[SatNews] At the Space Foundation's 27th National Space Symposium there's going to be a twist for the new generation of attendees.

The Space Foundation's 27th National Space Symposium will feature almost a full week of events targeted to a new generation of space professionals, kicking off on Monday, April 11, with the popular "speed mentoring" new generation leadership exchange.

The premier gathering of the global space community, the 27th National Space Symposium is being held April 11-14 at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado. All new generation events are geared toward Symposium attendees, ages 35 and younger, who are completing their educations or are in the early stages of their careers.

Part of the Space Foundation's New Generation Leadership Initiative, the Symposium activities include the leadership exchange, a welcome reception, workshops, a working lunch and a Thursday-night closing reception for all attendees. See the agenda details at .

There are no additional fees for eligible attendees to participate in the targeted events, but registration is required. New generation participants are encouraged to participate in dialog about the upcoming activities at the 27th National Space Symposium and future New Generation Leadership Initiative activities through Twitter, #NewGenSpace.

About the Leadership Exchange
The new generation leadership exchange provides attendees with an exclusive opportunity to get career advice from distinguished and experienced industry leaders in a dynamic environment. Using a "speed mentoring" format, the participants meet briefly in small groups with the executives, rotating through multiple mentoring sessions during the event. The confirmed executives are:

• The Honorable Barbara M. Barrett, chief executive officer of Triple Creek Guest Ranch, former U.S. Ambassador to Finland and Space Foundation board member
• Emmanuel de Lipkowski, space attaché and representative for the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the government agency responsible for France's space policy, based at the French Embassy in the United States of America
• Martin C. Faga, former director of the National Reconnaissance Office and Space Foundation board member
• The Honorable Lori B. Garver, deputy administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• Lon Levin, president of SkySevenVentures and Space Foundation board treasurer
• James Maser, president of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and Space Foundation board member
• Gen. Thomas S. Moorman, Jr., USAF (Retired), senior executive advisor for Booz Allen Hamilton and director emeritus of the Space Foundation
• Kay Sears, president of Intelsat General, co-chair of the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) and Space Foundation board member
• Patti Grace Smith, principal of Patti Grace Smith Consulting and Space Foundation board member
• Debra Westphal, partner at Toffler & Associates

The Monday afternoon leadership exchange will be followed by a networking welcome reception for new generation attendees. To ensure the entire 27th National Space Symposium audience is aware of the program, everyone who attends the Symposium is invited to a closing networking event, the Reception in Celebration of New Generation Space Leaders, to be held on April 14 after the Space Technology Hall of Fame® dinner. No registration is required for the reception, which is co-sponsored by Iridium, International Space University, Maui Economic Development Board, Inc., Moog and Space Generation Advisory Council.