2025 Arizona Space Summit

Location
Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU
Sun Devil Ballroom Lawn, 1st floor
7 E University Dr
Tempe, AZ 85281
Google map

Welcome
• Jessica Rousset, Executive Director, Interplanetary Initiative, Arizona State University
• Dr. S. Pete Worden, Chairman, Breakthrough Prize Foundation

Special Remarks
• Sally Morton, Executive Vice President, Knowledge Enterprise, Arizona State University

Members of the newly established Arizona Space Commission will share insights on their mandate and goals in supporting the space sector, and in particular the commercial space sector statewide. This session will further highlight how the Arizona Space Summit helps shape Arizona's roadmap for growth and informs its strategy as an emerging hub for commercial space activities.

Moderator
• Brett Mecum, President & Founder, Cadmus Public Affairs

Panelists
• Lisa Morris, Vice President, Supply Chain at Virgin Galactic
• Mick McGuire, Adjutant General, Arizona National Guard
• Shruti Gurudanti, Partner & Director, Aerospace & Corporate Transactions, Rose Law Group

With the growing semiconductor capabilities and infrastructure in AZ, space companies stand to benefit from a growing highly skilled workforce, a reliable supply chain and an opportunity to drive innovation for its needs in areas like radiation-hardened components, high-reliability devices, power systems, comms, sensing, and MEMS. This session will explore how these two high growth industries in Arizona can work together to accelerate their impact.

Moderator
• Jan Janick, SVP and CTO, Benchmark Electronics

Panelists
• Christine Boles, VP Client Computing Group | GM Federal & Industrial Solutions,
Intel Corporation
• Grant Anderson, President & CEO, Paragon Space Development Corporation
• Michael Rosas, VP Business Development, Arizona Commerce Authority
• Hugh Barnaby, Professor, Arizona State University

Arizona offers innovative companies the ability to test cutting-edge space technologies with a diverse array of unique facilities across the state as well as its hot, dry climate and vast open spaces. This session will highlight the range of testing grounds and infrastructure available to support the growth of commercial companies and those companies that are capitalizing on these assets. 

Moderator
• Devin Patterson, Operations Executive & Spacebird

Panelists
• Christopher Janette, President & CEO, Blackstar Orbital
• Jay Stevenson, Lead Industrial Engineer, Northrop Grumman
• Jerry Cabrera, CEO, Elevate Southwest

With institutions like the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University driving advancements, Arizona is a leader in space science and technology research in areas such as space exploration, satellite development, and hypersonics. This session will not only explore some of the cutting edge research happening in Arizona but also how companies are able to tap into these innovation engines.

Moderator
• Erika Hamden, Professor, University of Arizona

Panelists
• John Otto, Senior Director, Raytheon
• Kyle Hanquist, Assistant Professor, University of Arizona
• Lisa Napolitano, Vice President/General Manager Space, Honeywell International
• Zachary Holman, Vice Dean for Research and Innovation, Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University

Omni Tempe Hotel
Sun Devil Ballroom Lawn, 1st floor

Speaker:
• Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego

From Hollywood to Mars: How Arts, Media, and Space Technology Shape our Future

Speakers
• David Anderman, Stellar Ventures Co-Founder & General Partner, Red Rock Media Group Founder & Co-CEO
• Dr. S. Pete Worden, Chairman, Breakthrough Prize Foundation

This panel will discuss innovative capital-raising strategies for Arizona's expanding commercial space sector. Experts will explore how to tap into the state's established investor base in real estate, mining, and advanced manufacturing to support space startups. The discussion will cover creative financing models, public-private partnerships, and cross-sector collaborations aimed at unlocking new capital sources for the state's space economy. 

Moderator
• Mason Cave, AZ1 Ventures

Panelists
• Kelli Kedis Ogborn, Vice President, Space Commerce and Entrepreneurship, Space Foundation
• Meagan Crawford,Founder, Managing Partner, SpaceFund
• Micah Walter-Range, President, Caelus Partners

This panel will explore the groundbreaking work and unique challenges in designing habitats and structures for space, highlighting relevant programs and infrastructure in Arizona. Topics will include the development of commercial space stations, lunar base design, advanced space suits, and life-support systems for long-duration interplanetary missions.

Moderators
• Elena Rocchi, Head of Space Architecture & Extreme Environments, ASU The Design School
• Gui Trotti, Professor of Practice, Arizona State University

Panelists
• Christian Maender, Senior Executive, Barrios Technology
• Dava Newman, Director, MIT Media Lab
• Kai Staats, Research Director, Space Analog for the Moon & Mars at Biosphere 2

Arizona is a key player in missions aimed at returning space resources, including Psyche, Mars Sample Return, and OSIRIS-REx. Companies like KinetX Aerospace provide essential support, having successfully navigated spacecraft on complex planetary missions. These efforts not only enhance our scientific understanding but also open avenues for future resource utilization in space. Investors are increasingly betting on the monetization of these resources, recognizing the potential of extracting valuable materials from asteroids and other celestial bodies. This session will explore what we are learning from these missions and how they might attract more companies and investments in this emerging sector.

Moderator
• Zaheer Ali, Professor of Practice, Thunderbird School of Global Management

Panelists
• Anjani Polit, OSIRIS-APEX Deputy Principal Investigator, University of Arizona
• Kjell Stakkestad, Strategic Planning Business Development, KinetX Aerospace
• Matt Gialich, Co-Founder and CEO, AstroForge
• Mini Wadhwa, Director, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University

The space industry faces significant cybersecurity risks, including cyber espionage, sabotage, ransomware attacks, and data hijacking, which can jeopardize missions and national security. As private companies and international collaborations grow, these challenges intensify. This session will cover how researchers and companies are leading efforts to mitigate these threats and what more can and should be done to advance cybersecurity solutions designed for the unique challenges of space operations. 

Moderator
• Drew Trojanowski, CEO, Southwest Mission Acceleration Center (MAC)

Panelists
• Megan Fitzgerald, Senior Director, Government & Community Relations, Embry Riddle
• John Wiltberger, Lead Cybersecurity Engineer, MITRE Corp
• Justin Chandler, Vice President, Government Relations & Strategic Partnerships, ThinkOrbital Inc.
• Tiffany Bao, Assistant Professor, Arizona State University

Omni Tempe Hotel
Sun Devil Ballroom Lawn, 1st floor