Lunar space has never been closer, and now it’s time to share your brilliant ideas of how to use it! This year’s pitch competition centers on the usage of Earth’s Lagrange Points; stable gravitational points in space between the earth and the moon or sun. SGx2025 will feature breakout sessions where groups will brainstorm creative concepts that utilize these points in space and pitch their best idea to a panel of executive judges. These pitches, only a few minutes long, will be judged on their creativity and delivery. The top pick will receive a special prize package and be featured on SGAC social media.
Business Pitch Competition Judges
Nicole Jordan leads Business Development and Strategy for Space Launch programs in the Launch Vehicles Business Unit (BU) of the Launch and Missile Defense Systems (LMDS) Division. With 20 years of experience in Business Development, Strategy and Sales, Jordan is responsible for leading multi-disciplinary teams through development and capture efforts for new products and programs.
Jordan joined Northop Grumman in February 2023 to lead space launch efforts for the company’s Launch Vehicles BU, an industry leader in the design, development, production and launch of orbital and sub-orbital rockets.
Jordan brings 20 years of proven global business development and strategy experience and technical expertise supporting Spaceflight Inc, Flightwave, Spaceinnova and other space companies to Northrop Grumman. She has a solid track record of leading diverse teams, collaborating at all levels throughout the organizations she has worked. In addition, she is the managing director of Silicon Valley Space Business Roundtable, advising dozens of tech and space startups through the fundraising processes.
Jordan earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from California Polytechnic State University and a master’s degree in astronautics from the University of Southern California.
Northrop Grumman is a technology company, focused on global security and human discovery. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with capabilities they need to connect, advance, and protect the U.S. and its allies. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our 95,000 employees define possible every day.
Business Development & Strategy
Northrop Grumman Space Systems
David Anderman is a seasoned executive with a passion for business strategy and dealmaking in the technology, digital media, aerospace, and consumer sectors. He is the Co-Founder and General Partner of Stellar Ventures, a fund investing in early stage space startups. Previously he served as the General Counsel of SpaceX, Elon Musk’s rocket company, where he supported the launch of NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (the first-ever launch of humans by a private company), the maiden flight of Starship (SpaceX’s Mars colony ship), and the rollout of the Starlink global satellite internet system. More recently, he served as the Chief Legal Officer of Surf Air Mobility (NYSE:SRFM), a regional air mobility company developing electrified aircraft for the world market, which he helped through their public listing.
Prior to SpaceX, Mr. Anderman spent 16 years at Lucasfilm Ltd., George Lucas’s entertainment empire, starting as the junior lawyer and rising through the ranks to become Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. In 2012, he negotiated the $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm by the Walt Disney Company, and oversaw the integration of the companies post-merger.
Co-Founder and General Partner, Stellar Ventures
Clay Mowry is the CEO of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and a globally recognized space industry executive. Clay is a lifetime AIAA member and was elected as an AIAA Fellow in February 2024.
Before joining AIAA, Clay’s career spanned the commercial launch and satellite sectors as a senior executive for leading space companies and trade associations.
Clay currently serves as president of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), the world’s leading space nonprofit comprising 513 member organizations from 77 countries including space agencies, companies, research organizations, societies, and museums. He will continue in this volunteer role through October 2025.
Clay has held executive leadership roles in the dynamic commercial space ecosystem, spurring innovation and achieving operational successes. Most recently, he served as an advisor to space habitation technology company Vast. Previously, he worked as chief revenue officer at Voyager Space, a satellite, national security, and space station technology company. Earlier, Clay led global sales at Blue Origin, providing commercial and government customers with safe and affordable space transportation services with the reusable New Shepard and New Glenn launch vehicles. He spent 15 years as president and chairman of Arianespace, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of a leading global launch services company.
In the 1990s, Clay helped establish the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) and served as its founding executive director. He led the nonprofit alliance of U.S. satellite operators, manufacturers, and ground equipment suppliers, advocating for the commercial satellite industry on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues.
Clay has an unparalleled passion for empowering the next generation of aerospace explorers and leaders. He enjoys hands-on counseling opportunities, serving as an executive mentor with the Brooke Owens Fellowship. He is the founder and chairman emeritus of the Future Space Leaders Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the career development of young space and satellite industry professionals. He also served for over a decade on the advisory board for the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC).
Clay’s impact in aerospace has been recognized with honors including the Commercial Spaceflight Federation James Kuzma Community Award, the Society of Satellite Professionals International Mentor of the Year Award, and the American Astronautical Society Industry Leadership Award.
Clay earned his master‘s degree in business administration from Georgetown University and his bachelor’s degree in politics and government from Ohio Wesleyan University.
Clay is a native of Schenectady, New York. He and his wife, Kristin, reside in Chevy Chase, Maryland, where they raised their three children.
President, AIAA
