Washington Space Business Roundtable

WSBR February Luncheon: New Year, New Look at Space Cyber Security Issues
2025-02-04 12:00 - 13:30 UTC | Hogan Lovells LLP, 555 13th St., NW, Washington, DC, 20004
WSBR February Luncheon Featuring Dr. Dianne Poster, NIST, and Ryan Roberts, Deloitte

Happy New Year! Washington Space Business Roundtable (WSBR) warmly invites you to join us for 2025’s first in-person program: New Year, New Look at Space Cyber Security Issues. This month, our discussion is led by Mr. Ryan Roberts of Deloitte’s Cyber Risk practice, with panelists Erin Miller of Space ISAC, Lauryn Williams with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, and Dr. Dianne Poster of the DOC’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). We hope you will join us for this in-depth look at emerging issues at the intersection of Space and Cybersecurity, along with the good food, networking, and audience participation Q&A you’ve come to know and love at WSBR.

Panelists

Erin Miller

Ms. Erin M. Miller is the Executive Director of the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Space ISAC). Space ISAC serves as the primary focal point for the global space industry for “all threats and all hazards.” Stood up at the direction of the White House in 2019, Erin led the Space ISAC to open its operational Watch Center, alongside its Cyber Malware and Analysis Vulnerability Laboratory in Colorado Springs, CO, USA. Under Erin’s leadership, Space ISAC’s headquarters facility is already serving several countries to achieve its mission of security and resilience for the global space industry. Each year Space ISAC puts on the Value of Space Summit (VOSS), co-hosted with The Aerospace Corporation at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.

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.

As a serial entrepreneur in the non-profit space, she thrives in launching new programs and new organizations from stand up through building and scaling operations.

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). Her expertise in brokering unique partnerships using non-FAR type agreements led to the standup of the Air Force’s first cyber focused (#securebydesign) design studio, AFCyberWorx at the USAF Academy, and the first space accelerator, Catalyst Accelerator, at Catalyst Campus in Colorado Springs – in partnership with Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX.

In 2020 Erin was a recipient of the Woman of Influence award. In 2018 Erin was recognized by the Mayor of Colorado Springs as Mayor’s Young Leader (MYL) of the Year Award for Technology. She is also the recipient of the Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce Award for Young Female Leader in 2018.

In her previous roles she developed and managed intellectual property portfolios, technology transfer strategies, export control/ITAR, secure facilities, and rapid prototyping collaborations. Erin serves on the advisory board of CyberSatGov, CyberLEO and is a board member for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & EDC. She has guest lectured at Georgetown University, United States Air Force Academy, University of Colorado at Boulder, and Johns Hopkins University. She is frequently found public speaking at notable events like, Defense Security Institute’s Summits, CyberSatGov, State of the Space Industrial Base, and other forums focused on security and space resiliency and critical infrastructure.

Dr. Dianne Poster

Dr. Poster provides more than two decades of technical experience in research and development for measurements, standards, technology, and data at the United States (U.S.) Department of Commerce (DOC) National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Her current work supports the U.S. DOC National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Space Commerce promoting U.S. space commerce through international technical standards development and innovation in space systems, data, and cybersecurity technologies. She leads DOC representation for the U.S. interagency supporting space activities, including developing principles for national strategies in cislunar science and technology, planetary defense, low Earth orbit research and development, and in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing.

Lauryn Williams

Lauryn Williams most recently served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy in the U.S. Department of Defense, where she spearheaded release of the first-ever National Defense Industrial Strategy Implementation Plan. Immediately prior, Lauryn was Director for Strategy in the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) and drove the White House strategic initiative on space system cybersecurity. This work – which leveraged extensive interagency, industry and international collaboration – resulted in the first-ever minimum cybersecurity requirements for federal space systems included in President Biden’s January 2025 cybersecurity executive order. The White House simultaneously released a report capturing findings from a series of regional technical workshops that brought together over 125 U.S. and multinational space companies to discuss cyber challenges and opportunities.

Lauryn joined ONCD from the Department of Defense, where she led efforts to better leverage commercial space capabilities and to develop the first-ever U.S. norms of responsible behavior in space. She has also served in the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration and at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Lauryn received her bachelors degree from Stanford University and masters degree from Princeton University.

Moderator

Ryan Roberts

Mr. Roberts is a leader in Deloitte’s Cyber Risk practice where he focuses on providing cyber operations capability and services to clients in the Defense sector. He is widely recognized as an expert in cyber risk issues in space, and is frequently called upon as a subject matter expert in this area. Ryan served in the Marine Corps and has over 25 years of experience in IT and cybersecurity.

Registration closes on Thursday, January 30th at 12:00/Noon ET.

Registration Rates

Individual Seat$85.00Half Table$320.00Full Table$640.00

Thank You To Our Sponsors!

Thank You To Our Event Partner!

TICKET POLICY

Tickets are refundable up to 10 business days prior to the event date and are transferable at any time. Please contact info@wsbr.org with any changes to your registration.

2025 WSBR Annual Flagship Luncheon and Silent Auction
2025-03-11 11:00 - 13:30 | Arnold & Porter, 601 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC, DC, United States
Featuring an in-depth interview with Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, Vice Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force, led by Mandy Vaughn, CEO and Founder, GXO, Inc.

Join WSBR on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, for our Annual Flagship Luncheon and Silent Auction. The event will take place one block from the Convention Center, at the offices of Arnold & Porter, 601 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20001.

Networking and registration will begin at 11:00 am, with lunch to be served at 12:00 pm, giving you ample time to review and bid on the auction items donated by leading companies and organizations throughout the space industry. The program will conclude at 1:30 pm.

At this time, the event is at full capacity. However, we are happy to Add you to our waitlist in case any spots become available.

To join the waitlist, please contact us at info@wsbr.org.

Keynote

General Michael Guetlein

Gen. Michael A. Guetlein is the Vice Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force. As Vice Chief, he is responsible for assisting the Chief of Space Operations in organizing, training and equipping space forces in the United States and overseas, integrating space policy and guidance, and coordinating space-related activities for the U.S. Space Force and the Department of the Air Force.

The U.S. Space Force organizes, trains, equips and maintains mission-ready space forces that provide missile warning, space domain awareness, positioning, navigation and timing, communications and space electronic warfare for North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Strategic Command, U.S. Space Command and other combatant commands.

Gen. Guetlein was commissioned through the ROTC program at Oklahoma State University in 1991. His acquisition experience spans air and space capabilities and systems across special operations, global power projection, missile warning and detection, and counterspace mission areas. The general has commanded and led at the flight, squadron, division, directorate, Program Executive Officer and Field Command levels. Notable assignments include serving as the Commander, Space Systems Command; Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office and Commander of the Air and Space Force Element; Program Executive for Programs and Integration at the Missile Defense Agency; Director of Remote Sensing Systems; Commander of the Rapid Reaction Squadron; the Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition; and a Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow.

Mandy Vaughn

Mandy is one of the most innovative and influential leaders in the US space industry. She founded GXO in 2021 to drive innovation, unlock new opportunities, and address emerging threats.

Prior to founding GXO, at Virgin Orbit, Mandy worked on the LauncherOne program for government and commercial customers—including NASA and OneWeb. She served as president and CEO of VOX Space (a Virgin Orbit subsidiary) with a specific focus on the national security launch market.

Additionally, Mandy has worked within General Dynamics Mission Systems, the Air Force as an active duty officer , and Kinsey Technical Services to advance next-generation innovations in GPS, satellite communications, defense, and security. Mandy holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics, both from MIT.

All proceeds from this event go directly to the WSBR Education Fund, providing resources to various STEM initiatives in the greater Washington, DC area and beyond.

Thank You to our sponsors!

TICKET POLICY

Tickets are refundable up to 10 business days prior to the event date and are transferrable at any time. Please contact info@wsbr.org with any changes to your registration.

WSBR June Luncheon: Conversation With FCC Space Bureau Chief Jay Schwarz
2025-06-16 12:00 - 13:30 | Hogan Lovells LLP, 555 13th St., NW, Washington, DC, 20004
WSBR June Luncheon Featuring Jay Schwarz, Chief of the Federal Communications Commission’s Space Bureau

Washington Space Business Roundtable (WSBR) warmly invites you to join us on Monday, June 16th for a conversation with FCC Space Bureau Chief Jay Schwarz. This in-person luncheon event will focus on the Space Bureau’s priorities for 2025 and beyond, including spectrum modernization in a world with greater spectrum demand than ever before, a look at the licensing process, and implications for novel space capabilities such as ISAM.

We hope you will join us for this in-depth discussion on timely issues in satellite licensing, along with the good food, networking, and audience participation Q&A you’ve come to know and love at WSBR.

Keynote

Jay Schwarz

Jay Schwarz recently rejoined the FCC as Chief of the Space Bureau. Before rejoining the FCC, he served as Vice President of Public Policy at Comcast, focusing on broadband policy. Previously at the FCC he was Wireline Advisor to former Chairman Ajit Pai and held positions within the Wireline Competition Bureau, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and the Office of Strategic Planning. Jay holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh and an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Registration closes on Tuesday, June 10th at 12:00pm ET.

Registration Rates

Individual Seat$85Half Table (4 Seats)$320Full Table (8 Seats)$640

Thank You to Our Sponsor!

Thank you to our event partner!

TICKET POLICY

Tickets are refundable up to 10 business days prior to the event date and are transferable at any time. Please contact info@wsbr.org with any changes to your registration.

WSBR July Luncheon: Space Nuclear Panel
2025-07-15 11:30 - 13:30 | Hogan Lovells LLP, 555 13th St., NW, Washington, DC, 20004
Event Summary

The first nation to operate a nuclear reactor on the Moon to survive the lunar night will unlock a new era of development and settlement, while setting new standards and norms of behavior for humanity. How can the United States position itself to be that nation rather than follow China’s lead?

That question and others were addressed by Dr. Bhavya Lal at this WSBR luncheon. She delivered the first public briefing on a new study she led for DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory. Dr. Lal recommended taking a strategic, stepping stone approach to space nuclear development, starting with the demonstration of a small power reactor on the lunar surface.

Dr. Lal then joined a panel with space nuclear experts Joseph Cassady of L3Harris Technologies, Alex Gilbert of Zeno Power and Dr. Robert O. of USRA. The discussion covered a number of issues that must be addressed to ensure forward progress, including White House direction, a lead agency/agencies, mission pull, funding, regulatory compliance, and liability.

WSBR extends a hearty thanks to our luncheon sponsor, USRA, and our host, Hogan Lovells, for making this event possible.

WSBR 7/15/25 Event – Weighing the Future: Strategic Options for U.S. Space Nuclear LeadershipDownload

Despite decades of investment, U.S. space nuclear progress is limited. Dr. Bhavya Lal and other space nuclear experts will discuss the full space fission landscape—surface and in-space, civil and defense, government needs and emerging commercial markets—and the urgent decisions ahead.

Washington Space Business Roundtable (WSBR) invites you to join us on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, for a discussion on U.S. space nuclear strategy with Dr. Bhavya Lal, consultant and former NASA Associate Administrator for Technology, Policy, and Strategy, Joe Cassady, Director of Civil Space at L3Harris, and Alex Gilbert, Vice President of Regulation at Zeno Power. Dr. Lal will present the findings from her recently completed INL-funded report, Weighing the Future: Strategic Options for U.S. Space Nuclear Leadership. This will be followed by a panel discussion with our three experts on U.S. space nuclear strategy.

We hope you will join us for this in-depth discussion on timely issues in satellite licensing, along with the good food, networking, and audience participation Q&A you’ve come to know and love at WSBR.

Panelists

Dr. Bhavya Lal, Professor and Former NASA Associate Administrator for Technology, Strategy, and Policy

Dr. Bhavya Lal is currently a Professor at RAND School of Public Policy. She most recently served as NASA’s Associate Administrator for Technology, Policy, and Strategy, advising the NASA Administrator and senior leadership on a broad spectrum of domestic and international policy issues, strategic planning, and technology investments. During her tenure at NASA, she also broke new ground as the first woman to act as NASA’s Chief Technologist. In the early days of the Biden Administration, she was the highest-ranking Administration appointee at NASA, serving as the acting Chief of Staff. In all these roles, Dr. Lal was instrumental in advancing the NASA Moon-to-Mars program, and spearheading initiatives in planetary defense, space sustainability, space ethics, and space nuclear systems. She also played a pivotal role in formulating critical policies on international competition and commercial space ventures.

Before joining NASA, Dr. Lal directed influential analyses at the Institute for Defense Analyses’ (IDA) Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI), leading high-impact studies on space commercialization, government investment strategies, and economic policy frameworks for emerging space sectors. Her research has directly influenced U.S. space industrial policy, orbital debris mitigation strategies, and market-driven approaches to national security space programs.

Dr. Lal has frequently testified before Congress and the National Space Council on economic and policy issues related to space commerce. She has authored peer-reviewed papers and reports on topics including space nuclear power investment models, asteroid resource economics, and private-sector participation in space infrastructure development. She continues to shape the future of space economics through formal advisory roles at NASA, the National Academies, and international space policy organizations. She currently chairs the International Astronautical Federation’s Space Economy Committee.

Dr. Lal’s extensive research and leadership have earned her numerous accolades including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, Associate Fellowship at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the AIAA Public Service Award for “lasting and sustained leadership in national space policy and setting the course for NASA’s future missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond,” and induction into the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and YWCA’s Academy of Women Achievers.

Her academic credentials include bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a second master’s from MIT’s Technology and Policy Program, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Public Administration from George Washington University. She is a member of the honor societies for both nuclear engineering and public policy and public administration.

Joe Cassady, Director of Civil Space Programs, L3Harris

Mr. Cassady is the Director of Civil Space Programs in the Washington DC Operations for L3Harris where he helps oversee strategy development and architectures for future space and launch systems. He obtained his BS (1981) and MS (1983) in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University as well as a Graduate Certificate in Systems Engineering at the George Washington University in 2005. His current interest areas include architectures for human missions to Mars, Space Mobility and Logistics (SML) and space debris remediation. Mr. Cassady holds five U.S. Patents for Electric Propulsion (EP) technology. He has four decades of experience in propulsion development, flight operations, mission architecture and systems analysis. He has authored more than 75 technical papers dealing with EP, power systems, attitude control systems and mission analysis and recently co-authored a textbook, Rocket Propulsion, with Professors Heister, Anderson, and Pourpoint of Purdue University. Prior to joining the Washington office, Mr. Cassady held roles in Development Engineering, Project Management, and Business Development and led flight project teams for the 26 kWe ESEX arcjet system (which still holds the record as the highest power EP system flown) and the EO-1 Pulsed Plasma Thruster system. In addition, he has served on a number of advisory groups for NASA and the DoD. Currently he is a member of the National Academies Space Technology Industry Government and University Roundtable (STIGUR), which advises and reviews the NASA technology portfolio. He is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA, is vice-president of the Electric Rocket Propulsion Society and serves as Executive Vice President and member of the Board of Directors for ExploreMars, a 501c(3) non-profit dedicated to promoting STEM and human Mars exploration. In 2021, he was named as an Outstanding Aerospace Engineer by the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue and he was elected as a Member of the International Academy of Astronautics in 2024. It is his lifelong goal to see humans join their robotic precursors on the surface of the Red Planet.

Alex Gilbert, Vice President of Regulation at Zeno Power

Alex Gilbert is the Vice President of Regulation at Zeno Power, spearheading regulatory strategies for commercial radioisotope power systems for space, maritime, and terrestrial applications. He is also a PhD candidate in Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines, researching astronaut nuclear safety and space nuclear governance for applications on the Moon and Mars. Previously, Alex was at the Nuclear Innovation Alliance, pioneering regulatory modernization for advanced reactors at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Dr. Robert C. O’Brien, Director, USRA’s Center for Space Nuclear Research

Dr. Robert C. O’Brien serves as USRA’s Director of the Center for Space Nuclear Research and is an adjunct Professor at the University of Idaho. Dr. O’Brien is a subject matter expert in advanced space power, propulsion and energy utilization technologies including nuclear systems testing, as well as in-situ resource utilization, material extraction, and manufacturing science and engineering. Prior to joining USRA, Dr. O’Brien led special reactor concept projects, advanced nuclear instrumentation, nuclear fuels, national and international projects, and initiatives at Idaho National Laboratory for NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Defense.

Dr. O’Brien led the development of Advanced Manufacturing capabilities for DOE including first-of-a-kind capabilities to utilize electric Field Assisted Sintering Techniques (eFAST) and was responsible as architect of capabilities at INL’s Materials and Fuels Complex Advanced Fuels Facility for the first experiments and production of nuclear reactor fuels using 3D Printing techniques. As Principal Investigator under the DOE Transient Testing Program, Dr. O’Brien served as part of the TREAT Reactor Restart Project (2012-2018) and led some of the first modern experiments in TREAT as Principal Investigator of the NASA SIRIUS Testing campaign (testing Space Nuclear Propulsion Program fuels under hydrogen at temperatures up to 3000 K). Prior to his experience within the DOE laboratory system, Dr. O’Brien’s early career was as a researcher at the University of Leicester Space Research Center where he initiated assessments for a UK – European solution for radioisotope power, and the use of 241-Am as a heat source fuel; performing early americium oxide-cermet encapsulation experiments.

Dr. O’Brien holds a Masters of Physics with Space Science & Technology from the University of Leicester (2006), and a PhD in Physics Research from the University of Leicester (2010). He was nominated Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society 2008. Dr. O’Brien holds multiple patents and patents pending in advanced nuclear fuel, Directed Energy, ceramic processing, ballistic materials, nuclear and non-nuclear feedstock processing.

Registration closes on Thursday, July 10th at 12:00pm/noon ET.

Registration Rates

Individual Seat$85Half Table (4 Seats)$320Full Table (8 Seats)$640

Thank You to Our Event Partner!

TICKET POLICY

Tickets are refundable up to 10 business days prior to the event date and are transferable at any time. Please contact info@wsbr.org with any changes to your registration.

WSBR August Luncheon Featuring Kevin Coggins, Deputy Associate Administrator for the NASA SCaN Program
2025-08-26 11:30 - 13:30 | Sheppard Mullin, 2099 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20006, United States
This event has reached maximum capacity. Please click “Register Now” For information on how to join our Waitlist.

NASA’s Multi-Billion Dollar Communications Pivot to Commercial Partnerships

Washington Space Business Roundtable (WSBR) invites you to a fireside conversation with Kevin Coggins regarding opportunities for commercial partners to shape and drive next generation space-based communications architecture – from LEO to the Moon and beyond.

Kevin oversees significant budget funding for the Commercial Services Project (CSP) dedicated to developing commercial partners focused on the communications infrastructure needed for a vibrant space economy, including NASA’s science and exploration requirements. This is especially critical as our government-owned and operated TDRS system approaches the end of its service life.His office has funded Space Act Agreements with six commercial space partners – Inmarsat, Amazon Project Kuiper, SES Satellites, SpaceX, Telesat, Viasat – and one unfunded space act agreement (Kepler).As Kevin has stated elsewhere, “We are contributing to a competitive space communications ecosystem that will drive innovation and success for decades to come for the Earth, Moon, Mars and beyond!”

We look forward to welcoming your attendance and participation in what promises to be a dynamic discussion regarding how our space community can most effectively support Kevin and his team’s pivot to market-driven innovation.

Keynote

kevin Coggins, Deputy Associate Administrator and Program Manager, Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN), NASA

Kevin Coggins is the Deputy Associate Administrator for the NASA SCaN program. He is responsible for the development, acquisition, and management of reliable and cost-effective communications and navigation services to meet NASA and other Government Agency requirements for human and robotic space exploration programs in Earth, Lunar, Mars, and Deep Space.

Kevin has served in senior executive roles in industry and the government, including as the Army’s first director of the Assured PNT Cross-Function Team and Direct Reporting Program Manager for PNT. Kevin’s industry experience ranges from senior executive roles at Booz Allen Hamilton, engineering roles across the aerospace and defense industry, and founder of a technology startup.

Kevin is a native of Pensacola, Florida, and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps where he served as a Force Reconnaissance Team Leader. He has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida, is a Senior Member of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers and a Strategic Advisor to the Space ISAC, and has studied at the Naval Postgraduate School, Defense Acquisition University, and Darden School of Business.

Moderated By

Caitlin O’Neill, Assistant Program Manager for Mission and Stakeholder Engagement, Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN), NASA Headquarters

Caitlin O’Neill currently serves as NASA SCaN’s (Space Communication and Navigation) Assistant Program Manager for Mission and Stakeholder Engagement. In this role, she is responsible for stakeholder engagement inside and outside NASA in support of mission commitment and execution. As the Assistant Program Manager, she is also responsible for SCaN’s internal and external communications strategies, leading a team of communication professionals to successfully drive SCaN’s mission forward.

Prior to working with NASA, she served as a strategic communications lead for Booz Allen Hamilton, where she provided strategic communication planning and implementation expertise in support of Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security contracts. Most notably, she established the public affairs office for the Assured Positioning Navigation and Timing Cross-Functional Team under U.S. Army Futures Command.

Ms. O’Neill is from the Northern Virginia area. She received her master’s in public administration from George Mason University in 2011 and her bachelor’s in criminal justice from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2007. She currently holds certifications in change management and Project Management.

Registration closes on Thursday, August 21st at 12:00pm/noon ET.

Registration Rates

Individual Seat$85Half Table (4 Seats)$320Full Table (8 Seats)$640

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Thank You to Our Event Partner!

TICKET POLICY

Tickets are refundable up to 10 business days prior to the event date and are transferable at any time. Please contact info@wsbr.org with any changes to your registration.

China, Space, and Geopolitics: A WSBR Luncheon Featuring Christian Davenport, Dean Cheng, and Chris Williams
2025-10-22 11:30 - 13:30 | Sheppard Mullin, 2099 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20006, United States
Join WSBR on October 22 for a Luncheon Discussing China and Space Geopolitics

Washington Space Business Roundtable (WSBR) invites you to join us Wednesday, October 22 for a 2-part program featuring:

Christian Davenport, Washington Post reporter and author of Rocket Dreams

Dean Cheng, Senior Fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies

Chris Williams, Chair of the Moorman Center for Space Studies, National Security Space Association

Moderated by Kelli Kedis Ogborn, Vice President – Global Space Programs, Space Foundation

The program will begin with remarks from Christian Davenport discussing his new book, Rocket Dreams: Musk, Bezos, and the Inside Story of the New, Trillion-Dollar Space Race. He will discuss, amongst other topics, the competition between Blue Origin and SpaceX, as well as the emerging threat in space posed by China.

The program will then transition over to a discussion among Davenport, Cheng, and Williams regarding China and space geopolitics, followed by a designated short Q&A period.

We look forward to welcoming your attendance and participation in what promises to be a dynamic discussion.

Featured Speaker

Christian Davenport, Reporter, the Washington Post

Christian Davenport covers NASA and the space industry for The Washington Post’s Financial desk, and is the author of 2 books, Rocket Dreams: Musk, Bezos, and the Inside Story of the New, Trillion-Dollar Space Race and The Space Barons: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos. Outside of his reporting and writing, Christian was a consulting producer of Space: The Private Frontier, a two-hour documentary that aired on the Discovery and Science Channels, and a producer and co-host of Space Launch Live, the networks’ Emmy-award-winning live broadcast of SpaceX’s first crewed mission. He has also served as a Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and a fellow at the Alicia Patterson Foundation.

Panelists

Dean Cheng, Senior Fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies

Dean Cheng currently serves as Senior Fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, specializing in the US relationship with China. Prior to being with the Potomac institute, he recently retired as Senior Research Fellow for Chinese Political and Military Affairs at the Heritage Foundation. Previously, he worked with the China Studies Division (previously, Project Asia) at the Center for Naval Analysis, the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and the US Congress’ Office of Technology Assessment in the International Security and Space Division. His published work includes the volume Cyber Dragon: Inside China’s Information Warfare and Cyber Operations. He has testified before Congress and spoken at the National Space Symposium and various elite educational institutions. He has appeared frequently in print and broadcast media to discuss Chinese space and military activities.

Chris Williams, Vice President and Chair of the NSSA Moorman Center for Space Studies, National Security Space Association

Chris Williams serves as Vice President and Chair of the NSSA Moorman Center for Space Studies, providing expert analysis and insight to NSSA. Mr. Williams has held senior positions in the Executive and Legislative branches of government, including as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense and acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Mr. Williams also served on various Government boards that advised the Secretary of Defense on national security policy and military strategy matters, and a series of Leadership and Committee professional staff positions in the United States Senate and House of Representatives.

Moderated By

Kelli Kedis Ogborn, Vice President – Global Space Programs, Space Foundation

Kelli Kedis Ogborn’s leadership has played a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of companies entering the space market. With extensive experience in R&D and cutting-edge technology applications for the U.S. government and private sector, her methodologies guide organizations and companies that are transitioning from development ecosystems to market capitalization.

At Space Foundation, Kedis Ogborn is Vice President of Global Space Programs and is responsible for developing and delivering high impact programming that advances national security space, drives civil space engagement, accelerates commercial innovation, and fosters international collaboration across the global space ecosystem. In her previous role of Vice President of Space Commerce and Entrepreneurship, she led Space Commerce Institute, an initiative aimed to empower countries and companies to carve out their market niche and scale in the rapidly expanding space economy.

Prior to joining Space Foundation, Kedis Ogborn was President and Chief Operating Officer of Advanced Rockets Corporation (an aerospace company specializing in hypersonic flight), President and Chief Executive Officer of H.S. Dracones (a consulting company specializing in technology commercialization) and was contracted as the Congressional Liaison to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). In the DARPA liaison role, she provided advice to senior leadership and technical offices on Congressional engagement strategies to maintain the agency’s position and reputation as a premier science and technology organization.

Kedis Ogborn is an often-published author and speaker on the market applications of innovation and has worked extensively as an authoritative voice within the emerging space economy – qualifying and quantifying the economic drivers and technology trends driving the industry forward and shaping its investment potential and growth. She is also a frequent panel reviewer and technology assessor for commercialization merit of government R&D proposals and mentor for entrepreneurs.

She holds an International Security and Conflict Resolution Bachelor’s Degree from San Diego State University, a Political Science Bachelor’s Degree from Stockholm University, and a Master’s Degree in Government and Security Studies from The Johns Hopkins University.

registration closes on Monday, October 20th at 12:00pm/Noon ET.

Registration Rates

Individual Seat$85.00Half Table (4 Seats)$320.00Full Table (8 Seats)$640.00

Thank You to Our Event Partner!

TICKET POLICY

Tickets are refundable up to 10 business days prior to the event date and are transferable at any time. Please contact info@wsbr.org with any changes to your registration.

WSBR December Luncheon Featuring Taylor Jordan, Director of the Office of Space Commerce (OSC)
2025-12-16 11:30 - 13:30 | Hogan Lovells LLP, 555 13th St., NW, Washington, DC, 20004
The Washington Space Business Roundtable (WSBR) invites you to a special fireside conversation with Taylor Jordan, Director of the Office of Space Commerce, discussing his recent appointment to the position and his thoughts regarding the near-term and long-term future of space commerce.

In his new position, Mr. Jordan will lead the office’s mission to oversee and promote economic activity in space, using economic efforts to help further the country’s prominence in the global space sector.

In a recent press release, Mr. Jordan stated “I am deeply honored to lead the nation’s principal office dedicated to promoting commercial space activity,” said Jordan. “Strengthening America’s leadership in space is a top priority of this Administration, and I look forward to working with industry and government partners to advance U.S. commercial interests in the space domain.”

Originally formed in 1988, the Office of Space Commerce has achieved a wide variety of accomplishments in recent years, including streamlining numerous space regulations, establishing a modern space traffic safety system (TraCSS), and encouraging international space business partnerships and trade.

We look forward to welcoming your attendance and participation in what promises to be a dynamic discussion regarding the Office of Space Commerce’s plans under Mr. Jordan, as well as how our space community can most effectively support and ultimately benefit from the office’s mission of furthering economic efforts in space.

Keynote

Taylor Jordan, Director of the Office of Space Commerce

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has announced the appointment of Taylor Jordan as Director of the Office of Space Commerce (OSC), underscoring the Trump Administration’s commitment to strengthening U.S. leadership in space commerce. Mr. Jordan will continue to serve concurrently as assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Mr. Jordan brings more than 15 years of space policy and operational experience to the role. He previously served nearly a decade on the staff of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology as the committee’s subject-matter expert on NOAA, environmental satellites, and civil space programs. In that capacity, he was the lead author of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.

During President Trump’s first term, Mr. Jordan served as a senior policy advisor at NOAA, where he supported the agency’s satellite programs and provided strategic oversight of major space-system acquisitions. Most recently, he was a principal at Innovative Federal Strategies, advising commercial space and technology companies on legislative and executive-branch engagement.

Moderator

Kevin O’Connell, Founder and CEO of Space Economy Rising, LLC

Kevin O’Connell is a recognized expert on space commerce, the global space economy, international intelligence and U.S. national security matters. For almost four decades, he has focused on space commercialization and technological competitiveness and how to advance them in global markets. He has also focused on how these innovations impact U.S. and allied national security.

His U.S. government assignments include the Department of Commerce (SES), The Department of Defense, The Department of State, The National Security Council, The Office of the Vice President, and The Office of the Director of Central Intelligence. Within the private sector, Mr. O’Connell was a senior research analyst at RAND and was the first Director of RAND’s Intelligence Policy Center. In 2007, he founded Innovative Analytics and Training, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in assessing high-tech market areas including geospatial markets, cloud computing, and cyber analytics.

Mr. O’Connell’s most recent role was Director of the Office of Space Commerce (OSC) within the U.S. Department of Commerce. He was the principal architect of outreach to U.S. private space companies to facilitate innovation and encourage increased market growth and viability. He focused on the growing role of the private sector in space, encouraged new space partnerships, worked to ensure the competitiveness of the U.S. commercial space industry, and advanced American leadership in space safety and sustainability. Mr. O’Connell testified before Congress on space policy and regulatory issues, American space competitiveness, and the growth of space commerce. He was awarded the Vice President’s Dedicated Service Award for his support to the National Space Council.

Mr. O’Connell also expanded international outreach on space commerce issues with a wide range of U.S. allies and partners, especially to compare notes on regulation, encourage new partnerships and advance space safety and sustainability. His overseas space engagements included participation in the U.S.-Japan Comprehensive Space Dialogue, as part of a Space Delegation to Luxembourg, and including high-level discussions with the EU, India, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Commonwealth partners.

Mr. O’Connell is a recognized expert on the policy, security, and commercial aspects of satellite remote sensing technologies and markets. He served as the Executive Secretary of the Independent Commission on the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) in 2000 and later as an advisor to the Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. He was a long-standing member of NOAA’s federal advisory committee, ACCRES, including as Chair between 2012 and 2016.

Mr. O’Connell has been a regular author on space commerce issues. He contributed the foreword to “Space Policies for the New Space Age: Competing on the Final Economic Frontier,” by Bruce Cahan and Mir Sadat (NewSpace New Mexico, December 2020). He co-authored Commercial Observation Satellites: at the Leading Edge of Global Transparency (ASPRS/RAND, 2000). He taught graduate courses in Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and the RAND Graduate School for many years and has lectured at academic and research organizations around the world.

Registration Closes On Friday, December 12th at 12:00pm/Noon ET.

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