SpaceCom | Space Congress 2026 Exhibitor List

<p>Christian Davenport is a CBS News contributor who has been a reporter and editor at The Washington Post for more than 25 years. He was on a team that won the Peabody award in 2010 for its work on veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury and has been on teams that were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize three times. He is the author of “The Space Barons: Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos” and “As You Were: To War and Back with the Black Hawk Battalion of the Virginia National Guard.” He is also an Emmy award winner for his work with the Discovery and Science Channels.</p>

<p>Brian Miske is a Principal & Americas Space Leader at KPMG. With over 30 years of experience in strategy, innovation, and transformation, Brian is known for helping organizations bridge the gap between business and the rapidly evolving space economy. He guides clients to reimagine their business models and unlock new opportunities—whether on Earth or in orbit.</p> <p>Brian’s expertise spans the full spectrum of the space ecosystem, from commercial markets and public-private partnerships to advanced technologies like AI, data fusion, and autonomous systems. He’s written extensively on the ‘Astro Economy’ and the convergence of terrestrial and space markets, offering practical insights on how leaders can adapt, innovate, and thrive in this new frontier.</p> <p>As a former Americas CMO and current leader of KPMG’s Ignition team, Brian brings a unique blend of creativity, analytical rigor, and hands-on experience. He works across twelve industry sectors and 22 segments, helping clients navigate complexity and drive sustainable growth. His background ranges from toy design to global marketing to machine learning, giving him a broad perspective on how innovation in space can transform industries everywhere.</p> <p>Brian is passionate about human-centered strategies and workforce transformation, empowering organizations to harness change and prepare for the future—on Earth, in orbit, and beyond.</p>

<p>Mike Carey is President and Founder of M. Carey Consultants, based in Traverse City, Michigan, providing leadership and business strategy mentoring and planning support.</p> <p>Carey co-founded ATLAS Space Operations in 2014, acting as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer until 2023 leading to its successful acquisition in 2025 by York Space Systems. An accomplished commander and strategic planner, Carey attained the rank of Major General in the US Air Force, demonstrating exceptional leadership in space and nuclear operations. He played key roles in establishing organizations such as the Space Test and Training Range, the National Security Space Institute, and an integrated space and cyber force.</p> <p>As a commander, Carey led the 20th Air Force—America's ICBM force—and the Air Force's space test and evaluation group. His general officer assignments included Deputy Director for Command, Control, and Nuclear Operations at the Joint Staff (J-36) and Deputy Director of Operations at US Strategic Command (DJ-3). After retiring, Carey co-founded ATLAS Space Operations and established M. Carey Consultants, an aerospace and leadership service. He also served as CEO of AAC Microtec North America, a US-based Swedish satellite avionics firm, which saw significant growth and a successful IPO in 2016 under his leadership.</p> <p>Beyond consulting, Carey is President of Klepsydra North America and advisor to multiple aerospace firms. He is committed to developing businesses and cultivating leaders in the NewSpace sector, leveraging his experience to provide strategic guidance and foster innovation. Carey’s career achievements and passion for innovation have made him a driving force in the NewSpace and national security industries.</p>

<p>Frank Chimenti is a visionary Program and Operations leader with a proven track record of driving growth and operational excellence in aerospace and manufacturing. As Director of Programs at Beyond Gravity, he has transformed the operation to meet the schedule and quality needs of the customers and achieving AS9100 certification. Previously, at L3Harris NardaMITEQ, Frank was the Director of Operations and managed multiple product lines, and lead lean transformations that improved operations signifcantly improving operational and financial performance.   With over two decades of experience spanning program management, engineering, and operations, Frank combines strategic insight with hands-on leadership to deliver sustainable results. He holds an M.S. in Engineering Management from Hofstra University and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology from SUNY Institute of Technology.</p>

<p>David Schmolke is Vice President of the Mission Connections and Cybersecurity business within Viasat Government. In this role, he is responsible for Viasat’s Information Assurance, Cybersecurity, Tactical Wireless and Networking, tactical gateway, Narrowband SATCOM and RF stimulation portfolios.</p> <p>Viasat is a leading provider of high assurance encryption solutions used to secure Government sensitive data across tactical edge, space, and enterprise platforms.  David has a passion for securing, networking and connecting edge users anywhere they operate. </p> <p>Since joining Viasat over 20 years ago, David has held several engineering, program management, and strategic leadership roles. He has led Viasat's growth in new business segments in support of connected tactical operations, including Free Space Optics communications, tactical Software-Defined Networking, and the development of our Tactical Mission Fabric for bridging cloud systems to the edge.</p>

<p>Jared Freedman is a veteran technologist and founder of Orbital Bridge LLC, developing sustainable launch and space-logistics infrastructure to move megatons of payload into orbit while preserving the environment. With over 30 years of experience and multiple exits across advanced systems engineering, applied AI, VR, and mobile gaming, he returned to deep-tech in 2021 to pursue a lifelong vision: humanity in space, at scale. His current work focuses on propulsion innovation and scalable orbital logistics.</p>

<p>Robin Rowe is the CEO of Heroic Robots, founded to create robots that save lives. Winner Novartis Biome innovation prize for disease analysis using AI. Architect of MCARE 3D worldwide telemedicine platform, created in collaboration with the United Nations with a $1-million-dollar metaverse grant from Facebook Reality Labs. Rowe is also the executive director of Fountain Abode, the AI research institute near Washington D.C. </p> <p>Professor Rowe teaches object-oriented C++ AI vibe programming at CCBC, the Community College of Baltimore County. Has taught computer science at the Naval Postgraduate School and also the University of Washington. </p> <p>Technical background includes experience as UN ITU Medical Metaverse Task Group chairman, World Health Organization Augmented Reality Group engineering manager, Lenovo ThinkReality augmented reality glasses product design strategist, DreamWorks Animation software engineer, NBC-TV broadcast news technical director, and a DARPA and U.S. Navy research scientist.</p>

<p>Fletcher Franklin is the Deputy Director of Analytics at BryceTech, driving business development and client engagement. BryceTech provides industry-leading data analytics and forecasting of space industry developments and trends. He also worked at Blue Origin, developing strategy for the company's Blue Ring platform and national security portfolio. Prior to those roles, Mr. Franklin was a government affairs consultant representing companies before Congress and the executive branch on space policy issues. Mr. Franklin has extensive experience analyzing the intersection of the government and commercial space sectors, and has demonstrated expertise in the federal budget and procurement processes. He holds a BA from Kenyon College and an MA in Global Security Studies from Johns Hopkins University.</p>

<p>Lars R. “Jones” Vadjina is a Certified Innovation Manager with an MBA, a background in Interdisciplinary American Studies (BA), and Computer Science (advanced coursework). He also holds certificates in Business & Management, Ethics in Practice, Intercultural Thinking & Acting, Rhetoric & Communication, and Sustainability. His work bridges space innovation, AI strategy, and foresight methodology to help organizations navigate rapidly evolving technological frontiers. Lars has presented at global conferences including SpaceCom 2025, where his opening TINA Talk earned strong recognition for connecting science fiction, emerging technologies, and actionable frameworks. He focuses on human-machine collaboration in high-stakes environments and the future role of synthetic agents in space operations. Lars’s interdisciplinary approach, rooted in ethics, systems thinking, and speculative design, offers a fresh lens for preparing space missions for the age of human-AI co-agency. With experience across industry and academia, he helps decision-makers design future-ready strategies at the intersection of imagination and implementation.</p> <p>In 2025, Lars delivered 20+ international conference presentations across space, AI ethics, and speculative futures, including SpaceCom 2025, the Lunar Development Conference, the ReInventing Space Conference, and multiple interdisciplinary research forums and conferences. In early 2026, he presented at AIAA SciTech, further expanding his work into aerospace innovation and strategic foresight.</p> <p>Lars brings an interdisciplinary, systems-level lens that connects imagination with implementation, and turns future concepts into actionable frameworks.</p> <p>Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsrvadjina/</p>

<p>Olivia Gámez Holzhaus is Founder & CEO of Rhodium Scientific, America’s first commercial space biotech company. Since 2014, she has enabled research from labs to the ISS, developing the QuIC Space Process™ and scalable in-orbit facilities. Rhodium Scientific partners with the DoD, FDA-regulated industry, and global research institutions. Olivia holds a B.S. in Microbiology, an M.S. in Business, advises space organizations, and is an award-winning sailor.</p>

<p>Tom Martin is Senior Director for National Security Programs at Blue Origin. His primary focus is leveraging Blue's innovative launch and in-space solutions for U.S. National Security Space customers. Tom joined Blue in early 2021. Prior to joining Blue, he was the Director of Business Development for Aerojet Rocketdyne with overall responsibilities for their National Security, Civil and Commercial space access pursuits. </p> <p>Tom began his career as a combustion devices development engineer on the Space Shuttle Main Engine program at Boeing Rocketdyne. He worked as a project engineer and manager on several liquid rocket engine development programs including the J-2X, F-1B, and AR1. Tom worked in technical positions within the Advanced Programs group. Over the last ten years, his focus has shifted from engineering to strategy and business capture, leading major captures with the US Government and commercial launch vehicle customers. Tom is passionate about space access and the Rocket Equation. </p> <p>Tom graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. and M.S. in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering. He also earned an M.B.A from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business.</p>

<p>Marilyn holds a Ph.D. from NYU and J.D. from New York Law School and had 20+ years in international business and finance, for which she was honored as Woman Entrepreneur of the Year featured in Bloomberg's Business Week.  She served 16 years in the U.S. State Department Foreign Service, Economic Affairs (SCI clearance) and then co-founded Aequor Inc. with Marine and Medical Microbiologist, Cynthia Burzell, who discovered novel natural antibiofilm/antifouling agents in the ocean. As CEO of Aequor, she has raised over $1.5M in pre-Seed funding and $4M in grants and contracts from DOE, DOD, NASA, and other agencies, scaled up and filed patents on Aequor’s formulated products, which are EPA-approval on them as non-toxic, “green,” GRAS and FDA approved for food contact. As head of a Woman-Owned Small Business, she is always looking for sales, contracting, sub-contracting and licensing opportunities to leverage Aequor’s novel technologies to their highest and best use.</p>

<p>Dr. Mata is a distinguished engineer and scientist, currently serving as Chief Technology Officer at Scientific Lightning Solutions (SLS), a leading firm specializing in cutting-edge lightning protection, transient monitoring, and advanced grounding systems. With over two decades of expertise spanning the US Space Program, commercial spaceports, DoD facilities, and critical infrastructure worldwide, Dr. Mata is internationally recognized as a pioneering authority in lightning research and protection. He holds a BSEE from Universidad Simón Bolívar and both MSEE and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Florida, where he conducted breakthrough lightning research at the International Center for Lightning Research and Testing (ICLRT). Dr. Mata’s tenure at NASA's Kennedy Space Center led to the development of innovative technologies, including a Monte Carlo Lightning Simulation tool critical to space launch infrastructure. His achievements have earned him the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the KSC Engineer of the Year Award, and numerous global recognitions. Dr. Mata's legacy is further reflected in his extensive publications and leadership roles at international conferences, solidifying his impact on the future of lightning protection and safety systems.</p>

<p>Norman Garza, Jr. joined Texas Space Commission (TSC) as the inaugural executive director on July 1, 2024. TSC was established in 2023 upon enactment of House Bill 3447 authored by State Representative Greg Bonnen M.D.</p> <p>Born in Harlingen, Garza is a native Texan with roots across the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas. Previously, he served as Vice President of Government Relations at Texas A&M University as well as Associate Director of Legislative Affairs for Texas Farm Bureau.  </p> <p>Garza is a graduate of Pleasanton High School, as well as St. Edward’s University with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Additionally, he studied at the Universidad de Belgrano in Buenos Aires and earned a professional certificate through the Governor’s Executive Development Program from The University of Texas at Austin. </p>

<p>Amber Phillips is the Senior Director of Human Resources for Operations at Blue Origin, where she leads people strategy for one of the company’s largest and most complex organizations. The Operations function spans engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, safety, and automation, supporting the transition from development to sustained, rate-based production across multiple programs and sites.</p> <p>In this role, Amber partners closely with senior leaders to align talent, organizational design, and leadership capability with business execution in high-consequence aerospace environments. Her experience includes organizational transformation, leadership effectiveness and succession planning, labor and workforce strategy, and operating model design across large-scale operational teams.</p> <p>Prior to joining Blue Origin, Amber held senior HR leadership roles within the aerospace and defense industry, including executive and director-level positions at L3Harris, Raytheon, and GE, where she supported engineering and operations organizations through periods of growth and transformation. </p> <p>Amber holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management from The University of Texas at San Antonio.</p>