Future of Air & Space presented by National Grid highlights innovation in the air and space industry in Upstate New York. This event brings together professionals from established companies, investors, and dealmakers together with entrepreneurs.
Cutting-edge innovation is happening in Upstate NY in UAS and uncrewed systems, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), edge & quantum computing, and their applications. Attendees will learn about tech, working with the Department of Defense, and make connections with investors, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals. Together, this event facilitates discovering synergies for longer-term business relationships.
This exclusive aerospace and defense investor event includes:
Curated startup meet and greets to discover promising investment opportunities.
Insights into working with the Department of Defense (DoD) as a customer and understand their research priorities.
Explore future outlooks for uncrewed systems (UAS), AI/ML, edge and quantum computing, and other related technologies.
Who Will Be There?
Future of Air & Space will be attended by startup entrepreneurs and innovators, experienced executives, and active investors in artificial intelligence, machine learning, drones and uncrewed systems.
Tickets:
General Attendees: $95 Upstate Capital Members: $50
Registration + Lunch: More than 100 people including investors, leaders of startups and established companies, dealmakers, and industry professionals
1:00PM
Panel Discussion: Funding Sources for A+D Companies – Demystifying Access to Funding
Thomas Hendrix
Managing Partner at Decisive Point
As Decisive Point’s Managing Partner, Thomas leads venture investment and strategy for Decisive Point. Previously, he has held roles in venture capital and at early-stage startups. Thomas began his career in the private sector at Blackstone after serving in the U.S. Army for nearly 10-years as an Infantry and Special Forces Officer. Thomas earned an MBA from Columbia Business School, an MSL in Government Procurement Law from George Washington University Law School, and a BS in American Legal Systems from the United States Military at West Point.
Clayton Besch is the Director of ESD’s NY Ventures which works to bolster the critical capital needs of New York State’s innovation economy by providing seed and early-stage venture funding to high growth startups as they move from concept to commercialization, through early growth and expansion.
Chief Engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate
Ms. Karen Roth is an experienced executive in cyber, AI, and digital engineering with a passion for advocating for women in STEM. She has taken her proven skills in strategic thinking, communication, and partnership development to create a global ecosystem for the Air Force and to be a trusted fiduciary for the non-profit boards she has serviced. Roth is one of five senior leaders for the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate as Chief Engineer and ensures technical excellence across the $1.5b portfolio on an international stage. She uses her executive capability to direct programming and focus on strategic external partnerships to accelerate change and technical impact to the Air Force, which resulted in the creation of the Innovare brand. Innovare is an impact driven global community of scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs converging on Air Force technology interests via specialized facilities and programming for Technology Transfer and open innovation. The ecosystem leverages technology partnership with 184 companies and 194 universities internationally to execute collaborations, which resulted in directed U.S. Congress investment. Through both her technical and non-profit work she is a proven fiduciary to assess strategic programmatic goals against execution. Her advocacy for women in STEM has led to her participation in several non-profit boards including the Society of Women Engineers where she is the FY25 Society President and past Treasurer and Director of Professional Excellence of the international organization. She utilized her leadership skills to realign two committee with the Society strategic goals and reorganize the Society investment under a joint investment board for streamlined investment goals. She has brought this passion to other organizations like the Girls Scouts and the regional engineering executive council to advocate for women. Ms. Roth holds an Executive MBA from Indiana University Kelley School Business School. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in software engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in Systems Engineering from Cornell University. She is currently pursuing an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Senior Director for Innovation and Partnerships at the Griffiss Institute
Seth Mulligan is the Sr. Director of Innovation and Partnership at the Griffiss Institute
I specialize in leading innovation and venture development programs, with the related management disciplines and developing business systems, to grow organizations and startup companies. At times I have been a partner to innovators as a startup incubator operator and at other times, I roll up my sleeves and operate as a key leader inside private, scalable companies.
Seth Mulligan’s specialties: defense dual use technology, sales technology, economic development, business planning and strategy, creative marketing plans, forecasting, coaching, mentorship, leadership, alternative energy systems and biofuels, technology commercialization, early-stage growth capital funding, venture development, entrepreneurship and go-to-market planning.
Jacqueline leads the Defense & Security portfolio at Decisive Point. Jacqueline graduated from the United States Naval Academy and led forward-deployed teams in the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Community. She was responsible for training and building small teams for no-fail missions in the Middle East and Africa. Prior to Decisive Point, she was an Investor at Scout Ventures and spent several years at J.P. Morgan working closely with founders and building out their early-stage Technology and Disruptive Commerce practice.
Ryan leads business operations and strategy for the advisory portfolio at Decisive Point. Previously, Ryan led programming at Techstars where she advised early-stage defense and space technology companies. Ryan served in the U.S. Navy for nine years as a Surface Warfare Officer deployed aboard warships and later as a Public Affairs Officer in the Pentagon. Ryan earned an MBA from The Wharton School, an MA in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, and holds a BA in Communication from Villanova University.
Chief Engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate
Serves as Chief Engineer and one of five senior leaders for the AFRL Information Directorate. Ensures technical excellence internally for the $1.5b portfolio and promotes AFRL tirelessly on a local, national, and international stage. Executive capability to direct programming, create external partnerships to accelerate change, and capability to communicate mission space to global leaders.
Community led creation of the Innovare brand to support the Air Force technical priorities shows the skills to create a global ecosystem with differing priorities, cultures, and communities to impact a technical portfolio and accelerate change in under five years even within a large organization. Initiative required proactive communication and regular briefings and interaction with global allies, industry leaders, academic researchers and chancellors, General Officers, U.S. Congressional members and Staffers, media, and community leadership to advocate for the Laboratory and its future. Frequently by named requested to speak at events to support the Innovare initiative at USAF mission.
Tim Lawton is the Director of Marketing & Public Relations for NUAIR (Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research). He is the main contact for NUAIR marketing efforts including press releases, media inquiries, website updates, social media, graphic design, email campaigns and brand integrity.
