This event will examine how U.S. space policy has evolved and continues to evolve to support sustained activity in lunar and cislunar space. Drawing on experience across the White House, NASA, and the Department of Defense, Dr. Matthew Daniels will explore the strategic and governance frameworks shaping long-term human and robotic presence beyond Earth. The conversation will cover the growing role of commercial actors, interagency coordination, and how exploration objectives intersect with national security and international cooperation.

Speaker Bio: 

Dr. Matthew Daniels is Co-Founder & CTO of Ultra, a company building new technologies for global security. Earlier, he led initiatives at the White House, NASA, and Department of Defense, where his work focused on space and technology strategy for the United States. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a fellow of the Explorers Club, and a research affiliate at MIT and Stanford. Matt started as an engineer at NASA, got his Ph.D. from Stanford, and has twice received Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medals. For his work on planetary defense, Asteroid 22028 Matthewdaniels, discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey, is named for him.