. In addition, he served on the 2020- 2021 BBA Nominating Committee. 

Ms. Jessica Nelson

As a Principal at New North Ventures, Jessica Nelson
plays a key role in investment analysis, portfolio support, company sourcing and investor relations for the firm’s early stage defense tech investments. She has been instrumental in shaping the firm’s long term investor relations strategy, successfully recruiting investors and helping develop the structure for New North Ventures.
Prior to joining New North Ventures, Jessica worked at Orbit
Group, a family office where she led a portfolio of angel investments and conducted due diligence on real estate acquisitions.

Jessica is a proud graduate of University of New Hampshire’s Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics. During her time at UNH, she was recognized as a finalist in the prestigious Paul J. Holloway Entrepreneurial Competition, reflecting her passion for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Mr. Colin Supko

Colin Supko is a national security professional, Navy Reserve officer, and former White House Presidential Innovation Fellow with more than two decades of experience in public service, military leadership, and technology policy.

He currently serves as Managing Director of DraperSPARX and Director of Market Intelligence at the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, where he works on market analysis, strategic partnerships, and technology transition efforts in support of government and national security missions.

Previously, Colin served as Vice President and Global Head of Government Growth at Exiger Government Solutions and was selected as a 2021 White House Presidential Innovation Fellow, serving at the Department of Defense as Director of the Trusted Capital Program. In that role, he supported efforts to strengthen the resilience of the defense industrial base and improve collaboration between government and industry.

Earlier in his career, Colin founded and led PatriotList, a peer-to-peer marketplace focused on verified government and veteran communities, and was a co-founder and early investor in Munitio, a venture-backed consumer electronics company.

Colin began his military career as a Surface Warfare Officer, completing two deployments to South America and the Caribbean. Following the attacks of September 11th, he volunteered for Naval Special Warfare and graduated from BUD/S Class 240. He deployed multiple times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, serving in leadership roles with SEAL Team Five and SEAL Team Seven.

In the Navy Reserve, Colin has commanded units at SEAL Team 17, Special Operations Command–Pacific, and the U.S. Special Operations Command Naval Reserve Unit. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2018, serving with Special Operations Joint Task Force–Afghanistan.

Colin is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife, Stephanie.

Mr. Eugene Chiu

In-Q-Tel: Partner, Investments Team

(bio coming soon...)

Mr. Chris Carella

(bio coming soon...)

Kanwar Singh

Skyline NavAI

(bio coming soon...)

Mr. Johannes Galatsanos-Dueck

Johannes is the Co-Founder and CEO of Diffraqtion, where he is leading the development of a breakthrough quantum camera designed to fundamentally expand how satellites and machines perceive the world — seeing farther, resolving finer detail, and enabling faster, smarter decisions at the edge.

Previously, he built and scaled world-class teams delivering advanced products across Data, AI, and Quantum Technology, consistently turning deep technical innovation into high-impact systems.

Ms. Cindy Chin

CEO & Chief space officer founder- Planetary Systems AI (PSAI)

Cindy Chin is the CEO, Chief Space Officer and Founder of Planetary Systems AI. Planetary Systems AI accelerates data flow and insight generation for decision-making in the space sector, optimizing planetary support operations, making space data simple and smart. She is an award-winning operator and serial entrepreneur. She is an inventor of multiple AI patents in the tech industry in computer vision.

She is also a NASA Datanaut one of NASA’s Women in Data open innovation program initiatives operating within the Office of the Chief Information Officer at NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C and an Ambassador for NASA’s International SpaceApps Challenge, the largest hackathon on the planet, mentor, advisor and board member to tech startups teams including Google for Startups Accelerator in North America, AWS Space Accelerator, Founder Fuel in Canada, and Al Data Lab at Howard University.

Mr. Dillon Cox

Dillon “Brick” Cox is the Director of Growth at Sedaro, a Virginia-based technology company specializing in cloud‑scalable simulation and digital twin solutions for engineering and mission‑critical applications He joined Sedaro as Senior Growth Manager in 2025, bringing extensive experience in leading space programs and complex defense missions.

Mr. David Rikkers

David Rikkers works with companies developing
technology.  He served as a US Air Force officer at Hanscom AFB, leading technology development programs, including upgrades to the Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) radar, missile defense radars in the Middle East, and systems to fight drug trafficking in Columbia.  As a lawyer, he advises clients on complex, strategic legal matters through a law firm at datarights.law.  He also enables innovation and transactions
in the aerospace and defense industry at Expedited Climb Capital, xclimb.com. 
He is the VP of Policy of the Space Force Association - Boston Chapter.
 
David has extensive experience in intellectual property (IP)
creation and licensing, and related dispute resolution, across government and commercial markets. He has held senior roles at a leading defense contractor and twice chaired the Aerospace Industries Association IP Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Licensing Executives Society Standards Development Organization, which has issued multiple American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards for intellectual property.   Early in his career, David served at the Secretary of the Air Force, Office of the General Counsel and at the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
 
David holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, and a MIT Professional Certificate in Architecture and Systems Engineering.

Mr. John Wetzel

 MassTech Collaborative - Director of Enablement & Integration

(bio coming soon...)

Ms. Laura Welch

NYSTAR - Director, Innovation Ecosystem Development

Laura Welch is the Director of Innovation Ecosystem Development for NYSTAR, the Division of Science, Technology, and Innovation of Empire State Development, New York State government's economic development arm. Before joining NYSTAR, Laura worked in New York’s nascent UAS/drone industry, developing technology to integrate drones into the National Airspace System.

She first became involved with technology innovation, including drones, in her prior role as Deputy Director of CASE, a NYSTAR Center for Advanced Technology in complex information systems at Syracuse University. Before moving upstate, Laura successfully advised founders and CEOs turning around struggling companies or undertaking periods of rapid growth in the greater New York City area.

When she is not reading up on the latest tech, Laura can be found traveling, exploring the outdoors, finding foraged greens at the farmers’ market, or helping her former racehorse Waldo learn a new career as a jumper. 
Best regards,

Mr. John Karp - Maine Space Corp.

Mr. John Karp is the Executive
Director of the Maine Space Grant Consortium (MSGC), a role he has held since 2025. In this position, he leads the consortium’s mission to invest NASA space grant and EPSCoR funds in Maine faculty, students, educators, and businesses, advancing STEM education, research, and workforce development.

Mr. Karp’s career spans multiple
industries and continents, reflecting his “industry agnostic, opportunity centric” approach. At MSGC, he focuses on expanding access to STEM opportunities, strengthening research capacity, and connecting Maine’s academic and industrial communities with NASA resources.

Mr. Randy Makee - NHADC

Randy Makee currently serves as the Chairman of the Board and Executive Director for the New Hampshire Aerospace and Defense Consortium, a trade association for manufacturing in the space, aerospace, maritime, and defense industries. He was previously the COO of Xact Tech, Inc., an aerospace component manufacturer, before stepping in to lead the NHADC effort to create a new supplier selection tool for NASA (Prime Ready™).

Randy has been adjunct faculty at UNH since January of 2020 for Operations Management, AI Ethics, and Finance. His industry background in manufacturing encompasses multiple disciplines including the mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering fields. He holds a BA in International Studies from Miami University and an Executive MBA from the University of New Hampshire.

Mr. Brian Hinkley

AOC Past President, VP, Amentum

Brian Hinkley is the former President of the Association of Old Crows (AOC). He has served the EW community for over 40 years, he is Vice President for Amentum, Inc. He is responsible for Business Development, Capture and Program Management of opportunities within EW, Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO), Electromagnetic Maneuver Warfare (EMW) and Command and Control/Cyber Operations (C2CO).

After commissioning through the U.S. Naval Academy in 1983 and earning his wings of gold in 1984, Mr. Hinkley served 26 more years as an electronic countermeasures officer (ECMO) in carrier naval aviation electronic attack. He has over 2700 flight hours and 600 traps while deploying aboard several aircraft carriers and participating in multiple combat operations. Other highlights of his career include his tour as the Commanding Officer of the VAQ-135 Black Ravens for Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.

Ms. Katie Schroth: Vice President, Air & Space Forces, Air and Space Forces Center at MITRE

A specialist in communication and networking systems, Schroth has more than 20 years of experience in system-of-systems integration and systems acquisitions in nuclear command, control, and communications and tactical domains at MITRE. She is the former managing director for the MITRE Army portfolio. Previously, she was chief engineer of the MITRE Joint and Services Center. Both support the National Security Engineering Center, the federally funded research and development center that MITRE operates on behalf of the Department of Defense.

Schroth also served as managing
director of the Air and Space Forces Center’s Nuclear Enterprise division and as Air Force Nuclear Enterprise portfolio director, leading teams to create cross-cutting modernization prototypes delivered to federal agencies. 

Major General Anthony “Awgie” Genatempo recently retired from the United States Air force after serving for over 34 years. In his career, he led some of the nation’s most complex modernization and innovation efforts. His senior leadership roles included Program Executive Officer for Cyber & Networks, Commander of the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, and Air Force Program Executive Officer for Weapons — positions that placed him at the forefront of nuclear deterrence, advanced weapons development, and enterprise technology modernization.

Throughout his career, Maj Gen Genatempo oversaw initiatives critical to national defense — sustaining the nation’s nuclear deterrent, advancing next-generation weapons, and modernizing the Air and Space Force’s global IT and communications infrastructure. He built coalitions across the Department of Defense, industry, education, and international partners to deliver transformational technologies at scale. He also served on Capitol Hill, advising members of Congress on defense fiscal policy and appropriations bills.
Recognized as a forward-leaning leader, Maj Gen Genatempo championed the integration of artificial intelligence into defense acquisition practices, transforming how the Air Force adopts emerging technologies. He oversaw critical offensive and defensive cyber capability development which is on our Nation’s frontline as we speak.

Dr. Shawana P. Johnson

Dr. Shawana P. Johnson, GISP, is a global commercial remote sensing subject matter expert providing Geospatial Business Intelligence Expertise™ assisting government clients with the vast range of data available from open source intelligence and commercial Spaceborne, Airborne and Terrestrial based Sensors and their Interoperability with the Government and Global Business community focused on AI/ML usage of sensors for 5G and Communications, National Security, Climate, Energy Resources, Agriculture and Water Sustainability; and Logistics and Supply Chain. Dr. Johnson has worked with 2 person startups to spin off from National Labs, supporting and training them for government programs focused on AI/ML and Geospatial Intelligence Provisioning inclusive of all Remote Sensing programs. Her company’s database consists of over 1 million current geospatial contacts globally which provides real user input for client sensor access and application success. Her expertise encompasses interacting with global ground stations, launch providers, satellite developers, defense contracting and acquisition organizations, National Labs, and hundreds of small and mid-sized geospatial value-added organizations.

Dr. Johnson was a 2022 finalist as a Tradecraft Specialist for the US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation GEOINT 2022 main stage presenter. She was awarded a certificate of completion for the Senior Managers in Government Program, 8/2019, John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Executive Education and received her Doctorate Degree in Management from Case Western Reserve University, The Weatherhead School of Management; Cleveland, Ohio in 1998 focused on Economics and Technology Transfer and is currently certified by The GIS Certification Institute, Park Ridge, Illinois – as a Geographic Business Information Systems Professional (GISP), 2007, 2012, 2018, 2023. Dr. Johnson is a Global Subject Matter Expert in the Geospatial Industry and advises the Commercial as well as Intelligence Community sectors. She is an advocate for the Geospatial Industry and is a well-known speaker and has authored many geospatial industry-specific articles, white papers and book chapters. She serves on multiple industry boards, government committees, and associations which serve to advance the science of remote sensing and geospatial technology and young professionals.

Mr. Robert Martin, Senior Principal Software and Supply Chain Assurance Engineer at MITRE

Mr. Robert A. Martin, a Senior Principal Software and Supply Chain Assurance Engineer at MITRE, has dedicated his career to solving some of the world’s most difficult problems in business and engineering of cyber-enabled systems. His work focuses on the interplay of risk management, cyber security, and quality assessment and assurance. After 16 years of focus on systems engineering, acquisition, and addressing Y2K, Robert has spent the last 28 years applying his expertise to international cybersecurity initiatives such as CVE, CAPEC, and CWE, with large active vendor and research communities, and has recently worked on standardizing Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs) through community efforts led by DHS CISA and work in the Linux Foundation, Open Group, and Object Management Group standards communities as well as standardizing Supply Chain Integrity, Transparency and Trust with the IETF, and supply chain security with MITRE’s System of Trust™ framework. 

Dr. Dio De Niz

Dr. Dió de Niz is a Principal Researcher at the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University. His work focuses on the development of cyber-physical systems (CPS) methods that capture intended behavior in an unambiguous, scalable, incremental, and continuous way, supported by automated design decision-making and rigorous assurance techniques.

Dr. de Niz’s research centers on two primary areas: real-time scheduling and model-based engineering. In real-time systems, he studies the challenges introduced by increasingly complex algorithms, mixed-criticality requirements, and emerging hardware platforms such as multicore processors. He earned both his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering and his M.Sc. from Carnegie Mellon University. 

Mr. Sean O'Neil: Technical Fellow, Engineering and Prototyping Subsector Office at MITRE

Mr. Sean O’Neil has made multiple contributions to the theory and practice of radar target tracking. Throughout his career, he has applied his technical expertise to airborne surveillance radars, space-based ground surveillance systems, ground-based space surveillance systems, and multiple DARPA and classified programs.

His leadership roles include chief technologist for MITRE’s groundbreaking work in bi- and multi-statics, overseeing a set of interlocking programs applying multi-static radar technology to our nation’s most pressing problems.

In addition to his work as a fellow, he is managing MITRE’s Surface to Space Corporate Initiative, a multi-year effort to develop the next-generation national architecture for managing and deconflicting air and space traffic during launch, re-entry, and normal space operations.

Mr. James Cunningham, Associate AI Security Researcher – CMU | SEI
Mr. James Cunningham is an AI security researcher at Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute (SEI), where he focuses on protecting AI systems from threats such as data poisoning and other adversarial attacks. His research addresses vulnerabilities in AI systems, particularly how adversaries can tamper with training data to corrupt model behavior, and how to prevent or mitigate such attacks.

He has published research in areas such as deep reinforcement learning for procedural content generation, collision avoidance for aircraft, and deep learning models for defending against smart grid attacks. Mr. Cunningham holds multiple degrees including a PhD in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University.

Mr. Dominic Ross, Autonomy Engineer - CMU | SEI | AI Division

Mr. Dominic Ross is the broadcast media team lead at the SEI, where his work focuses on multimedia research and transformative gamification. In that role, he designs and engineers' production studios and systems used to acquire training, conferences, webinars, and broadcast video used by the federal cybersecurity workforce, Carnegie Mellon University, and the SEI. Prior to joining the SEI, Ross worked in multiple roles in multimedia production and has experience as a digital media FX artist, editor, broadcast television technical director, production manager, and engineer.