Strategic Space Symposium Focuses on Global Space Strategy for On-the-Ground Combatant Operations

USSTRATCOM/Space Foundation Event Set for 2-4 Nov. in Omaha

OMAHA, Neb./COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 20, 2009) - The Strategic Space Symposium, set for  2-4 Nov., 2009, at Qwest Center Omaha in Omaha, Neb., will offer space and defense professionals an unparalleled opportunity for education, interactive discussion, and exposure to the latest space operations technologies. Co-sponsored by the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) and the Space Foundation, the event is expected to attract more than 1,500 government officials, military leaders, top industry executives, educators, students, and exhibitors from around the world.

Focused directly on global space strategy and warfighter issues and requirements, the Strategic Space Symposium will feature two full days of interactive training sessions, speeches, panel discussions, networking opportunities, exhibits, and concurrent educational programs for teachers and students. Themed Advancing Space Capabilities and Strengthening Operations to Promote Global Security, the Symposium will showcase industry best practices, cutting-edge technologies, and emerging space capabilities, as well as providing a platform to discuss challenging space issues and shape space policy. Presentations will include perspectives from senior leaders from the Department of Defense, U.S. and Allied government, industry, and academia. Breakout sessions, which will be led by top-level military leaders from USSTRATCOM Commands, will explore a variety of topics, including space situational awareness, defense of space, protection of assets, current and future space policy, warfighting needs, capability gaps in space technologies, and emerging capabilities, and will give attendees ample opportunity to participate in open discussion and formulation of recommendations.
 
USSTRATCOM sponsorship ensures high-level military participation and the opportunity to network with military leaders.

"The Strategic Space Symposium is a great team effort by U.S. Strategic Command and the Space Foundation to provide a forum for bringing together the diverse space community to address the Combatant Commands' needs," said Gen. Kevin Chilton, commander of U.S. Strategic Command. "It will help foster mutual understanding for a successful way ahead in an increasingly complex, dynamic space environment."

Space Foundation sponsorship ensures involvement by a broad range of space leaders from throughout the world both on the agenda and in the exhibit hall.
 
"The Symposium focuses squarely on warfighter requirements and the significant interaction necessary between space operators and industry," said Space Foundation Chief Executive Officer Elliot Pulham, "The Space Foundation and USSTRATCOM see this event as an excellent platform for discussing challenging issues, fostering innovation, strengthening relationships and collaboration among individuals and organizations involved in space, and shaping future space policy."

Space News is the Space Foundation's exclusive media partner at the Strategic Space Symposium. 

For more information, including online registration, preliminary agenda and exhibitor and sponsorship information, go to www.StrategicSpaceSymposium.org.

About USSTRATCOM
Located at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Neb., U.S. Strategic Command is one of ten unified commands in the Department of Defense. The command headquarters represents all four services, including Department of Defense civilians and contractors, and oversees the command's operationally focused global strategic mission. USSTRATCOM integrates and coordinates the necessary command and control capability to provide support with the most accurate and timely information for the President, the Secretary of Defense, other National Leadership, and regional combatant commanders. USSTRATCOM combines the synergy of the U.S. legacy nuclear command and control mission with responsibility for space operations; global strike; Defense Department information operations; global missile defense; and global command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR), and combating weapons of mass destruction. This dynamic command gives National Leadership a unified resource for greater understanding of specific threats around the world and the means to respond to those threats rapidly.

About the Space Foundation
The Space Foundation is an international nonprofit organization and the foremost advocate for all sectors of the space industry - civil, commercial, and national security. Founded in 1983, the Space Foundation is a leader in space awareness activities, educational programs that bring space into the classroom, and major industry events, all in support of its mission "to advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable, and propel humanity." An expert in all aspects of the global space industry, the Space Foundation publishes The Space Report 2009: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity and provides three indices that track daily performance of the space industry. In addition to the Strategic Space Symposium, the Space Foundation will sponsor - along with partnering organizations - the 26th National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 12-15, 2010. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation conducts research and analysis and government affairs activities from its Washington, D.C., office and has field representatives in Houston, Texas, and Cape Canaveral, Fla. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org.  Follow us on Twitter: SpaceFoundation.

No federal endorsement of the Space Foundation or any of its members or affiliates is intended or implied.
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