Wharton Club of DC Leadership in Innovation Series 6/26:
Aerospace Advances: Innovation at the Intersection of Technology & Policy
Fueling Innovation. Building Community. Driving Growth.
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. They 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.
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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!
Aerospace 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 the Amazon 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 satcom and space network solutions across all domains (sea, air, land, space, cyber) with Project Kuiper’s constellation of 3,000+ low Earth orbit satellites
• Bale Dalton, Head of Space Growth at Vannevar Labs, Navy Reserve Lead at Defense Innovation Unit, and former NASA Chief of Staff sharing insider insights on NASA public-private partnerships and the emerging tech landscape supporting U.S. space operations.
• Moderator: 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 luncheon begins
- 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
- 1:00 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 12): $25/person
- Regular (June 13-26): $35/person
- Strategic Partner Members & Guests: include everyone who lives or works in Arlington; Wharton Club of the National Capital Region; Harvard Club (when you register, please indicate in "Special Instructions" which group is yours.)
- Early Bird (thru June 12): $25/person
- Public
- Early Bird (thru June 12): $35/person
- Regular (June 13-26): $45/person
