Preston Dunlap
Preston Dunlap has over 20 years of executive leadership experience across technology, national security, and private investment. He is the founder of Arkenstone Ventures, serves on Boards and as Lead Independent Director of Pixxel Space Technologies, advises Fortune 100 and growth companies, private equity, venture capital, and institutions such as RAND, Stanford, and MIT and is a Senior External Advisor at Bain & Company.
He led the Defense Department’s Investment Committee strategy, analysis, and diligence for the Secretary of Defense to allocate and deploy $750B+ annually in industry sectors supporting national security, such as infrastructure, services, space, cybersecurity and software, AI, communications, transportation and logistics, ships, aircraft, vehicles, and weapons.
Mr. Dunlap started $250B+ of new programs with 4 Secretaries of Defense, including the newly unveiled B-21 bomber, Hypersonic Prompt Strike, classified space and intelligence, and Joint All-Domain Command and Control programs.
He led initiatives with the Vice President of the United States and Cabinet on the future of commercial, civil, and national security space, transformed federal Venture Capital investment, was the first Chief Technology Officer of the Space Force and Air Force with $75B of products, and served on the ground floor of successful software and infrastructure companies.
He holds a Master of Science in Operations Research and Management Science from George Mason University, a Bachelor’s degree in both Computer Science and Political Science from Duke University, and was a Harvard National Security Executive Fellow.
Mr. Dunlap is frequently cited as an authority in international media and as an expert witness for the United States Congress. His awards include the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service, Secretary of the Air Force Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service, and Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service.
Dr. Jun Asakawa
Dr. Jun Asakawa founded Pale Blue in 2020 to develop next-generation space mobility after working as an assistant professor at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Frontier Sciences. He has led the development of propulsion systems for Procyon Probe (world’s first deep space microsatellite), AQT-D Satellite (water propulsion system), EQUULEUS Satellite (water propulsion system) and other small satellite/spacecraft. With his expertise in propulsion systems, Dr. Asakawa has won MIT Tech Review “Innovators Under 35 Japan 2020,” IEPC “Best Paper Award,” and has been selected as Bloomberg New Economy Catalysts 2022.
Karan Kunjur
Karan is the Co-Founder and CEO of K2 Space. K2 Space is developing a high powered, low cost satellite bus platform that delivers the capability of exquisite satellites at the price point and speed of small satellites. Redesigned from the reaction wheel up, the K2 bus is designed to handle multiple orbits (LEO, MEO, GEO), handle multiple use cases and multi-manifest in launch vehicles like Falcon 9 – delivering 200kW of array power in a single launch. Prior to founding K2 Space, Karan helped build an artificial intelligence company – leading it from seed stage to 9-figure exit.
Before that, he spent almost 10yrs at the Boston Consulting Group, launching new businesses and leading turnaround efforts for their Fortune 500 clients. Karan studied Math and Economics at Northwestern University before getting an MBA from INSEAD.
John Rood
Mr. Rood is the Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO of Momentus (NASDAQ: MNTS), a space company offering infrastructure and transportation services. Since joining the company in August 2021, he has overseen the transition of the company to a public company listed on the NASDAQ exchange, production and launch of the company’s first orbital transfer vehicle, and placement of eight customer satellites in orbit.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Hitachi Vantara Federal, which provides IT services to U.S. Government customers, and formerly served as Chairman of the Board and Security Director of Radisson Hospitality Inc.
Mr. Rood has held executive positions at two of the world’s largest aerospace and defense companies, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
From March 2016 to January 2018, he was Senior Vice President of Lockheed Martin International charged with leading business growth and industrial partnerships in more than 70 countries. He also served as Vice President for Corporate Domestic Business Development at Lockheed Martin. Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Mr. Rood was Vice President for U.S. Business Development at Raytheon from 2009 to 2014.
Public Sector Experience
Mr. Rood has a broad range of government experience, having served as a senior official at the Defense Department, State Department, White House/National Security Council, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and in Congress as a staffer in the U.S. Senate.
From January 2018 to February 2020, Mr. Rood served as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy where he led formulation and coordination of national security policy within the Department of Defense as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense for such matters.
He managed a team of over 2,100 civilians and military service members and was responsible for building partnerships and defense cooperation with U.S. allies, including overseeing the $55B foreign military sales program and export controls.
Mr. Rood managed implementation of strategies, including the National Defense Strategy, resulting in a new focus on addressing the implications of growing competition with the world’s great powers China and Russia. He oversaw development of a new cyber strategy and authorities; a space strategy for the newly- established Space Force; completion of the Missile Defense Review; Nuclear Posture Review; and a counter-terrorism strategy for the defeat of ISIS.
From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Rood served at the State Department as Acting Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security. He also served as Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation.
In two tours at the White House/National Security Council from 2005 to 2006 and 2001 to 2003, he served under President George W. Bush as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counter- proliferation Strategy, and Director for Proliferation Strategy, Counterproliferation, and Homeland Defense. He played a key role in the President’s decision to deploy missile defenses to protect the United States and to withdraw from the 1972 ABM Treaty.
From 2003 to 2005, Rood served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Forces Policy, where he was responsible for the development and oversight of policy and programs related to U.S. nuclear and conventional strategic forces, missile defenses, and space.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Rood worked as Senior Policy Advisor to Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona and as a Fellow for Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi on the Senate Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on International Security. From 1988 to 1999, Rood served in a variety of positions as an analyst at the CIA, including following missile programs in foreign countries.
Mr. Rood holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Arizona State University.
Dr. GP Sandhoo, Capt (Ret), USN
GP Sandhoo is the Vice President and Chief Architect at Quantum Space, focused on developing future space missions and architectures. He has over three decades of experience in space technology and national security, having held technical leadership roles at Northrop Grumman, IARPA, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, NASA, and JHU/APL.
He is also a seasoned military officer with 37+ years in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, where he primarily focused on operationalizing advanced space capabilities for national security, including during the RUS-UKR crisis. His education includes multiple advanced degrees in engineering, space systems, and national security. His career is characterized by his leadership in integrating emerging technologies into space missions.
Tim Sills
Tim Sills is an experienced technical leader with over 20 years of cybersecurity experience in performing security assessments, architecting for compliance, and performing application/network-layer penetration testing. He has worked in the aerospace industry having supported ground station operations and developed satellite communications solutions while with Hughes Space & Communications and AWS. As the Lead Security Solutions Architect for the Americas at AWS, he is responsible for developing security focused cloud solutions that includes AI/ML and high-performance computing workloads for aerospace and satellite customers.