Alicia Brown, Executive Director, Commercial Space Federation 

Alicia Brown is a veteran space policy and legislative affairs professional. In her most recent role, she led NASA’s legislative affairs team and served as a senior advisor to former NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and agency leaders on space policy and legislation, Congress, industry relations, and budget/appropriations matters. From 2015-2021, she served as a professional staff member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, advising members of the Senate on policy related to U.S. civil space programs, commercial space, science policy, and U.S. competitiveness. As a Congressional staffer, she helped to author space legislation including the NASA Transition Act of 2017 and the NASA Authorization Act of 2022. Brown has also served as the government relations manager for Harris Corporation. While operating as a legislative aide to former Senator Bill Nelson, she advised on policy for space programs, the defense budget, and national security. Brown earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in international affairs and economics, and her Master of Arts degree in international relations from Florida State University. 

Allen Cutler is the President and CEO of the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration (Coalition), a national organization of more than 50 space industry businesses and stakeholders. He brings over twenty-five years of Capitol Hill and space policy experience to his role at the Coalition. His most recent role prior to starting at the Coalition was as Professional Staff for the United States Senate, Committee on Appropriations (2003-2023). During his twenty years on the Committee, he successfully wrote and negotiated annual spending legislation for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the National Space Council, and the Bureau of the Census and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration within the Department of Commerce. His efforts directed over $500 billion in spending for these agencies during the course of his time on the Committee. Cutler previously served (1997-2002) as a Budget Analyst for the Committee on the Budget for the United States Senate, covering NASA, NSF, and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. Prior to the Committee on the Budget, he served as a special assistant for budget and appropriations for Senator Craig of Idaho. He has been published in the journal Policy Perspectives and was also awarded the Excellence in Public Service Award by the Population Association of America in 2016. His education includes both a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Statistics from Brigham Young University and a Master of Public Administration from the George Washington University. 

Annabelle Dullin, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Luxembourg to the U.S.   

Annabelle Dullin is the Deputy Chief of mission and Head of the Economic Section at the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Washington. From 2021 to 2025, Dullin held the post of Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, focusing on nuclear and non-proliferation issues, and representing Luxembourg at the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). Prior to that, she served at Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, as a BeNeLux coordinator and managing international trade agreements and technical assistance projects. Earlier in her career, Ms. Dullin worked as an Economist at the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and at PricewaterhouseCoopers, as well as in the Plenary Services of the European Parliament’s General Secretariat. Her academic foundation includes a Master’s degree in European Politics from the Institut d’Études Politiques de Strasbourg, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economy and Applied Modern Languages, earned through a tri-national program across France, the UK, and Germany. Dullin is fluent in Luxembourgish, German, French, English, and has conversational Spanish. 

Mike Gold, President, Civil and International Space, Redwire

Mike Gold is the President of Redwire’s Civil and International Space Business Unit. In this role, Gold leads Redwire’s global efforts including the company’s work and facilities in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Poland. Gold also leads Redwire’s civil space activities with NASA, ESA, and space agencies throughout the world. Prior to joining Redwire, Gold was NASA’s Associate Administrator for Space Policy and Partnerships, Acting Associate Administrator for the Office of International and Interagency Relations, and Senior Advisor to the Administrator for International and Legal Affairs. At NASA, Gold led the development and implementation of the Artemis Accords, which established norms of behavior to ensure a peaceful and prosperous future in space for all of humanity. Gold also successfully led the negotiations to develop and execute the binding agreements for the lunar Gateway, the development and implementation of the first lunar resource purchase by NASA, and reforming planetary protection regulations. Due to this trailblazing policy work, Gold was awarded NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal in 2021, the International Astronautical Federation’s prestigious Excellence in International Cooperation Award in 2024, and an Aviation Week Laureate Award in 2025. Before joining NASA, Gold was Vice President of Civil Space at Maxar Technologies and General Counsel for the company’s legacy Radiant Solutions business unit. Additionally, Gold spent thirteen years at Bigelow Aerospace, where he established the company’s Washington office, oversaw the launches of the Genesis 1 and 2 spacecraft, and was a recipient of a NASA Group Achievement award for the development and deployment of the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module onto the International Space Station. Gold received a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School where he founded and led the Journal of Constitutional Law. 

Yosuke Kaneko, First Secretary & Space Attaché , Embassy of Japan

Yosuke Kaneko serves as First Secretary and Space Attaché at the Embassy of Japan in the United States, advancing U.S.-Japan cooperation in space. He has over 20 years of experience at JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), including at Headquarters, contributing to human spaceflight programs such as the International Space Station, Artemis, and deep space science missions, in collaboration with industry, academia, government, and international partners. In addition to his diplomatic role, Kaneko serves as President of the Interplanetary Networking Special Interest Group (IPNSIG), a U.S. 501©(3) non-profit organization, leading global discussions on the development of the Interplanetary Internet—a common, open, and shared network essential for humanity’s sustainable activities in space. He is also the founder of the Dynamic Coalition on the Interplanetary Internet under the UN Internet Governance Forum, advocating for inclusive governance and international cooperation in space communications. 

Kathleen Karika, Senior Advisor for the Office of International and Interagency Relations, Office of the Administrator, NASA

Kathleen Karika is a non-career member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) and the Senior Advisor for the Office of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR) under the Office of the Administrator at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Karika joined NASA in 2025, after spending over a decade in the U.S. commercial space industry, where she led international business development teams and engaged across the U.S. government, and with allies and partners, on commercial, civil, and national security space missions. She most recently served as Director of Research Operations at Virgin Galactic, where she managed business development for suborbital microgravity research missions for the U.S. and international governments, academia, and industry. Prior to joining Virgin Galactic, Karika oversaw capture activities for significant international government satellite pursuits at both Maxar and Lockheed Martin. She has also held positions at Avascent, NASA Ames Research Center, and the U.S. House of Representatives Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Karika holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematical Sciences and a Master of International Affairs from Texas A&M University. She served on the Board of Directors for the American Astronautical Society from 2014-2025, where she served terms as the Vice President of International and the Vice President of Education and Young Professionals. She lives in Alexandria, VA, where she tends to a prolific vegetable and flower garden. 

Amit Kshatriya, Associate Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration  

Amit Kshatriya was named the associate administrator by acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy on Sept. 3, 2025. In this role, he serves as the highest-ranking civil servant at the agency, and as a senior advisor to Duffy. Kshatriya leads the agency’s 10 center directors, as well as the mission directorate associate administrators at NASA Headquarters in Washington. He also acts as the agency’s chief operating officer. Kshatriya previously served as the deputy associate administrator for the Moon to Mars Program in the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD) at NASA Headquarters in Washington. In that role, Kshatriya was responsible for program planning and implementation for human missions to the Moon and Mars. He directed and led the programs to ensure Artemis and Mars planning, development, and operations were consistent with ESDMD requirements, and served as the single point of focus for risk management. 

Kshatriya holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, and a Master of Arts in mathematics from The University of Texas at Austin. He was born in Brookfield, Wisconsin, but considers Katy, Texas, to be his hometown. He and his wife are the proud parents of three children, and he is also the proud son of first-generation Indian immigrants to the United States. 

Dr. Bhavya Lal, Professor of Policy Analysis, RAND School of Public Policy

Dr. Bhavya Lal is a professor of Space Policy at the RAND School of Public Policy. Most recently, she 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. She was also the first woman in NASA’s history to be named Acting Chief Technologist. In the first 100 days of the Biden Administration, she was the highest-ranking administration representative at NASA, also serving as its acting Chief of Staff. At NASA, she was instrumental in advancing the Moon-to-Mars Artemis program and spearheading initiatives in planetary defense, space sustainability, quantum science and engineering, artificial intelligence, space ethics, and space nuclear power. 

Before joining NASA, Lal directed influential technology and policy analyses on space science, commercial space, and human exploration at the Institute for Defense Analyses' Science and Technology Policy Institute. Lal holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a 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. Her accolades include the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, induction into the International Academy of Astronautics and the YWCA’s Academy of Women Achievers, and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Public Service Award. 

Dr. Scott Pace, Director, Space Policy Institute, The George Washington University 

Dr. Scott Pace is the Director of the Space Policy Institute and a Professor of the Practice of International Affairs at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. In addition, he formerly served as the Director of the International Institute of Science and Technology Policy as well as the Master of Arts program in International Science and Technology Policy. Pace is also a member of the faculty of the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. His research interests include civil, commercial, and national security space policy, and the management of technical innovation. Pace rejoined the faculty of the Elliott School in January 2021 after serving as Deputy Assistant to the President and Executive Secretary of the National Space Council from 2017-2020. From 2005-2008, he served as the Associate Administrator for Program Analysis and Evaluation at NASA. Prior to NASA, Pace was the Assistant Director for Space and Aeronautics in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). From 1993-2000, he worked for the RAND Corporation's Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI). From 1990 to 1993, Pace served as the Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Office of Space Commerce, in the Office of the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Commerce. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Harvey Mudd College in 1980; Master’s degrees in Aeronautics & Astronautics and Technology & Policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1982; and a Doctorate in Policy Analysis from the RAND Graduate School in 1989. 

Eddie Seyffert, Director of Civil Space, Blue Origin 

Eddie Seyffert is a Director of Civil Space for Blue Origin, where he helps lead the company’s civil space programs and strategy, including lunar permanence. Seyffert’s experiences at Blue Origin include managing the BE-4 liquid rocket engine test stand at the company’s Launch Site One facility in West Texas, supporting BE-3PM engine testing, and supporting New Shepard launch operations. He has also served as a webcast commentator for Blue Origin’s New Shepard and New Glenn launches. Prior to his current role, Seyffert demonstrated a commitment to integrating the aerospace industry with local communities, serving as an elected member of the Culberson County school board from 2018 to 2021. In this capacity, he was instrumental in establishing the cradle-to-career pipeline for the Van Horn Technology Early College High School. Seyffert joined Blue Origin in 2014 and holds a Master of Science in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Purdue University and a Bachelor of Science in the same from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Gabriel Swiney, Director of Policy, Advocacy, and International Division, Office of Space Commerce, NOAA, U.S. Department of 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, 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. 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, 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. 

Dr. John E. Thompson, Senior Bureau Official - Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State  

Dr. John E. Thompson is the Senior Bureau Official in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. He is a five-year member of the Senior Executive Service. Thompson previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment. In this position, he was responsible for policies and programs in the areas of environment, conservation, wildlife trafficking, water resources, and civil and commercial space. From 2017-2019, Thompson served as Director for International Environment at the White House National Security Council and National Economic Council. Thompson oversaw White House international policy development on a full range of environment and oceans issues, including wildlife trafficking, conservation crimes, air quality, whales, and fisheries. He played a leading role managing White House engagement on these issues during the 2018 and 2019 Leaders meetings for the G7 and G20. Thompson joined the Department in 2000 as an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow and spent the subsequent 18 years working in the OES environmental policy office and its front office. Thompson holds a Ph.D. in environmental engineering from Purdue University focusing on advanced technologies for drinking water disinfection. He holds master’s degrees from Purdue in aeronautical as well as environmental engineering and a bachelor’s degree in physics from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. 

Valda Vikmanis, Director, Office of Space Affairs, U.S. Department of Space

Valda Vikmanis Keller joined the Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer in 1999 and served her first tour in Okinawa, Japan as a consular officer with subsequent tours in the EUR bureau. She converted to the Civil Service in 2008 and worked in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) as the head of the Africa Team and then as the Partnership and Outreach Coordinator for INL’s Office of Criminal Justice Assistance and Partnership. Vikmanis Keller joined the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) in 2014 as the Director of Human Resources & Administration and assumed the role of Executive Director in 2015. From January 2017 until April 2018, she was CSO’s Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary responsible for the EX office as well as the Office of Partnerships, Strategy, and Communications. Vikmanis Keller returned to INL in October 2018 as the Division Director of the Technical Advisory Division (TAD) in the larger Knowledge Management office, providing INL with technical expertise through a network of in-house and external subject matter experts and partners supporting innovative solutions to combat transnational crime and illicit drugs and counter current and emerging threats. She joined the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) in August 2021 as the Director of the Space Affairs office. Vikmanis Keller received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and her JD degree from the University of Minnesota Law School. 

Wendy Williams, Vice President and General Manager of Launch and Exploration, Northrup Grumman 

Wendy Williams is vice president and general manager of Launch and Missile Defense Systems for Northrop Grumman’s Space Systems sector, a premier provider of space launch and missile defense systems serving national security, civil and commercial customers. In this role, Williams is responsible for the execution, business development and financial performance of the company’s portfolio of launch vehicles, launch propulsion systems, missile defense, and strategic missile programs. Major products from this business include the solid rocket boosters for NASA’s Space Launch System, the Antares launch vehicle used for International Space Station resupply, solid propulsion motors for the U.S. Navy’s Trident II D5 missile, boost propulsion for ULA’s Atlas V and Vulcan launch vehicles, Pegasus and Minotaur launch vehicles, Ground-Based Midcourse Defense interceptors and ballistic targets for the Missile Defense Agency. LMDS also provides products that support warfighter needs across the entire missile defense kill-chain, including Ground Weapon Systems, Command & Control, and Modeling & Simulation. In 2021, LMDS was awarded a technology development and risk reduction prime contract for MDA’s Next Generation Interceptor program.  

Her previous roles include vice president of Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Structures business, vice president of Strategy & Integration for legacy Orbital ATK’s Flight Systems Group, vice president of Business Integration for legacy ATK’s Aerospace Group and deputy general manager for Space Components Division and Mission Research and Technical Services. She served as the vice president of Membership for Women in Aerospace and currently serves on the Board of Directors for United Way of Salt Lake City and the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration.