A.C. Charania brings over 20 years of leadership to the intersection of aerospace innovation, advanced product development, and government engagement. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Space Business Development at Zeno Power, he also provides strategic oversight as a member of the Board of Directors at Vast and as an advisor to Balerion Space Ventures.
His previous role was NASA’s Chief Technologist where he served as the primary advisor to agency leadership on strategic research and development, guiding the technological roadmap for the future of space exploration. His recent work at NASA spearheaded advancements in critical frontiers, including AI and autonomy, quantum technology, nuclear power, and advanced imagery.
Throughout his career, he has established a proven track record of delivering disruptive innovations across commercial spaceflight, lunar exploration, planetary defense, and hypersonic programs. He is a recognized expert in building high-impact partnerships across the public-private ecosystem, having successfully captured more than a billion dollars in government and commercial contracts.
Prior to his current roles, he held pivotal positions at industry leaders including Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, Reliable Robotics, and SpaceWorks Enterprises. He holds an advanced degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has authored dozens of technical papers and presented to more than 200 global audiences, contributing significantly to the field.
Tahara Dawkins is the Director of Policy at Astroscale U.S., where she leads efforts to advance space sustainability, satellite servicing, and responsible operations through policy and regulatory engagement across the United States and internationally. In this role, she works at the intersection of government, industry, and multilateral forums to help shape policy frameworks for emerging mission areas, including on-orbit servicing and proximity operations. She actively engages in international discussions on spectrum, space situational awareness, and operational coordination, contributing to efforts that promote safe, predictable, and sustainable space activities.
Prior to joining Astroscale U.S., Tahara served as Chief of Staff for the White House National Space Council, where she played a central role in coordinating U.S. space policy across federal agencies and supporting the development of national space strategy. She also led the Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office at the U.S. Department of Commerce, overseeing licensing and regulatory policy for U.S. private remote sensing satellite systems.
With more than 25 years of experience in space policy, Tahara brings deep expertise in regulatory frameworks, international collaboration, and the integration of commercial capabilities into national and global space strategies. She is known for her ability to bridge policy and operations, helping ensure that evolving regulatory approaches remain grounded in the realities of modern space missions.
Amber McIntyre is the Senior Director of Civil Space at the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). A seasoned space policy expert, she brings extensive experience in federal and international space policy, having led key initiatives across multiple U.S. government agencies.
McIntyre joined AIA from the National Space Policy Council in the Executive Office of the Vice President, where she served as Director of International Space Policy. She led U.S. space policy coordination across agencies like NASA, the State Department, and the Department of Defense, advancing national security, global partnerships, and the Artemis Accords.
Prior to her time at the White House, McIntyre served as Counselor for Interagency and International Relations at NASA, where she advised the Administrator on space diplomacy, international partnerships, and strategic agency priorities. She also worked at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, managing key diplomatic engagements and intergovernmental relations. Earlier in her career, she held various public affairs and policy roles at the U.S. Department of State, supporting foreign policy initiatives across Africa, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
McIntyre holds a B.A. in political science and religion from Florida State University, an M.P.A. from American University, and a business administration certification from Georgetown University.
Ryan Cooperman is Director of Public Policy and Government Relations at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), where he leads the organization’s advocacy efforts across Congress, federal agencies, and the broader aerospace policy ecosystem including all international affairs. With nearly two decades of experience in government affairs, Ryan has worked across the financial services and aerospace sectors, advising senior executive leaders on legislative strategy, regulatory policy, and political engagement. He previously held roles at Ally Financial, Transamerica Life insurance, the Financial Services Institute, The Housing Policy Council, and began his career in the U.S. House of Representatives. Ryan holds a J.D. and is based in Washington, D.C.
Avery Goldberg is a Senior Analyst based in Renaissance Strategic Advisors’ Washington DC office. Prior to joining Renaissance, Avery was an engineering intern at Aerojet Rocketdyne, performing design and analysis tasks focused on solid propulsion systems. Since joining the firm in 2023, Avery has supported a variety of engagements across government services, naval, ground, air, and space. She is a member of the firm’s space Community of Practice and helps to manage space-related IP.
Avery received a BS in Aerospace Engineering and a minor in Data Science from the University of Virginia in 2023. She focused on mechanical design and analysis for air and space systems, culminating in a thesis on hypersonic test vehicles in space.
Ashley Peter is a Technical Integration Manager in the Moon to Mars, Systems Engineering & Integration (SE&I) office at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. In this role, Ms. Peter supports the Moon to Mars Imagery Team on the technical integration of engineering, outreach, and science & utilization imagery across the Artemis missions.
Ms. Peter has over 10 years of experience with the federal government as both a civil servant and contractor. She began her career at Booz Allen Hamilton supporting data analytics projectswith the United States Navy and NASA. She later joined NASA’s Moon to Mars Program Planning & Control Office leading schedule management and risk analysis of the Artemis missions. Throughout her career, Ms. Peter has led innovative data analysis and project management capabilities to help better inform decision-making across the federal government.
In 2022, Ms. Peter received the NASA Early Career Achievement Medal. Ms. Peter earned an M.A. from George Washington University’s Space Policy Institute and a B.S. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences andManagement Science. She served as the SGx2024 Event Manager and organized severalpast SGAC flagship events.
Raleigh Wooldridge is the Director of Strategic Programs at Exolaunch, where he supports the senior leadership team on operational and strategic initiatives. He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s MMM program, earning an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and an MS in Design Innovation from the McCormick School of Engineering. His background includes a range of roles across the space industry including corporate development at Blue Origin, strategy and government affairs at Firefly Aerospace, and aerospace strategy consulting at Renaissance Strategic Advisors. Raleigh participates actively in the space industry as Treasurer of SGAC and via other young professional organisations including the Matthew Isakowitz Space Scholars and IAF’s IPMC Young Professionals Leadership Development Programme. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering through the Engineering Honors Program from the University of Texas at Austin.
A recognized expert in small satellite systems, Jungkyu has been engaged in high-profile international missions, including ESA’s Solar Orbiter and the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter . Before stepping into his commercial leadership role, he served as the Director of Systems Development for Nara Space’sObserver-1 CubeSat, where he played a pivotal role in engineering the company’s next-generation platforms and the Narsha methane – monitoring constellation .
Jungkyu holds a Ph.D. in Space Science from Kyung Hee University, with a research focus on magnetic anomalies and CubeSat technology. This deep technical foundation allows him to translate complex aerospace capabilities into actionable business solutions for a rapidly evolving global market.
Beyond his executive responsibilities, Jungkyu is a dedicated advocate for space education. He is a frequent speaker and public outreach leader, committed to inspiring the next generation of space professionals and fostering a collaborative global space community.
Kiersten gained technical and leadership experience in the resources community leading budgetary and financial management activities for several Programs and projects across the human spaceflight portfolio at NASA Headquarters and Johnson Space Center. Throughout her tenure at NASA, she has actively participated in and contributed to all phases of the budget process from formulation to execution. She was also a team lead and mentor to program analysts in the resources community helping to enhance their analytical skills and guide performance toward desired personal and organizational goals. Mrs. White is a results-driven professional, known for her strategic thinking, problem solving skills, and ability to streamline processes. She is dedicated to improving project efficiency and ensuring alignment with organizational goals. Sher earned her B.S. and MBA in Business Administration from the Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. Her advice to those emerging in the workforce would be to have an open mind to learning and fostering new relationships, remember that a positive and professional disposition leaves a lasting impression, manage a work-life flow, and show appreciation.
