Speaker and Panelist Biographies

The speaker and panelist information is in order of appearance following the Agenda. 

Dianne Poster, NIST 

Dr. Dianne 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 portfolio covers innovative developments in radiation physics and chemistry, materials engineering, and optical, dimensional, and chemical metrology. 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. Previously, as the deputy associate director for technology and environmental policy at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Dr. Poster administered the environmental federal regulatory portfolio and advised on policy and strategy issues related to protecting the environment.

Carolyn Pace, Office of Space Commerce 

Carolyn Pace is the Executive Officer in the Office of Space Commerce. She previously worked as a policy analyst in the Office of Industrial Base Policy at the Department of Defense and as a Program Analyst in the Office of Space Affairs at the Department of State. During her time at the State Department, Carolyn focused on civil and military space-related policy issues, including negotiating and finalizing international space agreements and engaging with the U.S. commercial space industry. Her responsibilities involved coordinating various perspectives on civil, commercial, and national security issues, such as export controls, nonproliferation, and arms control related to space activities. Before her work at the State Department, Carolyn was a part of the Business Development team at Astrobotic Technology Inc., a private American company dedicated to developing space robotics technology for lunar and planetary missions. Carolyn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Hollins University, with a concentration in science and technology and a minor in Film Studies.

Stephanie Hooker, NIST 

Stephanie Hooker is the Associate Director of the Material Measurement Laboratory at NIST. She's a materials engineer driven by curiosity, collaboration, and a deep belief in the power of science to solve real-world problems. From the earliest days of her career, she's been fascinated by how the right material—applied in the right way—can transform what’s possible, whether in aerospace, manufacturing, or environmental systems. That passion has taken her from hands-on research at NASA to a startup in nanotechnology, and eventually to leading major divisions at NIST. Each step has been about pushing boundaries, learning from others, and staying grounded in purpose. At NIST, she's had the opportunity to lead a wide range of programs focused on applied materials and chemistry. She's worked with incredibly talented scientists across fields—supporting research on clean water, alternative fuels, materials data, and advanced manufacturing, and managing grants on plastics recycling. Her focus is on building environments where innovation can thrive: where people are encouraged to take risks, pursue bold ideas, and collaborate across disciplines to create impact. 

Gabriel Swiney, Office of Space Commerce

Gabriel Swiney is the Director of the Office of Space Commerce’s Policy, Advocacy, and International Division. He comes to OSC from NASA, where he was a Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy. While at NASA, he worked on norms of behavior, legal policy, and the interagency authorization and supervision effort. Prior to NASA, Mr. Swiney was an Attorney Adviser in the State Department’s legal bureau. He led the international space law portfolio at State and the U.S. delegation to the COPUOS Legal Subcommittee. Mr. Swiney was one of the creators of the Artemis Accords and has participated in the negotiation of dozens of space cooperation arrangements. Before focusing on space issues, Mr. Swiney worked on the use of force, sanctions, and Africa legal issues at State. He holds law degrees from Harvard and Oxford, has taught space policy and law at Harvard Law School, and has published on a range of issues.

Aaron Ratner, kingston capital 

Aaron Ratner is an investment professional at Kingston Capital. Previously he was a Managing Director at Ultra Capital, a sustainable infrastructure project finance fund manager based in Philadelphia, where he worked at the forefront of the circular economy in agriculture, waste, water and renewable energy projects across the U.S. and Canada, including agriculture waste upcycling, livestock manure conversion to renewable natural gas, wastewater and advanced recycling. At Ultra, he was responsible for project origination and held seats on the Investment Committee and the Board of Directors. Aaron has over 20 years of international investment and advisory experience, including 10 years in Asia, focusing on technology, energy, agriculture and waste. Aaron was a Developer in Residence at Generate Capital, where he invested in waste-to-energy and waste-to-value projects. From 2012 to 2014 he was the President of i2 Capital, an impact investment merchant bank with a focus on landscape-scale conservation finance. While at i2, he worked on the Sweetwater River Conservancy in Wyoming, the largest mitigation bank in the U.S. with ~1.3M acres under conservation management. In 2010, Aaron founded Emerging Energy International, a Hong Kong-based developer of mobile electrical power projects in frontier markets. Aaron attended the Stanford University Graduate School of Business (MsM) and completed his undergraduate education at the University of Pennsylvania and Jochi University, Tokyo.

Kyle Cybul, Clean Orbit Foundation

Kyle Cybul is the co-founder of the Clean Orbit Foundation, a research and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing sustainable space operations through the development of a circular economy. Through a combination of education, advocacy, and international collaboration, the foundation aims to mitigate the environmental impact of space activities and promote responsible stewardship of outer space. With a diverse background spanning financial technology, space, and military & defense, Kyle brings expertise in program management, business operations, and business development to drive the foundation’s initiatives forward.

Jacob Keaton, International Space Station Division

Jacob Keaton is a Senior Policy Advisor in the International Space Station Division in the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. He conducts strategic planning and provides policy analysis for the International Space Station Program, including in areas such as ISS transition, low-Earth orbit commercialization and use policies, science mission development, and commercial resupply, including coordination and execution with the Executive and Legislative branches.

Jon Beam, Rogue Space Systems

Jon Beam is CEO and Co-Founder of Rogue Space Systems.  Originally trained as a research scientist in Cognitive Systems & Behavioral Neuroscience, Jon spent a quarter of a decade progressing through various IT and business leadership roles in several industries.  An expert in driving collaborative innovation, Jon has become a leader in In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) and as an architect building the circular economy in space.

Steve Putna, Chips in Space Consortium / TAMUS

Dr. E. Steve Putna was selected as the inaugural director of the Texas A&M Semiconductor Institute on July 1, 2024. With over 25 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, Dr. Putna brings extensive expertise in manufacturing and supply chain management, primarily from his tenure at Intel Corporation. Dr. Putna's career encompasses a wide range of technical and financial responsibilities, including leadership of large teams and driving innovative research projects from concept to implementation. Prior to this appointment, he also gained experience at Semiconductor Research Corporation. In his new role, Dr. Putna aims to leverage his industry experience to foster public-private partnerships and consortia alliances, driving the Institute to a position of global prominence while strengthening the domestic semiconductor ecosystem. Dr. Putna holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Brian Lagana, CONFERS

Brian Lagana has been Executive Director of the Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations (CONFERS) since April 1, 2023.  CONFERS is the independent not-for-profit global trade association developing recommendations for industry-led voluntary consensus standards and guiding international policies for satellite servicing that contribute to a sustainable, safe, and diverse space economy. Brian brings over 35 years’ experience in the non-profit/association management and government affairs fields in positions ranging from legislative assistant to director of government affairs to executive director/vice president in single and multi-association environments. Brian has held the position of Association Executive Director for over 24 years. Experiential highlights include running the government affairs/lobbying efforts of trade and professional associations at the federal, state and local levels; managing the fiscal affairs of associations; engaging in international outreach; organizing association events, meetings and conferences; and developing additional streams of non-dues revenue through strategic partnerships with industry providers. Brian is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics.

Erin Miller, Space ISAC

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 war fighters and national security. Erin is the Executive Director of the Space ISAC and leads this public-private partnership with fervor to secure the global space community. 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 global Watch Center (in Colorado Springs, CO) to track the adversary from ground to space. Under Erin's leadership, Space ISAC's headquarters facility serves several countries to achieve the mission of security and resilience for the global space industry. As a serial entrepreneur in the non-profit space, she thrives in launching new programs and new organizations from standing it up through building operations for new organizations. 

Anna Brady-Estevez, American DeepTech 

Dr. Anna Brady-Estevez is the Founding Partner of American DeepTech, a deep technology investment firm. She also serves as a co-host of the NASA  Ecosystemic Futures podcast which regularly covers advanced technologies, including in-depth coverage of UAP. Dr. Brady-Estevez previously served as the Senior Investment Advisor and Partner (Venture) for the Small Business Administration's SBIC program (a program investing over $5B annually in venture and private equity). She also served as a Program Director at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), where she led the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) portfolio focused on Space Tech, Energy, Chemical, Environmental, and Distributed Ledger (Blockchain, DAGs) technologies. During her tenure, Anna invested and managed over $250M in grants to early-stage, high-impact startups. Deep technology companies that Anna has previously recommended and/or managed for funding, investment & grants have achieved over $8.5B in follow-on financing and $17B+ in total company valuation.  Such companies include: Ascend Elements, Epirus, Design Therapeutics, Stoke Space Technologies, Fluence, Syzygy Plasmonics, Baseload Renewables (pre-Form Energy), Swarm, Air Company, Meati, Provivi, Nth Cycle, Iontra,  Xona, Interlune, Kaleido, Loci, Li Industries, Urban Sky, Astroforge, Avalanche Energy, Ambercycle, Molten Industries, Noon Energy and others. While at NSF Anna also recommended funding for a number of companies who have shared their publicly visible work on UAP related and adjacent technologies. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from Yale University, where she was an NSF Graduate Research Fellow and President of the Student Government representing the 14 graduate and professional schools, and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Spanish from the Johns Hopkins University where she was a varsity athlete, captain and record holder.

Troy Morris, KMI 

Troy Morris is the Co-Founder & CEO of KMI. Incorporating professional and practiced experience, Troy’s roles of organizational leadership, development, and training were refined in volunteer and paid organizations. His experiences include working with medical first responders, academic institutions, and industry leaders of professional tools and equipment. Combining innovation, improvements, and exceptional client experience with data-driven evidence and experimentation, Troy works to guide various aspects of operations within KMI.

Mari Anne Snow, Eascra Biotech 

Mari Anne Snow is the CEO and co-founder of Eascra Biotech, an innovative nanomedicine startup based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Under her leadership, Eascra is pioneering precision therapeutic delivery solutions for challenging tissues, including articular cartilage, kidneys, and ECM-rich solid tumors. Their proprietary Janus base nanoparticles (JBNps) are DNA-inspired synthetic molecules that encapsulate therapeutic agents, maintaining room temperature stability and extended bioactivity. In collaboration with NASA, the ISS National Lab, Axiom Space, and other commercial space companies, Mari Anne and her team are leveraging low Earth orbit to accelerate the development of advanced therapeutics. The Eascra team successfully completed five missions in microgravity in 24 months. Before founding Eascra, Mari Anne established the Remote Nation Institute, focusing on optimizing productivity in remote and dispersed organizations. Mari Anne is the author of "The Remote Work Handbook," a comprehensive guide to building effective remote team operating models. With extensive expertise in business strategy, entrepreneurship, change management, organizational development, and remote team leadership, she is a recognized authority in her field. 

Kevin Engelbert, NASA 

As InSPA Portfolio Manager within the International Space Station (ISS) Research Integration Office, Mr. Engelbert is responsible for development and implementation of the Agency strategy to enable sustainable and scalable commercial manufacturing in space for Earth.  Through InSPA awards, NASA funds U.S. businesses and institutions seeking to develop and demonstrate the production of advanced materials and products, including semiconductors and biotechnology applications, on the International Space Station (ISS) that serve existing markets on Earth.  Mr. Engelbert was instrumental in the development and release of NASA’s 2019 Strategy for Development of a Commercial low-Earth orbit (LEO) Economy and co-chaired a federal interagency working group focused on enabling the LEO Space Economy. Mr. Engelbert earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1989 and a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Houston at Clear Lake in 2000.   

Andrew Parlock, Space Phoenix Systems

Andrew J. Parlock is the Founder and CEO of Space Phoenix Systems, where he leads efforts to transform space logistics by enabling roundtrip spacecraft capabilities for commercial and government customers. With over 25 years of experience in the global space sector, Andrew has held leadership roles across advanced manufacturing, Earth observation, and national security domains. His career includes spearheading U.S. operations for Space Forge and ICEYE, where he advanced in-space manufacturing and strategic defense partnerships. At Northrop Grumman, he helped drive innovation in space resiliency and emerging technologies. A graduate in Aerospace Engineering from West Virginia University with an MBA from Michigan State, Andrew brings deep technical expertise and business leadership to the evolving commercial space landscape.

Andrew Iams, NIST

Andrew Iams is a materials research engineer in the Materials Science and Engineering Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). His research is on circular economy initiatives within the primary metal manufacturing sector, with some focus on applications for in-space manufacturing. Andrew is a member of the U.S. Low Earth Orbit Research and Development Interagency Working Group. He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and previously served as a senior engineer at the Westinghouse Materials Center of Excellence.

Gary B. Rodrigue, Allbright Consulting

Gary is a transformation leader with 25+ years of success driving record growth in sales, market share, and partnerships worldwide. He prides himself on his ability to build consensus around innovative concepts, deliver strategic programs, and craft global marketing strategies. As a senior executive at IBM, managing an organization with an annual sales target of $1.3 B, he was a trusted business advisor for all his clients, some of whom included Qualcomm, Broadcom, Juniper Network, Nvidia, etc. He excels in establishing and cultivating win-win relationships with C-level executives and forming strong, strategic alliances. He served as the Director of Programs and Partnerships for International Space Station National Laboratory, promoting collaboration among diverse professionals across a variety of industries and non-NASA U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and private sector corporations, to advance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and research. He is now the President of Allbright Consulting, focused on the commercialization of in-space manufacturing for terrestrial benefit. Commercialization of low Earth orbit has the potential to be a disruptive technology platform providing huge benefits for mankind.

Rose M. Hernandez, JavaroTech

Dr. Rose Hernandez is the Chief R&D Strategist at JavaroTech, providing strategic leadership in advanced materials technologies, R&D strategy, shaping technology roadmaps, and fostering cross-industry alliances to accelerate innovation and commercialization. She also leads initiatives to advance manufacturing capabilities in microgravity, accelerating next-generation materials production for Earth and future space exploration. Previously, Rose served as Science Program Director for In-Space Production Applications at the International Space Station National Laboratory, championing R&D programs for a diverse portfolio of advanced materials technologies manufactured in space for national benefit. Rose began her career as a research scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 1997. She worked in a variety of laboratory divisions and projects including analytical chemistry, biotechnology and surface and microanalysis science. In 2005, Rose pivoted to the private R&D sector; developing and advancing the commercialization of new technologies and products for chemical, OTC-pharmaceutical, and consumer industries. Rose has bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics from the University of Puerto Rico and a Ph.D. in materials sciences & engineering from Penn State University. Rose credits her growth and career to STEM initiatives and its supporters and will forever be an advocate for STEM. She is a proponent for equity and inclusion, particularly the empowerment of women to elevate who they are in the workplace.  

Partha S. Dutta, United Semiconductors 

Dr. Partha D. Dutta is the Chief Technologist at United Semiconductors in Los Alamitos, California and a Professor Emeritus in the Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering Department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. Prior to his current position, he served as a professor in the ECSE Department at RPI from 2000 to 2022 and as the Deputy Director of NSF funded Smart Lighting Engineering Research Center from 2010 to 2015. He has over 3 decades of experience in crystal growth and semiconductor technologies. Currently he is leading a NASA funded microgravity crystal growth and In-Space manufacturing project. He received his Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Physics from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and an Honorary D.Sc. (Honoris Causa) from the RKDF University, Bhopal, India for his innovative contribution in the field of engineering, science and technology with societal impacts. In 2023, he received the American Association for Crystal Growth Award for Outstanding Contributions to Crystal Growth. His research interests are in the areas of crystal growth, semiconductors and nanotechnology. He has co-authored over 150 research papers, 5 book chapters and inventor of 21 issued US Patents. Dr. Dutta is a serial entrepreneur with over 2 decades experience in laboratory to market ventures. He has engaged in a wide gamut of TRL-1 through TRL-9 technology and product development activities with applications in the oil and gas, aerospace, defense, lighting and display, and healthcare industries. He is the Co-founder of Auterra Inc., a petrochemical company with the core technology of refining crude feedstock using nanoscale materials. Served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the company between 2003-2007. He received the 40 under forty entrepreneurship award in 2004. He is an IEEE Senior Member. 

John T. Roth, University of New Hampshire

John Roth is the Director of the John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center and a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of New Hampshire.  As Director, John leads the Olson Center’s yearly engagement with hundreds of manufacturers, organizations, agencies, and academic institutions. During his career, John has led design and fabrication teams for numerous satellite components and other space-based assets, and he is the co-PI on a National Institute of Standards and Technology-funded Manufacturing USA Technology Roadmap (MfgTech) Grant on In-space Manufacturing, and a leader on a National Science Foundation-funded Future Manufacturing Grant on Sustainable In-space Manufacturing. John received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University in 1998 and has previously served as the Assistant Director for Research Partnerships at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office (AMNPO) and the Associate Director of Research and Technology Transfer at Penn State University.  With over 200 technical publications, and approximately 50 national and international technical patent disclosures, John’s industrially-based research and development experience spans manufacturing, materials, sensors, signal processing, prognostics/diagnostics, machine and sensor design, dynamic systems, cryogenics, and biomechanics.

George Pullen, MilkyWayEconomy

George Pullen is a leading economist and a key voice on the future of American innovation in deep technology and the space economy. He is a hands-on strategic advisor and teacher who translates complex financial and technological shifts into clear, actionable insights for leaders and the public. As the Chief Economist of MilkyWayEconomy, a D.C.-based think tank and consultancy, George draws on his extensive experience from banking, investing, and senior government roles. He is the author or contributor to eight books and numerous papers, offering incisive analysis on everything from finance and alternative markets to the future of the space industrial complex. A highly sought-after conference speaker and podcast guest, George's influence extends beyond his books and classrooms. He serves as a board member and advisor to several deeptech and space companies, actively helping to build the industries he writes about. He has served as an economics facilitator for many Space Force groups and collaborations on space industrialization, including through a CRADA with SpaceWERX, cementing his role at the intersection of business, government, and technology.

Greg Richardson, The Aerospace Corporation

Gregory G. Richardson is a senior project leader in the Human Exploration and Spaceflight Division at The Aerospace Corporation. He has experience in space systems design, systems engineering, and mission execution for innovative space systems. He is currently leading several Aerospace efforts in evolvable structure and ecosystems in space (ESES); in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM); space access, mobility, and logistics (SAML); and rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO). He provides support to multiple government customers on in-space servicing, RPO, cluster flight, spacecraft autonomy, and design of advanced mission concepts. As a senior project leader, Richardson also leads the COnsortium for Space Mobility and ISAM Capabilities (COSMIC) as the executive director of the consortium and primary interface to NASA. Prior to joining Aerospace, Richardson was a flight control engineer for Boeing Phantom Works. Richardson has authored numerous works in the fields of small satellite trends, on-orbit servicing, value-centric analysis, and small satellite cost modeling.