Speakers and Panelists

Dr. Robert Ferl 

Rob is a Distinguished Professor and Director of the Astraeus Space Institute at the University of Florida. He has spent his career studying how organisms respond to extreme conditions, especially spaceflight. He and his colleagues were the first to prove that plants could grow in lunar soil collected during Apollo. Ferl recently chaired the NASEM committee on space biology research over the next decade. Rob has worked in the Arctic and Antarctica and recently went to space as a NASA-funded academic researcher to conduct an experiment on a Blue Origin New Shepard mission.

Dr. Amit Jain

Amit Jain is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Astrodynamics, Space Robotics, and Controls Lab (ARCLab) within the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research focuses on uncertainty propagation, uncertainty quantification, optimal control, system identification, and the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence to astrodynamics and space situational awareness challenges.

He earned his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University in 2023, where he also completed his M.S. in Aerospace Engineering in 2019. He received his B.Tech. in Aerospace Engineering from PEC University of Technology in 2016. Through his work, Dr. Jain is passionate about advancing aerospace engineering research and contributing to the future of space exploration through innovative, data-driven, and intelligent space systems.

Praveen Elavazhagan

Praveen Elavazhagan is a PhD researcher in Aerospace at Cranfield University, specialising in space robotics, in-orbit servicing, and autonomous assembly systems. His research focuses on multi-arm robotic systems, motion planning, impedance control, and Model Predictive Control (MPC) for force-based task execution in microgravity environments.

He is actively involved in the European Space Agency (ESA) projects ISAAC and RISE, which aim to advance technologies for autonomous in-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing for future space missions. His work contributes to the development of robotic control architectures, coordinated multi-arm manipulation strategies, and autonomous assembly approaches for orbital infrastructure and servicing operations.

Praveen is also working with the MARIO multi-arm robotic platform within the ASTRA laboratory at Cranfield University, where his research explores robotic interaction dynamics, contact-aware MPC-based control manipulation to counter act reaction forces for in-orbit applications using ROS 2-based robotic frameworks. His broader research interests include space robotic manipulation, assistive control systems, and the development of robotic technologies for future ISAM missions.

Dr. Sierra Calhoun-Pollard

Dr. Sierra Calhoun-Pollard is an innovation strategist, educator, entrepreneur, and space-sector advocate whose work centers on building new programs, partnerships, and pathways for emerging leaders. She holds a Ph.D. from Liberty University, where her dissertation focused on gamification as a catalyst for cross-disciplinary skills, and she has additional training in design thinking, technology entrepreneurship, innovation facilitation, and maker technologies. Dr. Calhoun-Pollard has held leadership and mentorship roles across higher education, entrepreneurship, and community innovation, including work with the University of Florida, startGNV, and Entrepreneurship for All. She also serves as a Board Member for Women in Space with the Space Force Association, where she supports space education, outreach, and advocacy. Her professional background blends strategic planning, marketing, innovation ecosystems, mentorship, and STEM engagement, making her a strong voice on leadership, workforce development, and expanding access to space and technology careers.

Pete Muend

Mr. Pete Muend is the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office's Commercial Systems Program Office (CSPO) where he leads the NRO's strategy for full integration of multiple commercial imagery sources. Prior to establishing CSPO, Mr. Muend served as the NRO's director for the Commercial GEOINT Activity (CGA), a joint initiative between the NRO and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) established to position both agencies to take full advantage of existing and emerging commercial GEOINT capabilities. Prior to CGA, Mr. Muend was the Assistant Deputy Director of the National Intelligence for Acquisition where he was responsible for overseeing Major Systems Acquisitions across the Intelligence Community. Mr. Muend also served as the NRO Chief of Staff and in a number of other positions within the NRO and Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.

Rama Afullo

Founder & CEO of Satlyt, Rama Afullo is an ex SpaceX Starlink Product Manager, Cloud Architect and AI Startup Manager at Google,Telco Business Lead at Tesla, and holds two degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Business Management from the University of Cape Town. Rama dropped out of a Masters in Space Systems Engineering at Johns Hopkins University to pursue his endeavors in space.

Stephanie Wheeler

Camille Bergin

Camille Bergin serves as Chief Marketing Officer of Star Catcher, where she leads the company’s global marketing, communications, and brand strategy to accelerate the deployment of the world’s first orbital energy grid.

Building on her background in aerospace engineering, Camille brings extensive experience in aerospace marketing and communications. Prior to joining Star Catcher full-time, she co-founded and served as a lead consultant at Modulate Media, where she provided specialized marketing and communication services to high-growth space ventures. Her career includes previous leadership and communications roles at industry leaders such as Vast Space, Lockheed Martin, and Orbit Fab.

Camille is known to a global audience of nearly one million as The Galactic Gal. Bridging the gap between space innovation and the people it’s built to serve, Camille works with prominent global organizations to amplify their missions and technologies to broader audiences, including the United States Space Force. 

William Hickmott

William is a PhD Researcher at the University of Liverpool in the UK specialising in mechatronics and planetary robotics. With a background in Mechatronics and Robotic Systems, his primary research focuses on developing novel space-faring technologies, particularly the AstroFlex project, a flexible robotic system designed specifically for the exploration of small bodies and adaptable to a variety of new operational environments. His work also heavily involves planetary science, specifically the application of multiphysics modelling tools and physics engines to investigate the interior structures of asteroids.

An active contributor to the wider space science community, William has presented works at the 35th Workshop on JAXA Astrodynamics and Flight Mechanics, the Europlanet Science Congress (EPSC), and the International Astronautical Congress (IAC). Additionally, he was selected for the ESA Alpbach Summer School, where he proposed the core science case for a mission to Saturn's rings, and participated in the subsequent mission design programme at ESA's ESEC facility.

Representative Kim Kendall

State Representative Kim Kendall brings a diverse background in aviation, business, public relations, and public service to her work in the Florida House of Representatives. Her career has included service as a Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controller as well as experience as a small business owner, having owned two dry-cleaning businesses.

Rep. Kendall has also been a strong advocate for the military and defense community. As a military dependent, she grew up on naval bases around the world, including Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and Subic Bay, Philippines, giving her a firsthand understanding of military life and the importance of supporting service members, veterans, and their families.

A graduate of Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in public relations, Rep. Kendall has used her communications background to support community initiatives, including her role as the Timberlin Creek Elementary Business Liaison. In the Florida House, she has continued to apply that experience to advance aerospace, aviation, and military-related priorities.

Rep. Kendall has been active in efforts to strengthen Florida’s air and space infrastructure, including leading more than a dozen Florida Representatives in lobbying the federal government to modernize Florida’s air and space system. She has also supported key legislative initiatives such as HB 793, the Aerospace Innovation Funding bill, which expands Space Florida’s aerospace partnership program worldwide, and HB 387, related to Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast data protections, which prevents third parties from charging private pilots additional fees for using ADS-B aviation tracking information intended for FAA safety purposes.

Dr. Greg Autry 

Dr. Greg Autry is a leading expert in the business of commercial space and a globally recognized leader in space policy. He is the Associate Provost for Space Commercialization and Strategy at the University of Central Flordia. He is the author of Red Moon Rising: How America Will Beat China on the Final Frontier(Post Hill 2024, w. P. Navarro), A New Entrepreneurial Dynamic (FlatWorld, 2022) and Death by China (Pearson 2011, w. Navarro).

Dr. Autry also serves as a visiting professor at Imperial College London. Dr. Autry was formerly the Director of Space Leadership, Policy, and Business in the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a professor at Arizona State University. He taught technology entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California and macroeconomics at the University of California, Irvine.

Dr. Autry served on the NASA agency review team and as White House liaison at NASA. He was nominated by President Trump to serve as NASA’s chief financial officer and also served on the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) at the FAA. He is the vice president of the National Space Society.

Dr. Autry’s writings are regularly published in Foreign Policy, Forbes, and SpaceNews. He has appeared frequently on major media outlets including CNN, the BBC, and all major networks. He is widely quoted on space-related topics in outlets that include The Times of London, New York Times, and more. His opions have been published by The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, The Hill and many others. He is a serial technology entrepreneur with startups in video gaming, computer service, network security, and clinical healthcare applicaiton development. Dr. Autry serves on the editorial review boards of the New Space Journal and the Journal of Space Safety Engineering. He holds an MBA and PhD from the University of California, Irvine.

Tim Chrisman

Tim Chrisman is a geopolitics expert who writes extensively about the future of humanity in space. He leads the Foundation for the Future, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. which is leading the policy conversation around space infrastructure. Tim founded the Association for Space Finance, the industry association representing space investors. Tim is a former Army intelligence officer, a special advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and most recently, a CIA officer supporting the National Space Council.

Councilmember Matthew Reinhart

Representative Tyler Sirios

Apoorva Bajaj

Robert Fabian

Carolin E. Frueh

Hang Woon Lee

Cliff Higgins

Michelle Hanlon