AGENDA
Mississippi Aerospace and Defense Symposium | October 22-24, 2025 | Golden Nugget Biloxi, MS
Hosted
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 |
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8:00 AM
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Stennis Space Center Tour (Pre-Registration Required)
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10:00 AM
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Exhibitor Set Up Begins
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5:00 PM
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Welcome Reception (Hosted by Mississippi Development Authority)
Location: Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum
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6:30 PM
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VIP Dinner (Invitation Only)
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Thursday, October 23, 2025 |
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8:00 AM
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Registration Opens
Sponsored by LATG
Breakfast
Sponsored by Hyperion Technology Group
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9:00 AM
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Welcome Remarks
The Honorable Tate Reeves, 65th Governor of Mississippi
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9:30 AM
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Forging the Future: Public-Private Partnerships in Space Innovation
Nathan Murray, Director and Aeroacoustics Lead, National Center for Physical Acoustics, University of Mississippi
Maj. (USAF) Charlton Hedden, Senior Environmental Liaison Officer to U.S. Space Force
Clay Walker, Vice President, Test and Launch, Relativity Space
John Bailey, Center Director, NASA-Stennis Space Center
Richard French, Vice President, Business Development and Strategy, Systems, Rocket Lab
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9:30 AM
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Exhibits Open
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10:30 AM
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Mississippi's Defense Innovation Landscape: Pioneering Technologies for National Security
Rakhee Khambati, Director of Government Partnerships, Reflect Orbital
Bret Perry, Head of Growth, Anduril Solid Rocket Motor Systems
Tom Marotta, CEO and Founder, The Spaceport Company
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| 11:15 AM
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Talent Pipeline: Building Mississippi's Aerospace and Defense Workforce
John McKay, President and CEO, Mississippi Manufacturers Association
Trey Smith, Director of Talent Solutions, Accelerate Mississippi
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| 12:00 PM |
Lunch
Sponsored by Mississippi Power
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| 1:00 PM |
Cyber and Technology Center
*Jim Martin, Associate Vice President of Corporate Engagement and Economic Development, Mississippi State University
Colonel Michael A. Powell, Commander 81st Training Group, Keesler Air Force Base
Shawn Wolfe, Director of Cyber Crime Division, Mississippi Office of the Attorney General
Martin Rivera, Director, Mississippi Cyber Initiative
Senator Scott Delano, District 50, State of Mississippi
Robert Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Jackson MS Field Office
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| 2:00 PM |
Federal Outlook
*PJ Waldrop, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Mississippi Development Authority
Mike Clementi, Senior Vice President, Icebreaker Strategies
Brett Richards, Special Counsel, Jones Walker
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| 3:15 PM
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Triple Helix of Innovation: Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise
Dr. Kelly Lucas, Vice President for Research, University of Southern Mississippi
Dexter Malley, Chief of Uncrewed Marine Systems Division, NOAA
Dr. Dylan Temple, Vice President of Research, Integer Technologies
*Dr. Leila Hamdan, Associate Vice President for Research, Coastal Operations, University of Southern Mississippi
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| 4:00 PM |
Exhibits Close
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| 6:00 PM |
Networking Reception (Hosted by University of Southern Mississippi Research Foundation)
Location: Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise
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| 10:30AM - 4:00PM |
Strategic Resources Forum (Below)
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Strategic Resources Forum |
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| 10:30 AM | Defense Insights / Mississippi Assets
Brigadier General James B. Haynie, PhD, Assistant to the Director of Intelligence, United States Cyber Command
*Jace Ponder, Director, Governor's Office of Military Affairs, Mississippi Development Authority
*Henry Jones, Director of Research Development and Scientific Entrepreneurship, University of Southern Misissippi
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| 11:00 AM |
University Assets Discussion
Almesha Campbell, Vice President for Research, Jackson State University
Julie Jordan, Vice President for Research and Economic Development, Mississippi State University
Stacey Hall, Executive Director, National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security
Michelle L.D. Hanlon, Executive Director, Center for Air and Space Law, University of Mississippi
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| 11:30 AM |
Assets Panel: Airports
*Lindsay Ward, Economic Development Director, Pearl River County Economic Development District
Blaine LaFontaine, Executive Director/CEO, Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission
Clay Williams, Executive Director, Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport
Cinnamon Snyder, Airport Director, Trent Lott International Airport
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| 12:00 PM |
Assets Panel: Ports
*Lindsay Ward, Economic Development Director, Pearl River County Economic Development District
Geoff Clemens, Deputy Director, Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission
Jon Nass, CEO and Executive Director, Port of Gulfport
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| 12:30 PM |
Lunch/Networking
Sponsored by Mississippi Power
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| 1:30 PM | Stennis Business Roundtable: What Contractors Need to Know About CMMC
*Shelly Hollis, Director of Center for Cyber Education, Mississippi State University
Glenda Snodgrass, President and Lead Consultant, The NET Effect
Vincent Scott, CEO, Defense Cybersecurity Group
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Friday, October 24, 2025 |
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| 8:00 AM |
Breakfast
Sponsored by Integer Technologies
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| 8:30 AM |
Congressional Delegation Remarks
The Honorable Mike Ezell, Member of Congress, U.S. House of Representatives
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| 9:00 AM | Jamie Miller, President and CEO, Gulf Coast Business Council |
| 9:30 AM |
Interview: Mississippi's Shipbuilding Future with Brian Blanchette
*Jamie Miller, President and CEO, Gulf Coast Business Council
Brian Blanchette, President, Ingalls Shipbuilding
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| 10:15 AM |
Break
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| 10:30 AM |
Rethinking Business As Usual: The Research-Driven Shift in Mississippi
*Natalie Guess, Assistant Director of Innovation and Impact, University of Southern Mississippi
Almesha Campbell, Vice President for Research, Jackson State University
Keith Blystone, Chief of Staff and CFO, OceanAero
Philip Hoffman, Uncrewed Maritime Systems Research and Development Coordinator, NOAA
Brian Cuevas, Associate Vice President for Research & Innovation, Office of Innovation Management, University of Southern Mississippi
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| 11:15 AM |
Industry-Focused Services and Capabilities at the USM Innovation and Commercialization Park
*Dr. Monica Tisack, Executive Director, Mississippi Polymer Institute and Innovation and Commercialization Park, University of Southern Mississippi
Terrance Barkan, Executive Director, Advanced Carbons Council
Dr. Jeffery Wiggins, Professor, School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Composites, University of Southern Mississippi
Derek Dearman, Quality Assurance Manager, JPM Company
Kevin Wyss, Director of Product and Application Development, Avadain, Inc.
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| 12:00 PM |
Lunch
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| 12:30 PM |
National Data Buoy Center Overview
William Burnett, Ph.D., Director, National Data Buoy Center
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| 1:00 PM |
ADAM Member of the Year Award
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| 1:30 PM |
Closing Keynote
Admiral Erin Acosta, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command
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| 9:00AM - 4:00PM | SIBR/STTR Boot Camp (Below) |
SBIR/STTR Boot Camp |
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9:00 AM
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SBIR/STTR 101
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9:25 AM
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Interfacing with SBIR/STTR Agency Representatives
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| 9:50 AM |
Data Rights & IP Considerations
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10:20 AM
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Networking Break | |||||
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10:40 AM
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Post Reauthorization: The Latest Updates to the SBIR/STTR Program
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11:05 AM
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Developing a Winning Proposal
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11:30 AM
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Advanced SBIR/STTR Strategies: Beyond the Basics
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Event Attire
CONFERENCE: BUSINESS CASUAL
RECEPTIONS, DINNER AND TOUR: POLISHED CASUAL - COMFORTABLE SHOES RECOMMENDED FOR THE STENNIS TOURS.