Speakers

The Honorable John F. Plumb served as the first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy from March 2022 to May 2024. In that role he was responsible for the overall supervision of policy for the Department of Defense for space warfighting. His policy portfolio encompassesd the Department’s strategic capabilities for integrated deterrence: space, nuclear weapons, cyber, missile defense, electromagnetic warfare, and countering weapons of mass destruction.

Dr. Plumb has three decades of service in various national security roles both in and out of uniform. He started his career as an active duty US Navy submarine officer, serving onboard a fast attack Los Angeles-class submarine and then as an instructor at the Navy’s nuclear power. school. He transitioned to the Navy reserves, commanding eight different reserve units over 20 years, and retiring as a Captain in 2022. In his civilian career he has held national security roles in the Senate, the Pentagon, and on the National Security Council staff at the White House. Prior to his confirmation he ran (unsuccessfully) for Congress, then spent several years working for two of the Department’s Federally Funded Research and Development Centers: first as a Senior Engineer at the Rand Corporation, and then as Chief of Government Relations for the Aerospace Corporation. He is currently working as an independent consultant and strategic advisor for commercial companies interested in national security missions.

He holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of Notre Dame, and an M.S. in Physics and Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado. His personal military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Navy Commendation Medal. His civil service awards include the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award, the Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award, the Department of
State Superior Honor Award, and the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award.

Kelvin B. Coleman is the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation (AST) at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In this role, he leads the office responsible for enabling safe space transportation and protecting the health and safety of the public, the safety of property, and the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.

Mr. Coleman was named associate administrator in 2022, and prior to that had served as acting associate administrator or deputy associate administrator since 2017.

During this time, he has overseen regulation of the commercial space industry, and development and implementation of FAA regulations and services necessary to meet a tremendous growth in stakeholder needs as commercial companies provide space transportation to civil, military, international and private customers. In 2023, his office licensed 124 launch and re-entry operations, a 48 percent increase just from a year earlier.

Mr. Coleman has prepared the AST organization to meet these growing industry demands by establishing strategic priorities, restructuring the organization for increased efficiency and agility, acquiring advanced tools, and advocating for additional resources.

Mr. Coleman has also led efforts to establish clear authorities involving commercial space activity by working closely with other agencies including the National Space Council, the National Transportation Safety Board, NASA, the U.S. Space Force, and the Departments of Defense and Commerce to ensure transparency and clarity among all stakeholders.  He has led global leadership initiatives to educate and collaborate with numerous international allies seeking to grow their space services.

Prior to joining the FAA, Mr. Coleman worked for the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) as a systems engineer, and as a guidance, navigation, and control engineer for several weapon system acquisition programs. 

Mr. Coleman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electronics and computer engineering from George Mason University and a master’s in business administration from Marymount University.

Akash Vangani is a deputy chief engineer supporting the Launch Services Program (LSP) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Since 2018, Vangani has been responsible for all engineering aspects related to design, integration and processing of flight hardware elements and facility/ground support equipment. He provides technical insight and approval for missions, with recommendations for final “Go/No Go” launch decisions.

In this position, Vangani is responsible for the implementation of the program technical oversight policy. Some notable missions that Vangani has supported recently include the Solar Orbiter, Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Satellite, Lucy, Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), and Psyche.

Carter Palmer has long held a keen interest in military matters and aerospace. As lead analyst for Space Systems, Carter focuses on launch vehicles, satellites and spacecraft. His research focuses on the broader Space market as well as emerging technologies and trends within that market from orbital debris mitigation to reusable rocketry. Carter's name has appeared in news outlets such as AFP, the Houston Chronicle and the Financial Express. 

Dr. Christine Edwards is a Principal Autonomy/AI Research Engineer and Associate Fellow at the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center (ATC). She leads the systems engineering development of the Cognitive Mission Manager (CMM), an AI-driven assistant for firefighter operations. Previous positions include serving as Deputy Space Exploration Architect, principal investigator for weather and remote sensing research and development, lead systems engineer and associate manager for Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) operations, guidance navigation and control (GN&C) operations for the GRAIL, Mars Odyssey, and Stardust missions, launch support for Juno, and autonomous rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking (ARPOD) development for the Orion. 

Christine holds a PhD in systems engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology, Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in aerospace engineering from MIT, and was recognized by Aviation Week & Space Technology in their 40 under 40 in Aerospace and Defense. Outside of work, she is a Research Associate at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, including participation in the 2013 Kaiparowits Expedition that was featured in the National Geographic magazine.

Dan oversees business development teams for Amentum, a leader in global engineering, project management and solutions integration. He also leads Amentum’s Air Force client engagement in addition to range and aerial operations, logistics and supply chain business captures. Before Amentum, he was a 26-year combat veteran and Air Force Command Pilot.

Steve Samoranski leads IBM's Federal Defense and Intelligence Technical team, where he drives the delivery of mission-critical IT solutions to support U.S. defense and intelligence agencies. Under his leadership, the team develops and implements cutting-edge technologies that enhance national security operations and enable the success of intelligence missions.

Before joining IBM, Mr. Samoranski held leadership roles in enterprise sales, strategy, and technology across multiple industries and geographic regions. His career has consistently focused on innovation, digital transformation, and operational efficiency.

Mr. Samoranski served in the United States Marine Corps as a Tactical Communications operator. He was deployed to the Middle East during Operation Desert Fox with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. He also had the distinct honor of being stationed at Marine Barracks, 8th and I, in Washington, D.C., where he took part in high-profile ceremonial and operational duties.

Frank Konkel is the editor-in-chief of GovExec. Frank has been reporting on the federal government since 2013, focusing on the intersection of business, technology and government and occasionally covering the military’s use of emerging technologies. He grew up on a dairy farm and previously covered state and local issues in his home state of Michigan after graduating from Michigan State University.

Patrick Tucker is science and technology editor for Defense One. He’s also the author of The Naked Future: What Happens in a World That Anticipates Your Every Move? (Current, 2014). Previously, Tucker was deputy editor for The Futurist for nine years. Tucker has written about emerging technology in Slate, The Sun, MIT Technology Review, Wilson Quarterly, The American Legion Magazine, BBC News Magazine, Utne Reader, and elsewhere.