Air, Space & Cyber Conference | 2025 Agenda

The show starts in…

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday

Monday, September 22, 2025

7:30 am – 4:00 pm
Maryland Ballroom
Technology Exposition Open
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Prince George Exhibit Hall
Technology Exposition Open
9:15 – 9:45 am
Potomac AB
Keynote Address—Secretary of the Air Force
  • The Honorable Troy Meink
    Secretary of the Air Force
9:45 – 10:20 am
Potomac AB
Keynote Address—The State of the Air Force
  • Gen. David Allvin
    Chief of Staff of the Air Force
10:35 – 11:15 am
Potomac AB
Modernizing the Triad: The Imperative for B-21 and Sentinel
  • Gen. Anthony Cotton
    Commander, U.S. Strategic Command
  • Tom Jones
    President, Aeronautics Systems, Northrop Grumman Corporation
  • Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command
  • Moderator:
    Maj. Gen. Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.)
    Executive Vice President, Air & Space Forces Association
10:35 – 11:15 am
Potomac C
Leveraging Commercial Space Domain Awareness
  • Josh Conine
    Director, Space Command and Control, SAIC
  • Wallace Turnbull
    Senior Solution Architect, Leidos
  • Brandon White
    Vice President and General Manager, Tactical Space Systems Division, Northrop Grumman
  • Moderator:
    Col. Bryon E.C. McClain, (invited)
    Program Executive Officer, Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power, Space Systems Command
10:35 – 11:15 am
Potomac D
Affordable Munitions
  • Shon Manasco
    Senior Counselor, Palantir
  • Mark Miller
    Senior Vice President, Missile Aviation Solutions, Leidos
  • David Richards
    Vice President, Precision Combat and Sensing Systems, Elbit America
  • Adam Wells
    Director, Warfighter Support Solutions, Marvin Test Solutions
  • Moderator:
    Brig. Gen. Robert Lyons
    Director, Armament Directorate, Air Force Life Cyber Management Center
12:45 – 1:25 pm
Potomac AB
The China Threat
  • Maj. Gen. Gregory Gagnon
    Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence
  • Chief Master Sgt. Ron Lerch
    Senior Enlisted Advisor, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence
  • Chief Master Sgt. Stefan Blazier
    Senior Enlisted Leader, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Cyber Effects Operations
  • Moderator:
    J. Michael Dahm
    Senior Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies, AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
12:45 – 1:25 pm
Potomac C
United Forces & Families: Multigenerational Perspectives on Family Readiness
  • Lyndsey Akers
    Founder & CEO, Akers&Co and AFA's Senior Consultant for United Forces & Families (F2)
  • Sharene Brown
    Military Advocate and Wife of 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • Chris McCool
    Husband of CMSgt. Katie McCool, Command Chief, Pacific Air Forces
  • Moderator:
    Corie Weathers
    Author, "Military Culture Shift"
1:40 – 2:20 pm
Potomac AB
Building Better Leaders: Lessons in Servant Leadership
  • Dr. Heather Wilson
    24th Secretary of the Air Force
  • Gen. David Goldfein, USAF (Ret.)
    21st Chief of Staff of the Air Force
  • Moderator:
    Lt. Gen. Burt Field, USAF (Ret.)
    President & CEO, Air & Space Forces Association
1:40 – 2:20 pm
Potomac C
Modernizing Training for 21st Century Air Superiority
  • Cedric George
    Vice President, Strategy and Growth, MetroStar
  • Dan Ourada
    Vice President, Captures & Business Development, Amentum
  • Jenn Serra
    Senior Director, Simulation & Training, Collins Aerospace, an RTX Business
  • Moderator:
    Maj. Gen. Clark J. Quinn
    Deputy Commander, Air Education and Training Command
1:40 – 2:20 pm
Potomac D
Delivering Training Capabilities for Space Superiority
  • Matt Brown
    Executive Technology Director, Air & Space Defense Systems, Raytheon, an RTX Business
  • Jim Reynolds
    Vice President, Business Development for Defense Space, SAIC
  • Mike Rokaw
    Executive Director, Phantom Works, Boeing Defense, Space & Security
  • Moderator:
    Brig. Gen. Matthew S. Cantore
    Deputy Commander, Space Training and Readiness Command
3:20 – 4:00 pm
Potomac AB
Expanding the Defense Industrial Base
  • Bryon Kroger
    Founder & CEO, Rise8
  • Shyam Sankar
    Chief Technology Officer, Palantir Technologies
  • Eric Schmidt, (invited)
    CEO, Google
  • Raj Shah
    Author, "Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley are Transforming the Future of War"
  • Moderator:
    Gen. John Hyten, USAF (Ret.) (invited)
    11th Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
3:20 – 4:00 pm
Potomac C
The Future of Multi-Domain ISR
  • Michael Geist
    Vice President, Product Management, SES Space & Defense
  • Scott Jobe
    Executive Director, Business Development & Strategy, Phantom Works, Boeing Defense, Space & Security
  • Tyler Saltsman
    Co-Founder & CEO, EdgeRunner AI
  • Mike Shortsleeve
    Vice President, DoD Strategic Development, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
  • Moderator:
    Maj. Gen. Gregory Gagnon
    Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence
3:20 – 4:00 pm
Potomac D
The Expanding Cyber Threat
  • Lt. Gen. Thomas K. Hensley, (invited)
    Commander, 16th Air Force; Commander, Air Forces Cyber
  • Rear Adm. Ronald A. Foy, USMC (invited)
    Operations Director, U.S. Cyber Command
  • Brig. Gen. Joy Kaczor
    Director, Cyberspace Operations and Warfighter Communications
  • Charleen Laughlin
    Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Cyber and Data
  • Moderator:
    Lt. Gen. Kevin Kennedy, USAF (Ret.)
    Former Commander, 16th Air Force
4:15 – 5:15 pm
Potomac AB
Keynote Address—Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
  • Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Flosi
5:15 – 7:00 pm
Prince George
Exhibit Hall
Outstanding Airmen of the Year Reception
*Ticketed Event
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

7:00 am – 4:00 pm
Maryland Ballroom
Technology Exposition Open
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Prince George Exhibit Hall
Technology Exposition Open
Potomac C
Civilians’ Role in Mission Success
  • Marilyn Thomas
    Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Management and Comptroller
  • Darlene Costello, (invited)
    Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics
  • Kathleen I. Ferguson, (invited)
    Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment, and Energy
8:10 – 8:45 am
Potomac AB
Keynote Address—The State of the Space Force
  • Gen. B. Chance Saltzman
    Chief of Space Operations
8:45 – 8:55 am
Potomac AB
Planning a Satellite Kill: The 1985 F-15 ASAT Test
  • Maj. Gen. Doug Pearson, USAF (Ret.)
    Former Commander, Air Force Flight Test Center
8:55 – 9:40 am
Potomac AB
Building the Space Force
  • Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, USSF (Ret.)
    1st Chief of Space Operations
  • Gen. David D. “DT” Thompson, USSF (Ret.)
    1st Vice Chief of Space Operations
  • Moderator:
    Lt. Gen. Nina Armagno, USSF (Ret.)
    Former Director of Staff, U.S. Space Force
10:40 – 11:20 am
Potomac AB
Accelerating Decision Superiority: Harnessing Data and AI for Mission Readiness
  • Dr. Kelly D. Hammett
    Director and Program Executive Officer for the Space Rapid Capabilities Office
  • Maj. Gen. Luke Cropsey
    Program Executive Officer for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management
  • Christian Gutierrez
    Vice President, Hivemind Engineering, Shield AI
  • Moderator:
    David Ware
    Partner, Leader of Public Sector AI Practice, McKinsey & Company
10:40 – 11:20 am
Potomac C
Dynamic Space Operations
  • Maj. Gen. Dennis O. Bythewood, (invited)
    Special Assistant to the Chief of Space Operations
  • Dr. Monty Greer
    Government Caucus Facilitator, Aerospace Corporation
  • Rob Hauge, (invited)
    President, SpaceLogistics LLC
  • Moderator:
    Col. Charles Galbreath, USSF (Ret.)
    Senior Fellow for Space Studies, AFA's Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence
12:50 – 1:20 pm
Potomac AB
Keynote Address—Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force
  • Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John Bentivegna
1:35 – 2:05 pm
Potomac AB
Keynote Address—Golden Dome: Protecting the Homeland
  • Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, (invited)
    Vice Chief of Space Operations
1:35 – 2:15 pm
Potomac C
Air Superiority
  • Gen. James “Mike” Holmes, USAF (Ret.)
    Senior Advisor, Boeing Defense
  • Dan Javorsek
    President, EpiSci, an Applied Intuition company
  • Robert Rose
    Founder & CEO, Reliable Robotics
  • Greg Ulmer
    President, Aeronautics, Lockheed Martin
  • Moderator:
    Maj. Gen. William Betts
    Director of Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command
1:35 – 2:15 pm
Potomac D
Improving Cybersecurity for Space Operations
  • Christopher P. Cleary
    Vice President, Global Cyber Practice, ManTech
  • Alice Fakir
    Senior Partner and Vice President, IBM
  • Brad Pyburn
    Managing Director, Deloitte
  • Moderator:
    Charleen Laughlin, (invited)
    Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Cyber and Data
2:05 – 2:15 pm
Potomac AB
The Making of Aces
  • Col. Charles “Chuck” DeBellevue
    Vietnam War Ace
3:15 – 3:55 pm
Potomac AB
Enhancing Readiness and Generating Combat Forces
  • Commander, Air Combat Command
  • Maj. Gen. John M. Klein Jr.
    Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations
  • Maj. Gen. Regina Sabric
    Deputy Commander, Air Force Reserve Command
  • Maj. Gen. Duke Pirak
    Acting Director, Air National Guard
  • Moderator:
    Kirk Rieckhoff
    Senior Partner, Leader of Global Defense and Security Practice, McKinsey & Company
3:15 – 3:55 pm
Potomac C
Emerging Trends in EW
  • Jason Brown
    General Manager, Defense, Applied Intuition
  • Doug Gill
    Senior Staff Scientist, FlightSafety International
  • Joshua Niedzwiecki
    Vice President and General Manager, Electronic Combat Solutions, BAE Systems
  • Clayton Spakes
    Growth Manager, Rise8
  • Moderator:
    Col. Angelo Fernandez
    Commander, Space Delta 3
3:15 – 3:55 pm
Potomac D
United Forces & Families: Building Your Community
  • Dr. Jason “JW” Womack
    Strategist, Leader Development for Operational Readiness, Space Systems Command
  • Shaun Beal
    2025 Armed Forces Insurance Air Force Spouse of the Year
  • Command Chief Master Sgt. Kathleen McCool
    Command Chief, Pacific Air Forces
  • Moderator:
    Maj. Gen. Chaplain Randy E. Kitchens, USAF (Ret.)
    20th Chief of Chaplains, Department of the Air Force
4:10 – 4:50 pm
Potomac AB
International Partnerships in Space
  • Deanna Ryals
    Director, Space International Affairs, SAF/IA
  • Air Marshal Paul Godfrey
    Assistant Chief of Space Operations for Future Concepts and Partnerships
  • Brig. Gen. Christopher Gardiner
    Space & Cyber Attaché, Australian Defense Force
  • Brig-Gen. C.J. Horner, OMM, CD
    Commander, 3 Canadian Space Division, Royal Canadian Air Force
  • Moderator:
    Gen. Kevin Chilton, USAF (Ret.)
    Explorer Chair, AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence
4:10 – 4:50 pm
Potomac C
The Future of Airpower: 5th Gen and Beyond
  • Tom Jones, (invited)
    President, Aeronautics Systems, Northrop Grumman Corporation
  • Dan Gillian
    Vice President and General Manager, Air Dominance, Boeing Defense, Space & Security
  • Lt. Gen. David Krumm
    Vice President, Business Development, Electronic Systems, BAE Systems
  • Moderator:
    Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.)
    Dean, AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
4:10 – 4:50 pm
Potomac D
Counter-Drone Defenses
  • Michael Hiatt
    Chief Engineer, Defense, Epirus
  • Tom Kirkland
    Vice President and General Manager, Targeting and Sensor Systems, L3Harris
  • Jon Piatt
    Executive Vice President, ISR, Aviation, & Security, SNC
  • John Theuerkauf
    Vice President, Engineering, Frequentis Defense Inc.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

7:00 am – 2:00 pm
Maryland Ballroom
Technology Exposition Open
9:00 am – 3:30 pm
Prince George Exhibit Hall
Technology Exposition Open
8:00 – 8:45 am
Potomac C
Air Superiority Remains a Fundamental Tenet of Airpower
  • Maj. Gen John M. Klein Jr.
    Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations
  • Maj. Gen. Parker Wright
    Commander, Curtis E. LeMay Center
  • Col. John Venable, USAF (Ret.)
    Senior Resident Fellow, AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
  • Moderator:
    Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula
    Dean, AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
9:00 – 9:40 am
Potomac AB
Achieving Space Superiority
  • Lt. Gen. David N. Miller, Jr.
    Commander, Space Operations Command
  • Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess
    Commander, U.S. Space Forces-Space
  • Lt. Gen. Shawn Bratton
    Deputy Chief of Space Operations, Strategy, Plans, Programs and Requirements
  • Maj. Gen. Jim Smith
    Commander, Space Training and Readiness Command
  • Moderator:
    Gen. Kevin Chilton, USAF (Ret.)
    Explorer Chair, AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence
9:00 – 9:40 am
Potomac C
Enabling the Long-Range Kill Chain
  • Mike Dupasquier
    Vice President, Airborne Systems, General Dynamics Mission Systems
  • Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, USAF (Ret.)
    Vice President, Aeronautics Strategic Campaigns, Lockheed Martin
  • Erich Hernandez-Baquero
    Vice President, Space ISR, Raytheon, an RTX Business
  • Jon Rhone
    Command and Control (C2) Strategist, SAIC
  • Moderator:
    Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel
    Director of Force Design, Integration, and Wargaming, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air Force Futures
9:00 – 9:45 am
Potomac D
Sixth-Gen Missiles for Sixth-Gen Threats
  • Brig. Gen. Robert Lyons III
    Director, Armament Directorate, Air Force Life Cyber Management Center
  • Maj. Gen. Mark Mitchum
    Commander, Integrated Capabilities Command
  • Brig. Gen. Jason E. Bartolomei
    Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory
  • Sam Deneke
    President, Air & Space Defense Systems, Raytheon, an RTX Business
  • Moderator:
    Lt. Gen. David S. Nahom, USAF (Ret.)
    Former Commander, Alaskan Command, United States Northern Command
10:40 – 11:20 am
Potomac AB
Exercising at Scale: What We’re Learning
  • Gen. Kevin Schneider
    Commander, Pacific Air Forces
  • Commander, Air Combat Command
  • Gen. John Lamontagne
    Commander, Air Mobility Command
  • Lt. Gen. David N. Miller, Jr.
    Commander, Space Operations Command
  • Moderator:
    Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost, USAF (Ret.)
    Former Commander, U.S. Transportation Command
10:40 – 11:20 am
Potomac C
Balancing Stand-off and Penetrating Airpower
  • Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost
    Commander, Eighth Air Force
  • David Alexander
    President, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
  • Greg Ulmer, (invited)
    President, Aeronautics, Lockheed Martin
  • Robert Winkler
    Vice President, Corporate Development & National Security Programs, Kratos
  • Moderator:
    Mark Gunzinger
    Director, Future Concepts & Capability Assessments, AFA's Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence
10:40 – 11:20 am
Potomac D
The Imperative for Laser Communications in Space
  • Nathan Getz
    Director, Data Communications, Space Development Agency
  • Trevor Haak
    Director, Electromagnetic Systems Division, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
  • Moderator:
    Col. Jennifer Reeves, USAF (Ret.)
    Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, AFA's Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence
12:50 – 1:30 pm
Potomac AB
The Nexus of Space, Cyber, and Special Operations
  • Gen. Stephen Whiting
    Commander, U.S. Space Command
  • Lt. Gen. Sean Farrell
    Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Special Operations Command
  • Moderator:
    Gen. James B. Hecker, USAF (Ret.)
    Former Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa
12:50 – 1:30 pm
Potomac C
Artificial Intelligence in Command and Control
  • Peter Guerra
    Global Vice President, Data & AI, Oracle
  • Shubhi Mishra
    Founder & CEO, Raft
  • Col. Louis Ruscetta, USAF (Ret.)
    Director, Strategic Development, Virtualitics
  • Ben Van Roo
    CEO & Co-Founder, Legion Intelligence Inc.
  • Moderator:
    Col. Ryan T. “Ape” Hayde
    Commander, 505th Command and Control Wing
12:50 – 1:30 pm
Potomac D
Golden Dome: The Way Ahead
  • Kevin Cahn
    Chief Engineer, Amentum
  • Jeff Schrader
    Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, Lockheed Martin Space
  • Raymond Sharp
    Golden Dome for America Lead, Northrop Grumman
  • Ed Zoiss
    President, Space & Airborne Systems, L3Harris
  • Moderator:
    Col. Jennifer Reeves, USAF (Ret.)
    Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, AFA's Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence
1:40 – 2:20 pm
Potomac AB
Manifesting the Future of Air & Space Power
  • Palmer Luckey, (invited)
    Founder, Anduril Industries
  • Moderator:
    Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula
    Dean, AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
1:40 – 2:20 pm
Potomac C
Generating Effects with Cyber and Electronic Warfare
  • Col. Larry Fenner Jr.
    Commander, 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing
  • Col. Angelo Fernandez
    Commander, Space Delta 3
  • Moderator:
    Lt. Gen. Robert J. Skinner, USAF (Ret.)
    Former Director, Defense Information System Agency
1:40 – 2:20 pm
Potomac D
Air and Missile Defense
  • John Breitenbach
    Director, A&D Markets, Real-Time Innovations
  • Randy Fields
    Chief Technology Officer, Ultra, Inc.
  • Dr. J. Scott Goldstein
    Senior Vice President, Strategy, Parsons
  • Shon Manasco
    Senior Counselor, Palantir
  • Moderator:
    Michael Winkler
    Director of Strategy, Programs, and Plans, Pacific Air Forces
3:20 – 4:20 pm
Potomac AB
United Forces & Families: Senior Leaders Perspectives
  • Gen. David Allvin
    Chief of Staff of the Air Force
  • Gina Allvin
    Wife of CSAF
  • Gen. B. Chance Saltzman
    Chief of Space Operations
  • Jennifer Saltzman, (invited)
    Wife of CSO
  • Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Flosi
  • Katy Flosi
    Wife of CMSAF
  • Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John Bentivegna
  • Cathy Bentivegna
    Wife of CMSSF
  • Moderator:
    Lt. Gen. Burt Field, USAF (Ret.)
    President & CEO, Air & Space Forces Association
6:30 – 8:00 pm
Potomac AB
AFA’s U.S. Air Force Birthday Celebration
*Ticketed Event