Wharton Club of DC Leadership in Innovation Series 6/26:
Space Advances: Innovation at the Intersection of Technology & Policy
Fueling Innovation. Building Community. Driving Growth.
with an All-Star Panel!
The Wharton Club of DC is proud to launch the Leadership in Innovation Series — a premier platform showcasing the entrepreneurs, executives, and investors who are shaping the future of the Washington, DC innovation economy.
Through quarterly events in partnership with Arlington Economic Development, we are bringing together business leaders, founders, investors, academics, and policymakers. Participants will hear directly from industry pioneers, build powerful connections, and strengthen the innovation ecosystem in the DC metro region — all powered by the Wharton alumni network and its partners, including Harvard, Oxford and other top alumni and business groups.
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These quarterly thought leadership and networking events will culminate with the annual Wharton DC Innovation Summit. This year's summit will occur on November 6th at the Valo Park Conference Center in Tysons Corner, VA, likely to be followed with an Embassy reception the following night.
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Attendees at the Leadership in Innovation luncheon will be able to provide input on the timely topics that they believe should be discussed at the annual summit.
Join us for the Inaugural Wharton DC Leadership in Innovation Luncheon on Thursday, June 26th at 11:00 am!
Space Advances: Innovation at the Intersection of Technology & Policy
- The DC region is home to one of the world's most influential aerospace hubs — with agencies like NASA, the FAA, and the DoD, and leading companies such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Leidos, and Amazon's Project Kuiper shaping the industry's future.
- Join us as we explore how this ecosystem is accelerating cutting-edge innovation, reshaping satellite communications, and creating new opportunities for collaboration and investment—in space and here on earth.
Panelists:
• Ricky Freeman, President, Amazon Kuiper Government Solutions:
Leading the US and International Government business providing broadband satellite communications and space network solutions across all domains (sea, air, land, space, cyber) with Project Kuiper’s constellation of 3,000+ low Earth orbit satellites, which launched on April 28, 2025.
Kevin Coggins, Deputy Associate Administrator @ NASA: Transforming Space Communications and Navigation through:
• Driving programmatic and technical rigor into NASA space communications and navigation programs, recovering millions in Buying Power.
• Strategic pursuit of Commercial Space Partners.
• Architecting the next generation of space communications and navigation capabilities on the tenets of interoperability, extensibility, and embracing commercial space partners.Mike Moreno, Vice President of Strategy @ Lunar Outpost: Building a sustainable human presence in space, beginning with the MAPP rover landing on the South Pole of the Moon in March 2025.
- Grad, UCal Berkeley Haas School of Business.
• Moderator: Ché Bolden, President & CEO, The 
Charles F. Bolden Group: A Marine Corps veteran with extensive political and international affairs expertise, Ché Bolden has become a thought leader on global advancement of leadership and the Business of Space.
Special Presentation about the $1 Million Arlington Innovation Fund by Michael Stiefvater, Director of the Business Investment Group at AED -- a great source of potential funding for tech startups. Learn how to qualify!
- Organizer: Belinda Matingou, Global Partnerships Leader, Amazon Web Services, and Chair of the Wharton DC Leadership in Innovation Committee.
Location:
- Join us at the headquarters of Arlington Economic Development at 1100 N Glebe Rd, Suite 1500, Arlington, VA. The office is located in Ballston Plaza, and parking is available in the building's garage for a $13 fee.
- Transit by Metro is a convenient option; Ballston Plaza is less than a 10-minute walk from the Ballston Metro stop (Orange and Silver Lines).
Schedule:
- 11:00 am: The networking and luncheon begin
- 12:00 Noon: Panel discussion begins at 12:00 noon, including Q&A
- Begins with brief description by Michael Stiefvater of $1M Arlington Innovation Fund - a great source of potential funding. Learn what to do to potentially qualify!
- 1:00-1:30 pm: More networking opportunities for you
Register NOW:
All rates include networking, program and lunch:
- Lifetime & President’s Club: up to 2, comps
- Wharton Club Members & Guests
- Early Bird (thru June 19): $25/person
- Regular (June 20-26): $35/person
- Strategic Partner Members & Guests: include everyone who lives or works in Arlington; Harvard Club (when you register, please indicate in "Special Instructions" which group is yours.)
- Early Bird (thru June 19) $25/person
- Public
- Early Bird (thru June 19): $35/person
- Regular (June 20-26) $45/person
