Fifty-two members of the California space enterprise community traveled to Washington, D.C., and met with key executive branch officials as well as the California Congressional delegation during the 10th Annual California Space Week. During the meetings, they focused upon five issues of vital importance to California space enterprise: (1) full funding for NASA, (2) adequate resources for DoD space programs, (3) a technical workforce of the future, (4) export licensing, and (5) space venturing.
The week began with meetings in the Hall of States, hosted by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that included representatives from Space Florida and the New Mexico Spaceport Association. President Steve Kohler led the Space Florida delegation while Executive Director Steve Landene led the New Mexico organization.
A total of eight federal executive branch officials discussed space policy issues with the group on March 4. The officials included NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale, Senior Policy Director Damon Wells of the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy, Policy Director Ann Ganzer from the U.S. State Department, Brig. Gen. Donald Alston of the Air Force Chief of Staff, Acting Associate Administrator for Space Commercialization Dr. George Nield of the FAA and Space Commercialization Director Ed Morris of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Following the meetings with executive branch officials, space enterprise members from California, Florida and New Mexico met with Congressional members and staff in a Capitol Hill reception on March 4. Photos of the reception are available online at www.californiaspaceauthority.org under the tab Government Relations/Federal.
The California space enterprise community members received a half-day Orientation on March 5 during which CSA Board member Drexel Smith, Senior Vice President of Wyle Laboratories, California Institute Executive Director Tim Ransdell and Steve Howerton of AIAA provided overviews of federal space policy issues. Following the Orientation, the California members met in the 55 offices of the California Congressional delegation.
CSA thanks the sponsors of California Space Week 2008 for their support: Aerojet, Northrop Grumman, Space Exploration Technologies, Stellar Solutions, Raytheon, Southern California Edison, AirLaunch, ATK, Northrop Grumman, The Boeing Company, Scitor, Lockheed Martin, Trimble Navigation, Wyle Laboratories, and AIAA.
