Opening Reception; Dinner Launch Strategic Space Symposium

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 2, 2009) — The Strategic Space Symposium got off to a grand start on Nov. 2 with an Oktoberfest-themed Opening Reception in the AMERICOM Government Services (AGS) Exhibit Center.

Welcomed by Space Foundation CEO Elliot Pulham, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle, United States Strategic Command Commander Gen. Kevin Chilton, USAF, and AGS President and CEO Brig. Gen. Tip Osterthaler, USAF (Retired) (pictured), guests mingled among the almost 40 exhibits, reconnecting with acquaintances, making new business connections, and discussing the upcoming Symposium. Then, at the Congressional and International Partners Dinner, co-sponsored by CISCO Systems, Inc., and Intelsat General Corporation, the Space Foundation recognized attending Congressional staff members and a diverse group of international military and space leaders:

• Brig. Gen. Yves Arnaud, commander, French Joint Space Command, French Ministry of Defence General Staff
• Maj. Gen. Stuart Beare, chief of force development, National Defence, Canada
• Lt. Col. Shlomo Feder, head of Space Branch, Israeli Air Force
• OE Hiroshi, director general for International Affairs, Bureau of Defense Policy, Ministry of Defense, Japan
• Air Commodore David Steele, air attache, Embassy of Australia, Australian Department of Defence
• Air Commodore Jan van Hoof, assistant director capabilities, NATO’s Joint Air Power Competence Centre at Kalkar in Germany
   

Presented through a Space Foundation/United States Strategic Command partnership, the Strategic Space Symposium runs through Nov. 4 at the Qwest Center Omaha in Omaha, Neb. More than 1,800 attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors are on hand for the program that features high-level government and military leaders from the U.S. Strategic Command, the National Reconnaissance Office, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, DARPA, Joint Functional Component Commands, the European, Northern, Southern and Special Operations Commands, the Space Foundation, The Aerospace Corporation, AMERICOM Government Services, GeoEye, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Orbital Sciences, and Raytheon.

Much of the event is made possible through the support of a number of major sponsors and co-sponsors:

• Space News: Exclusive Media Partner
• AMERICOM Government Services: Exhibit Center and hotel key cards sponsor
• Northrop Grumman: Nov. 3 Keynote Luncheon and Dessert sponsor; badge holder sponsor
• Raytheon: Nov. 4 Luncheon – Warfighter Perspectives sponsor
• Boeing: Nov. 3 Honoring the Men and Women of USSTRATCOM Reception sponsor
• Analytical Graphics, Inc.: Official software sponsor
• ATK: Portfolio sponsor
• AVIATION WEEK: Cyberspace Center and Exhibitor Lounge sponsor
• Bellevue (Nebraska) Chamber of Commerce: Nov. 4 Networking Breakfast sponsor
• CISCO Systems, Inc.: Congressional and International Partners Dinner co-sponsor
• CSC: Note jotter sponsor
• CSP Associates: Nov. 3 Networking Breakfast sponsor
• Defense Systems: Coffee Station sponsor
• Intelsat General Corporation: Congressional and International Partners Dinner co-sponsor
• Integral Systems, Inc.: Nov. 4 Dessert Buffet Sponsor
• Lockheed Martin: Student tours and Teacher Space Seminar co-sponsor
• ManTech: Pen sponsor
• NASA Nebraska Space Grant: Student tours and Teacher Space Seminar co-sponsor
• SpaceX: Pocket program agenda sponsor
• Sterling Computers: Wireless Internet service sponsor

 For more details on the Strategic Space Symposium, including agenda and speakers, click here.

No federal endorsement of the Space Foundation or any of its members or affiliates is intended or implied. Sponsorship agreements are with the Space Foundation for programs and materials supplied by the Space Foundation.
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