Description

ODIA has the unique opportunity to host a defense briefing regarding the space industry in Oklahoma…with a twist. The Catalyst Accelerator & The University of Tulsa is putting on a Government Business Boot Camp for Oklahoma-based startups the first two weeks in June. ODIA will have an opportunity to hear an abbreviated pitch from each person in the program from 3:00 - 3:50 pm. 

At 4:00 pm, ODIA will be hosting former NASA Administrator, Jim Bridenstine and former NASA Chief of Staff, Gabe Sherman for a discussion on the U.S. approach to national security space and how Oklahoma is actively engaging.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS

Jim Bridenstine, Managing Partner

Jim Bridenstine served as the 13th Administrator of NASA, where he was responsible for managing NASA’s 70,000-person workforce and $23 billion annual budget.  Under his leadership, NASA reestablished an American human spaceflight program, which was lost after the retirement of the Space Shuttles in 2011.  He also created NASA’s Artemis program to establish the first permanent presence on the Moon with commercial and international partners.  

Before being appointed as NASA Administrator, Jim served in the United States House of Representatives from Oklahoma’s First Congressional District from 2013 to 2018.  He was a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee where he chaired the Subcommittee on the Environment.  

Prior to Congress, Jim served as a pilot in the United States Navy acquiring 1900 flight hours and 333 landings on an aircraft carrier.  He flew combat missions in Afghanistan (2002) and Iraq (2003) off the USS Abraham Lincoln, where he earned an Air Medal and Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”.  Originally an E-2C Hawkeye pilot, he transitioned to the F-18 Hornet and flew as an aggressor (Red Air) at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, the parent command to TOPGUN.

Jim currently serves as the Managing Partner of The Artemis Group, a strategic consulting and government affairs firm. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Viasat, Inc. and he Chairs the Board of Advisors for Voyager Space.

Jim earned a triple major from Rice University in Economics, Business, and Psychology and an MBA from Cornell University.

Gabe Sherman, Senior Partner

Gabe Sherman served as the NASA Chief of Staff during the Trump Administration, leading strategic communications for the agency as NASA returned human spaceflight to American soil, secured bi-partisan and international support for the Artemis Program, and launched the Perseverance Rover to Mars. In this role, he managed relationships with the White House, National Space Council, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Office of Management and Budget on behalf of the agency. He was also a member of the team responsible for establishing the agency’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic for the nearly 60,000 contractors and 20,000 civil service employees across the country. Prior to leaving the agency, 

Gabe was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, NASA’s highest honor, for his leadership in strategic communications. Before NASA, Gabe served for six years as the District Director and Campaign Manager for United States Congressman Jim Bridenstine, whom he’d originally met during his time as the Marketing Director for the Tulsa Air and Space Museum and Planetarium. Currently, he is a Senior Partner at The Artemis Group, a strategic advisory firm focused on space. Gabe holds a bachelor’s degree from East Central University.

Government Business Boot Camp for Oklahoma Startups

The Catalyst Accelerator and Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute will host six exceptional small businesses with innovative tech solutions for the Oklahoma Government Business Boot Camp. Hosted in collaboration with the Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute (OCII) at The University of Tulsa (UTulsa), this program brings together Oklahoma-based technology startups to equip them with the knowledge and resources needed to navigate government contracting opportunities.

AirWise Solutions provides dynamic 3D situational awareness for leaders managing critical infrastructure and public safety operations. Increase service uptime, improve safety and lower operational costs for customers by harnessing drone and GIS spatial data. www.airwisesolutions.com

Burgess Aerospace Innovations specializes in cutting-edge hybrid-electric propulsion and high-speed aerospace technologies tailored for defense applications. BAI develops advanced unmanned aircraft systems designed to enhance intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), rapid response, and tactical operations. With a commitment to national security and innovation, BAI is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of aerospace capabilities to meet the evolving needs of the Department of Defense. www.burgessaero.com

CubeNexus is transforming how the world interacts with real-world data by structuring sensor and IoT streams into a 4D format that embeds both time and 3D location. Their patented TULSA data structure enables instant, AI-ready insights—even in GPS-denied environments—by unifying complex, multi-source data into a single spatiotemporal language. From defense to energy and telecom, CubeNexus empowers industries to make faster, smarter decisions by turning raw data into real-time spatial intelligence. They're building the data infrastructure that powers the future of digital twins, autonomous systems, and spatial computing. www.cubenexus.xyz

DeltaX Propulsion is advancing the state of the art in electric propulsion for small satellites and spacecraft. They focus on developing high-efficiency electrospray thrusters that are lightweight, modular, and scalable to meet the evolving needs of modern space missions. Their work bridges cutting-edge nanomaterials research with practical in-space applications, enabling agile maneuvering, formation flying, and extended mission lifetimes. At DeltaX Propulsion, they aim to expand access to precise and sustainable spacecraft mobility through rigorous scientific innovation. www.deltaxpropulsion.com

Organizely is redefining the Future of Work with a powerful platform built to boost productivity and unlock smarter, more efficient ways of working. At its core is Organizely Process—an intelligent automation engine that transforms static documents into live, interactive workflows in under two minutes, eliminating manual setup. By streamlining operations, enhancing team collaboration, and enabling real-time progress tracking, it empowers organizations to meet digital transformation and ESG goals effortlessly. Whether scaling global operations or simplifying complex processes, Organizely delivers clarity, speed, and control at every step. www.getorganizely.com

Terradac Technologies is pioneering next-generation environmental sensing solutions to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Their flagship innovation, the TerraStinger, is a rugged, high-resolution CO₂ emissions sensor designed for real-time deployment in the harshest industrial environments. Backed by Department of Energy funding, they're enabling precise, on-the-ground emissions data to drive smarter decisions in energy, manufacturing, and transportation. At Terradac, they turn complex environmental challenges into actionable intelligence. www.terradactech.com