Strategic Space and Defense 2006 draws top national security leaders to Omaha next week

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 4, 2006) — The Space Foundation and Space Newspresent Strategic Space and Defense 2006 at the Qwest Center Omaha Convention Center and Arena Oct. 10-12, 2006. Organizers expect more than 2,000 people to participate in various aspects of the conference that addresses both the space-related and strategic missions of the United States Strategic Command. The conference’s opening ceremony Tuesday, Oct. 10 features GRAMMY award-winning group The Manhattan Transfer performing with The Omaha Symphony at 6 p.m. at Omaha’s new Holland Performing Arts Center. Strategic Space and Defense 2006 continues to expand the dialogue and foster relationships and understanding between the senior leadership of the Command, appropriate component and supported commands, the aerospace contractor community, federal officials, and other leaders. For secure online registration, a complete program agenda, and speaker, exhibitor, and sponsor lists, visit www.StratSpace.org. The conference includes two full days of featured speakers and panel sessions, two luncheons, an exhibit center, and a closing reception. College students, transitioning military, and entry-level aerospace personnel have the opportunity to attend the Space Career Fair Tuesday, Oct. 10. Additionally, more than 300 local Nebraska students will tour the exhibit center as part of a Space Foundation educational outreach program to inspire, enable, and propel the next generation of explorers. Panel topics include

• Intelligence for Our Strategic Forces
• International Perspectives – Strategic Security Through Alliances
• Commercial Applications for Emerging Strategic Threats
• Operationally Responsive Space, Missile Defense and Prompt Global Strike – Strategic Capabilities for Combatant Commanders
• Iraq, Afghanistan and the Global War on Terror – Frontline Views of the Command Chiefs
• Operational Impact – Programs, Budgets and Capitol Hill
• JFCC Roundtable – ‘Purple’ Solutions to Executing STRATCOM’s Missions

Featured speakers at Strategic Space and Defense 2006 are The Honorable Terry Everett, chairman, Strategic Forces Subcommittee, House Armed Services Committee, United States House of Representatives; Gen. James E. Cartwright, USMC, commander, United States Strategic Command; The Honorable Dr. Ronald M. Sega, under secretary of the Air Force; Mr. Wes Bush, president and chief financial officer, Northrop Grumman Corporation; Ms. Joanne Maguire, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin Space Systems; Lt Gen Frank G. Klotz, USAF, vice commander, Air Force Space Command; Lt Gen. Robert Kehler, USAF, deputy commander, United States Strategic Command; LTG Larry J. Dodgen, USA, commander, United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command/ United States Army Forces Strategic Command and Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense; Maj Gen William L. Shelton, USAF, commander, 14th Air Force; and RADM John Acton, USCG, deputy director of Operations, United States Northern Command. The opening ceremony and the reception are co-sponsored by Lockheed Martin Corporation and the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Other sponsors of Strategic Space and Defense 2006 are AirLaunch, Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI), ATK, the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, The Boeing Company, Booz Allen Hamilton, Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), CSP Associates, Inc., Honeywell, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Company, and Sterling Computers, a Sun iForce partner. The Space Foundation is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Colorado Springs that advances civil, commercial, and national security space endeavors and inspires, enables, and propels tomorrow’s explorers. The Space Foundation has offices in Washington, D.C., and Cape Canaveral, Fla. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org. Space News is the premier business-to-business international news weekly dedicated entirely to the commercial and military space and satellite communications’ businesses. For more information, visit www.space.com/spacenews.