Agenda

Where Space Cybersecurity Gets Real

Now in its 9th year, CyberSat delivers its most technical, immersive program to date β€” designed for those who protect critical space systems and infrastructure. Here’s what you’ll experience:

  • 🚨 Two powerful New Tracks: Discover Business, Policy, Partnerships (BPP) –Β where strategy, acquisition, and mission priorities align & Technology, Threats, Solutions (TTS)
  • πŸ” Mission-Driven Keynotes: CISO-level perspectives from government, military, and commercial leaders
  • πŸ” Deep-Dive Sessions: Tactics and frameworks to secure satellites, ground systems, and supply chains
  • 🧠 Actionable Intelligence: Threat briefings, policy updates, and tools you can implement immediately

Monday, November 17

8:30 am - 9:00 am
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D
As the DOD's Chief Information Officer, Ms. Arrington oversees the defense enterprise's most critical IT and space-based systems. In this keynote, she'll bring a senior-level perspective on the intersection of cybersecurity, satellite communications, and national defense priorities, offering insight into the technologies, threats, and decisions shaping our most mission-critical systems.
Katie Arrington
Chief Information Officer (CIO)
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
9:15 am - 9:45 am
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D
10:00 am - 10:50 am
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D
The U.S. is ramping up its space ambitions by investing heavily in next-gen capabilities to secure strategic dominance. At the center is the Golden Dome project, which is reshaping the national space posture and accelerating defense innovation. However, in a contested domain, ambition isn't enough. This session explores how rising cyber threats, shifting alliances, and intensifying competition with China are reshaping U.S. space strategy. We'll examine the implications for private-sector partnerships, defense supply chains, and the broader industrial base under the new administration - inside a rapidly evolving space race.
10:50 am - 11:30 am
Room: Grand Ballroom Foyer
11:30 am - 12:20 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D
Operators are increasingly facing direct and destructive cyber campaigns. What kinds of attacks are being launched? What vulnerabilities are being exploited? This panel gathers space companies to share the incidents they've encountered, how they responded, and what lessons others need to know now. From command intrusion to signal disruption, the space sector is a live-fire zone. This provides a rare look at what's actually happening and how the threat environment is escalating rapidly.
12:20 pm - 1:30 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom Foyer
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D
Space systems are more accessible, digitized, and interconnected than ever, which makes them easier targets. This session focuses on how adversaries perceive commercial spacecraft and ground infrastructure and how their tactics are evolving. We will explore the risks introduced by the rapid rise of NewSpace and standardized platforms and what defenders need to consider as the barriers to entry decrease. If you do not view the situation through the attacker's lens, you are already behind.
2:45 pm - 3:35 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D
Ground systems are often seen as the soft underbelly of space networks - and attackers recognize this. This panel explores confirmed cyber incidents targeting satellite ground infrastructure, from teleport links to control centers. We will examine how attackers gained access, the methods used, and the measures being introduced to close the gaps. As threat actors shift from probing to exploiting, strengthening the ground segment is not just advisable; it now serves as the first line of defense in safeguarding space networks.
3:35 pm - 4:00 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom Foyer
4:00 pm - 4:45 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D
Artificial intelligence is accelerating both sides of the cyber arms race. For adversaries, AI enables faster reconnaissance, adaptive attack patterns, and precision targeting of space-based infrastructure. For defenders, it offers real-time anomaly detection, automated response, and predictive threat modeling. This session examines how AI is transforming the tactics, timing, and scale of space-related cyber conflict - and what's at stake if defense doesn't keep pace.
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D

Tuesday, November 18

8:30 am - 9:00 am
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D
As CISO for the Department of the Air Force, James "Aaron" Bishop plays a central role in shaping cybersecurity strategy across the Air Force and Space Force. With decades of experience spanning government, industry, and national security, Bishop brings a mission-first perspective to some of the most urgent cyber and defense challenges. In this keynote, he'll share senior insights on securing critical systems and navigating the evolving threat landscape across air, space, and cyber domains.
James "Aaron" Bishop
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
Department of the Air Force (DAF)
9:15 am - 9:45 am
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D
10:00 am - 10:50 am
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D
Winning space contracts today requires more than technical capability. It demands a strong compliance posture. From CMMC 2.0 and IA-PRE to tightening European regulations, space companies must navigate a complex and evolving landscape to work with defense and government customers. This session breaks down what's required, where most companies fall short, and why compliance is now a critical part of space security. With government and defense customers tightening requirements, compliance isn't paperwork - it's a security posture.
10:50 am - 11:15 am
Room: Grand Ballroom Foyer
11:15 am - 12:05 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D
Hybrid constellations represent the future, but they bring layered complexity. As operators transition toward hybrid constellations that encompass LEO, MEO, and GEO, complexity and risk increase. This session examines how multi-orbit architectures impact cybersecurity, from vulnerable cross-link connections to unpredictable mesh behaviors. We'll analyze the trade-offs between LEO-only and blended networks, emphasize where vulnerabilities arise, and investigate how government investment is accelerating the demand for secure, scalable design across orbits.
12:05 pm - 1:15 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D
1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D
1:45 pm - 2:35 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D
Direct-to-device (D2D) is exploding, connecting satellites to smartphones and sensors worldwide. But it's also creating a massive, fragmented attack surface. This session explores how D2D shifts the threat model from opening space networks to spoofing, endpoint compromise, and data manipulation at scale. As adoption grows, so does the attack surface. What will it take to secure a world where any device can become an entry point?
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom A-D
We wrap with a final keynote that looks ahead--highlighting the critical decisions and innovations shaping the next phase of cybersecurity and space resilience.