Defending Space: The Multi-Domain Challenge in a Commercial Era

As space becomes an increasingly contested, congested, and commercialized domain, national defense leaders and innovators are rethinking how we protect U.S. space assets—from satellites to ground operations.

What to expect:

🚀 Welcoming Remarks with George Thomas, Connected DMV: George Thomas will kick off the morning by announcing SpaceNEXT, happening February 18–20, 2026, and why it matters for our region. He’ll highlight how the event brings together technologies driving the new space economy—from in-space manufacturing and refueling to robotics, autonomy, and aerospace—and how these efforts strengthen regional collaboration and position our region at the forefront of the next era of space.

🔥 Fireside Chat: Former General Jim Cartwright and Rob Ruyak of AWS will dive into the evolving landscape of space defense—exploring how commercial integration, mission resilience, and rapid technological advancements are reshaping operational readiness and long-term security.

Bottom line: The future of space defense will be more integrated, data-driven, automated, and commercially empowered. This conversation sets the stage for how government, industry, and regional leaders can move forward—together.

Speakers

Sponsors

Register today:

1. Select the ticket to the right.
2. Click “Checkout”
3. Enter all relevant information in.
4. Pay for your ticket.

To register, members need to have an NVTC profile. If you are unable to register, email membership@nvtc.org.

Registration Policies