Space Day: Forging Stronger Ties

⏰👉 Please note we are reaching capacity for this event! Parking on campus is VERY limited - we highly recommend traveling via MTS trolley (the UC San Diego Blue Line and getting off at the UC San Diego Central Campus Stop) or using ride share such as Uber or Lyft. More information and parking options can be found below.

 Bringing together space industry leaders with faculty, researchers, and startups from across UC San Diego.

Join UC San Diego and top space industry leaders for an afternoon of idea exchange and collaboration - all followed by a star-studded networking mixer! This event will bring together faculty, industry leaders, government partners, and investors that are shaping the next era of space economy - from life science to dual-use technologies and space infrastructure.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, researcher, or space enthusiast - this Space Day Forum this is your chance to connect with the people and ideas defining the next era of space innovation, exploration and commercialization.

Thank you to our proud Event Sponsors - Viasat and Quartus Engineering! 

What to Expect/Agenda:

1:30 p.m. | Registration (Coffee and Tea)

2:00 p.m. | Welcome (15 minutes total)

• Corinne Peek-Asa, Ph.D. - Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation
• Paul Roben, Ph.D - Associate Vice Chancellor for OIC

2:15 p.m. | Keynote Speaker & Presentation 

A dual-perspective keynote featuring a leading space founder and the Chair of DARPA’s Investment Committee. Each will unpack the forces transforming today’s space landscape - from bold entrepreneurship to federal investment priorities, and what’s needed to advance U.S. space leadership and commercialization.

• Karl Stedman - Founder and CEO of Pulse Space, a cutting-edge space company advancing next-generation power systems built for resilience and frontier applications. A self-taught serial entrepreneur, Karl has founded ventures across AI, aerospace, and finance, bringing a first-principles approach to solving complex engineering and infrastructure challenges.
• Dominic Gallello - Chair, Investment Committee at DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). Mr. Gallello is spearheading DARPA’s efforts to create a new business model to rapidly deliver a classified Program of Record and is partnering in the development of DARPA’s Space Strategy. Mr. Gallello is an established technology leader who as CEO, led his last three companies from a ~$300M valuation to ~$1.3B in exit value. 

2:45 p.m. | Faculty Lightning Talks with Q/A - x3 (10 minutes each)

• Aaron Rosengren, Ph.D. – Professor at UC San Diego and leader in space situational awareness and astrodynamics, with over 30 peer-reviewed journal publications and 110 conference papers and abstracts.
• John D. Evans, Ph.D. - Founder and CEO of ReflecTek
• Tania Moroimoto, Ph.D. -  Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Head of Morimoto Lab, and part of UC San Diego Contextual Robotics Institute

3:15 p.m. | Roundtable Discussion: Industry, Government Partnerships (45 minutes)

• Matt Martinez - Vice President of Transformation at ViasatViasat is a global communications company. Matt is spearheading the strategic overhaul of Viasat’s government business, optimizing operations, improving efficiency, increasing competitiveness, and enhancing the delivery of mission critical, secure communications solutions across air, land, sea, cyber, and space. Previously, Matt spent 10 years at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) building and leading BCG's North American Space Industry business.
• Dominic Gallello - Chair, Investment Committee at DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)
• Maria Onorato - Associated Deputy Director for Industry Engagement and Development at the CA Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). 
• Karl Stedman - Founder and CEO of Pulse Space

• Moderator: Rachel Costello - Director of Innovating for National Security (i4NS), UC San Diego

4:00 p.m. | 20 Minute Break (Refreshments, Snacks)

4:20 p.m. | Panel: Backing the Bold: Funding Space Innovation and Commercialization

• Andrew Ermitano – Deputy Chief of Space Ventures, SpaceWERX (Oversees a $500M portfolio accelerating Space Force capabilities including SBIR/STTR opportunities)
• Mela Louise Norman – Partner at New Vista Capital (focused on space and national security)
• Sabrina Steele, Executive Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications, The Aerospace Corporation 
• Drew Busbee, MBA - Executive Director of Disruptive Technology Index (DTI). 
• Moderator: Greg Horowitt - Director of Innovation Design, UC San Diego

5:00 | Frontiers of Innovation: From In-Space Manufacturing to Space Medicine (30 minutes)

• Elizabeth Reynolds -  Executive Advisor of Methuselah Foundation 
• Michael Reily, MBA - Chief Strategy Officer at Varda Space Industries 
• Cat Jamieson, MD, Ph.D - Director of the UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute and Integrated Stem Cell Orbital Research (ISSCOR) Center’ Founder/CEO of Aspera Biomedicines.
• Moderator: Kiana Aran, Ph.D. - Professor of Bioengineering and Co-Director of Center for Technologies for Healthy Aging, UC San Diego

5:30 p.m. | Faculty Lightning Talks with Q/A - x2

• Alysson Muotri, Ph.D. –Director of the Sanford Integrated Space Stem Cell Orbital Research (ISSCOR) Center and Head of the Muotri Lab.
• Kobi Koffler, Ph.D., MBA - Head of UCSD Laboratory of Neural Engineering and Founder of Auxillium Technologies.

5:50 p.m. | Closing Remarks & Next Steps, Call to Action 

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 pm| Networking Mixer (Appetizers, Refreshments)

Networking mixer to explore pathways to advance San Diego space technologies and talent through cross-campus collaborations and industry/government partnerships. Completed bingo cards get a goody bag at the duration of the event/when they exit.

Directions to the Design & Innovation Building

The event is located on the second floor (room 208) of the Design and Innovation Building (DIB). The entrances are located across from the Structural Materials and Engineering building or next to the UC San Diego Central Campus Station bus and trolley stop.

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MTS Trolley

The easiest way to get to the DIB is by taking the MTS trolley UC San Diego Blue Line and getting off at the UC San Diego Central Campus stop. The trolley stop is a short 1 minute walk to the DIB.

Parking

Public transportation is highly recommended as parking is limited on campus. If you plan to drive to campus, please give yourself plenty of time. You can download the ParkMobile app to pay for your space digitally once you find a spot.

• P506 - Pay and Display, Northside of the DIB
• P504 - Pay and Display, Northside of the DIB
• P510 - Pay and Display, Northside of the DIB *closest to the DIB*
• Gilman Parking Structure, Southwest side of the DIB