Speakers

Robert is Chief Strategist and Chairman of the Board at Planet Federal where he is responsible for supporting strategic decision-making for future products and services, driving meaningful partnerships, and increasing the utility of commercial innovations for global government agencies. Robert also serves as an active member of the Planet Labs PBC Executive Team. Robert has a distinguished career as former Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) from 2014-2019, where he successfully transformed the Agency’s future value proposition through innovative partnerships with the growing commercial geospatial marketplace. Prior to NGA, Robert served in leadership positions with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. From 2010 to 2014, Robert managed, edited, and delivered the President’s Daily Brief to President Obama and Vice President Biden – over 1400 editions – while also serving on the Deputies Committee of the National Security Council.

David Gauthier brings over 28 years of experience in U.S. national security as an intelligence officer, technology innovator, and strategic leader. He is currently the Chief Strategy Officer of GXO, Inc., helping space industry innovators support national security missions. Mr. Gauthier is also a Senior Associate with the Center for Strategic Intelligence Studies (CSIS) and a Fellow with the National Security Institute at George Mason University. 

Mr. Gauthier served in the Senior Executive Service (SES) for nine years at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), leading organizations such as Commercial Operations, Strategic Operations, Persistent GEOINT, and Activity-Based Intelligence. He was the first-ever Chair of the Intelligence Community’s Commercial Space Council and over his career led efforts at NGA, ODNI, DIA, and the U.S. Air Force.

Mr. Gauthier earned M.S. degrees in both Aerospace Engineering and Telecommunications Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). He is the recipient of several awards including a National Intelligence Professional Award, Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, and the Presidential Rank Award. 

Maj. Gen. Brian Sidari is Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence at United States Space Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virgina. In this capacity, he serves as the Senior Intelligence Officer to the Chief of Space Operations and is responsible to the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Space Operations for intelligence policy, oversight and guidance of Space Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. He exercises overall responsibility for the Space Force Intelligence Community Element, which is the 18th member of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Additionally, he serves as Chief, Service Cryptologic Component with delegated authorities from the Director of the National Security Agency and Head of U.S. Space Force’s Geospatial Intelligence Element.

Maj. Gen. Sidari commissioned through Reserve Officer Training Corps from Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. He has held numerous operational and staff tours, featuring joint and combined service in multiple theaters. He transferred from the U.S. Air Force to the U.S. Space Force in June 2021.

Prior to his current assignment, Maj. Gen. Sidari served as the Director of Intelligence, United States Space Command, Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado.

Ashley Fieglein Johnson is Planet’s President and Chief Financial Officer. Previously, Ashley was the Chief Financial Officer of Wealthfront Inc. from June 2015 to February 2020, as well as the Chief Operating Officer from June 2016 to February 2020. Prior to that, she was the Chief Financial Officer at ServiceSource from January 2013 to October 2014, the interim Chief Executive Officer at ServiceSource from October 2014 to December 2014, and the Chief Customer Officer from January 2015 to May 2015. She holds a BA in International Relations and an MA in International Policy Studies from Stanford University.