TechCrunch was proud to host The Aerospace Corporation at Disrupt 2023 in San Francisco. Here’s an overview of their Breakout session.
Space is big, and working in space is difficult. From the daunting task of achieving interstellar travel, to the pressing concerns about space debris and its potential threat to spacecraft and satellites in orbit, this Disrupt 2023 session dove into the complexities and uncertainties that define the vast expanse beyond our planet. The panelists explored the immense challenges that await humanity as we venture into the cosmos, contemplated the critical issues that we face today, and discussed the cutting-edge research and visionary ideas that pave the way for solving the hardest problems in space.
Speakers
Brian Cameron, Deputy Chief Technology Officer and General Manager, The Aerospace Corporation
Dr. Brian Cameron is the deputy chief technology officer and the general manager of the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) for The Aerospace Corporation. The role of OCTO is threefold: to develop, implement, and manage corporate technical and strategic investments, mature innovative technologies and prototype advanced concepts, and drive engagement with commercial partners to harness solutions for government missions. Prior to joining OCTO, Dr. Cameron served as Principal Director for Advanced Research and Engineering focused on advanced technology development, R&D space systems, innovative ground systems, and strategic planning for a national security space customer. He started at Aerospace in the Engineering and Technology Group in various roles related to performance modeling and simulation for advanced sensors, algorithm development, prototyping, and payload development for national security and civil space customers. Dr. Cameron received his BA in physics from Cornell and his PhD in astrophysics from Caltech.
Tanya Pemberton, SVP, National Systems Group, The Aerospace Corporation
Tanya Pemberton is senior vice president of the National Systems Group at The Aerospace Corporation. Pemberton is responsible for the company’s support to the national security space and intelligence community in the acquisition, launch, and orbital operation of advanced technology space systems and their supporting ground systems. She assumed this position in September 2019. Prior to joining Aerospace, Pemberton was the chief information officer and director of information technology (IT) services for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). There, she led and directed NGA’s mission and enterprise IT development and operations, transforming NGA’s technical infrastructure into a modern, cloud-based, data-centric architecture to better serve the geospatial intelligence needs of the nation. As CIO, she also oversaw strategy, policy, implementation, and governance of NGA’s IT investments. Pemberton has more than 30 years of experience in both industry and the federal government, delivering large-scale technical systems and working problems across multiple business sectors to include space systems, mission ground systems, information technology, and analytic organizations. Over the past decade, Pemberton served in a number of senior executive assignments to include chief of staff, associate deputy director for Science and Technology, and director of the intelligence community’s Open Source Center. Earlier in her government career, she served at the National Reconnaissance Office leading and managing the acquisition and development for a variety of technical initiatives and programs in the Geospatial and Signals Intelligence Directorates. Most notably, she served as program director for a next-generation, multi-billion-dollar imaging satellite system, managing acquisition, development, and delivery.
Al Tadros, Chief Technology Officer, Redwire
Al Tadros is the chief technology officer of Redwire. In this role, he is focused on making strategic investments that support Redwire’s customers, advancing technology development and commercialization, and maintaining a nimble and collaborative technical culture. With nearly three decades of experience as an aerospace executive, Al is a thought leader in in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing with a proven track record in maturing satellite and space systems programs for exploration, national security, and commercial innovation. Previously, Al was chief growth officer and executive vice president of Space Infrastructure at Redwire. In this role, he oversaw the company’s long-term growth strategy and business development activities and was responsible for advancing development, increasing adoption, and building momentum for Redwire’s mission-enabling capabilities within the civil, defense, and commercial space sectors. Prior to Redwire, he served as vice president of Space Infrastructure and Civil Space at Maxar Technologies, where he led significant innovation in next-generation spacecraft design and space infrastructure, integrating robotics and in-space satellite manufacturing, servicing, and assembly capabilities. Over the course of his career at Maxar, Al contributed to 13 missions and launch campaigns, many of which deployed cutting-edge communications and remote sensing systems. Al has worked with both commercial enterprises and government agencies to develop space systems for communications, satellite servicing, remote sensing, and exploration. An authority in in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing, Al holds patents in the field of attitude control systems and was responsible for early telerobotics research for the International Space Station. He holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Colonel Wallace Turnbull, Deputy Director, Space Systems Integration Office, Space Systems Command
Colonel Wallace “Rhet” Turnbull III is deputy director, Space Systems Integration Office, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. The Space Systems Integration Office defines and manages an integrated, threat-based, system-of-systems space enterprise to deliver warfighting capabilities. Colonel Turnbull entered the Air Force in 1995 as a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He has led at the Materiel Leader and Senior Materiel Leader levels and has served in a variety of operations and acquisitions positions, including spacecraft engineer, program manager and chief engineer. Colonel Turnbull has deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as ministerial engagement officer at International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan Joint Command, Kabul, Afghanistan. Colonel Turnbull has served in staff assignments at the Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike and at Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Command. Prior to his current assignment, the colonel served as the director, Cross-Mission Ground and Communications Enterprise, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. He transferred to the United States Space Force in 2021.