Satnews Daily
September 3rd, 2009

Space Foundation Steps Up To a Delicate Balancing Act — Tight Rope at the Strategic Space Symposium


space foundation It is said that perhaps one of the biggest challenges to a truly global space program is determining how much information can, and should, be shared among the parties involved. A key track session at the Strategic Space Symposium will examine the balancing acts regularly performed between national security and public awareness, between military and commercial entities, and among the nations that share space in space.

QWest Center Omaha The Strategic Space Symposium, jointly sponsored by USSTRATCOM and the Space Foundation, will address this topic in the Policy/Strategy Challenges to Implementing Data Sharing track session. The Symposium will be held November 2 - 4 at the Qwest Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.

The Symposium agenda mixes general session speakers and panels with smaller track sessions that are then divided into intimate breakouts. The track and breakout sessions will be highly interactive, with ample opportunities for participants to interface with topic experts and with military, civil space, and industry leaders.

The Policy/Strategy Challenges to Implementing Data Sharing track session will be led by Maj. Gen. Susan J. Helms, USAF, a former space shuttle astronaut who is now director of Plans and Policy for USSTRATCOM. This track will include three breakout sessions that will directly address some of the most difficult data-sharing questions:

  • David Anhalt, will lead the discussion on Dedicated Military Payloads on Commercial Satellites. A former colonel in the Air Force, Anhalt has a background in engineering, education, and international relations and is now senior director, Advanced Programs, for Orbital Sciences Corporation, the industry leader in small space and rocket systems
  • Brig. Gen. Edward "Ed" Bolton, Jr., USAF, will lead the Criticality of Space Situational Awareness in the Launch Arena breakout session. Currently commander of the 45th Space Wing and director of the Eastern Range, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, Bolton also served at the National Reconnaissance Office as the deputy director for Systems Integration and Engineering.
  • The International Data Sharing Challenges breakout session will be led by William Schuster, chief operating officer of GeoEye, Inc., a worldwide supplier of geospatial imagery products. Schuster has broad industry experience coupled with a number of years with the Central Intelligence Agency.
The track sessions and corresponding breakouts each will be conducted three times during the Strategic Space Symposium to ensure that all attendees have a chance to participate.

featured speakers The Strategic Space Symposium will also feature track sessions on: Improving Integration of Space Effects and Determining the Value of Responsive Space as an Element of Our National Space Strategy.

Track and Breakout Sessions Complement Strong General Session Slate
The Strategic Space Symposium's general sessions feature high-level industry, civil space, and military leaders, including (in order of scheduled appearance):
  • The Honorable Dave Heineman, governor of the State of Nebraska
  • Elliot Pulham, chief executive officer of the Space Foundation
  • Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, USAF, commander, U.S. Strategic Command
  • Vice Adm. Carl V. Mauney, USN, deputy commander, United States Strategic Command
  • Maj. Gen. Harold W. "Punch" Moulton, II, director of operations, United States European Command
  • Lt. Gen. Francis H. Kearney, III, USA, deputy commander, United States Special Operations Command
  • Air Commodore Mark Roberts, Royal Air Force, United Kingdom
  • Vice Adm. Robert B. Murrett, USN, director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  • Wanda Austin, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, The Aerospace Corporation
  • Rick Ambrose, vice president and general manager, Surveillance & Navigation, Lockheed Martin
  • David M. DiCarlo, Ph.D., sector vice president and general manager, Space Systems Division, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems
  • Brig. Gen. Robert T. "Tip" Osterthaler, USAF (Retired), president and chief executive officer, AMERICOM Government Services
  • Lt. Gen. Larry James, USAF, commander Joint Functional Component Command for Space
  • Lt. Gen. Kevin Campbell, USA, commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense
  • Brig. Gen. Michael J. Carey, USAF, deputy director, Global Operations, Global Operations Directorate, United States Strategic Command


The Strategic Space Symposium offers space and defense professionals an unparalleled opportunity for education, interactive discussion, and exposure to the latest space operations technologies related to global space strategy and warfighter issues and requirements. In addition to the track and breakout sessions, speeches, and panel discussions, the Symposium features networking opportunities and exhibits. It is expected to attract more than 1,500 government officials, military leaders, top industry executives, and exhibitors from around the world. The Space Foundation's co-sponsors at the Strategic Space Symposium are AMERICOM Government Services, AVIATION WEEK, Analytical Graphics, Inc., ATK, the Bellevue (Neb.) Chamber of Commerce, Boeing, CISCO, CSP Associates, Defense Systems, IntelSat, ManTech, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and exclusive media partner Space News. For more information, including online registration, preliminary agenda, and exhibitor and sponsorship information, go to.

Located at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. Strategic Command is one of 10 unified commands in the Department of Defense. The command headquarters represents all four services, including Department of Defense civilians and contractors, and oversees the command's operationally focused global strategic mission. USSTRATCOM integrates and coordinates the necessary command and control capability to provide support with the most accurate and timely information for the President, the Secretary of Defense, other National Leadership, and regional combatant commanders. USSTRATCOM combines the synergy of the U.S. legacy nuclear command and control mission with responsibility for space operations; global strike; Defense Department information operations; global missile defense; and global command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR), and combating weapons of mass destruction. This dynamic command gives National Leadership a unified resource for greater understanding of specific threats around the world and the means to respond to those threats rapidly.