The CSIS Aerospace Security Project and the Hudson Institute are pleased to cohost Delivering Space Capabilities for Warfighting Advantage on Thursday, November 20, 2025. This half-day summit will bring together senior leaders, practitioners, and experts to examine the changing needs of military space operations and how to deliver space capabilities that provide a warfighting advantage.
Transcript — November 20, 2025
The Summit will frame space acquisition challenges in the context of joint operational needs, discuss broader defense acquisition reform efforts, draw on best practices from other domains and organizations, and explore ways to improve the delivery of space capabilities that enhance operational effectiveness for U.S. and allied forces. The summit aims to generate concrete ideas for improving authorities, policies, processes, organizational constructs, funding mechanisms, and personnel management to strengthen the nation’s ability to deliver space capabilities.
Please note: Agenda is subject to change, please check the event site for updates. In-person attendance will be limited. Registrants will receive confirmation of their participation in the days leading up to the Summit.
This event is made possible by the generous support of the Boeing Company and Elara Nova.
Dr. John J. Hamre, President and CEO, and Langone Chair in American Leadership, CSIS
Ms. Kay Sears, Vice President and General Manager, Space, Intelligence & Weapon Systems Development, Boeing Defense, Space & Security, The Boeing Company
Speaker:
Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force
Moderator:
Mr. Stephen Kitay, Senior Vice President, Space Defense, True Anomaly, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy
Panelists:
Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, U.S. Space Force
RADM (Ret.) Michael Studeman, former Commander, Office of Naval Intelligence, and former Director of Intelligence (J2), U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
Moderator:
Mr. Timothy A. Walton, Senior Fellow, Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute
Panelists:
Maj. Gen. Stephen G. Purdy, Jr., Acting Assistant Secretary, U.S. Air Force, and Service Acquisition Executive for Space, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration
Ms. Kay Sears, Vice President and General Manager, Space, Intelligence & Weapon Systems Development, Boeing Defense, Space & Security, The Boeing Company
Mr. Nick Bucci, Vice President, Defense Systems and Technologies, General Atomics - Electromagnetic Systems
Mr. Ben Nicholson, Chief Business Officer, Ursa Major
Moderator:
Ms. Sarah Mineiro, Founder and CEO, Tanagra Enterprises, and Senior Associate (Non-resident), Aerospace Security Project, CSIS
Introductory Remarks:
Mr. Mike Dickey, Founding Partner, Elara Nova
Speaker:
Hon. Dr. Chris Scolese, Director, National Reconnaissance Office
Moderator:
Gen. (Ret.) David D. Thompson, Senior Principal Advisor, Elara Nova, and former Vice Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force
Food will be provided
Panelists:
Mr. Dave Tremper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Acquisition Integration and Interoperability, Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment (invited)
Mr. Moshe Schwartz, President, Etherton and Associates
Dr. Alexis Lasselle Ross, President, Apex Defense Strategies, LLC, and Senior Associate (Non-resident), Center for the Industrial Base, CSIS
Dr. Jack Long, AI Adoption Manager, OpenAI
Moderator:
Hon. Kari A. Bingen, Director, Aerospace Security Project, and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department, CSIS
