Innovate Space: Finance Forum 2026 | A Critical Link: Investing in the Supply Chain
Moderated by Texas Space Commission Executive Director Norman Garza, Jr., this panel examined how deliberate, well-structured capital investment can strengthen the supply chain ecosystem that enables reliable mission execution.
Spaceflight mission operations depend on more than launch vehicles and spacecraft—they rely on a deep, interconnected industrial base where a single weak supplier, long-lead component, or constrained process can become a mission-stopping point of failure. As launch cadence accelerates, constellations scale, and national security and commercial programs compete for many of the same specialized inputs, resilient supply chains are no longer a back-office concern -- they are a strategic advantage. Panelists discussed where investment matters most—expanding qualified capacity, developing second-source suppliers, improving test and certification throughput, modernizing facilities, securing workforce pipelines, and designing contracts that share risk while rewarding performance.
Panelists:
- Lt. Gen. David Buck, USAF (Ret.), BRPH Mission Solutions
- Tracy Glende, APEX Space & Defense Systems
- Ken Smith, CesiumAstro
About Innovate Space
Innovate Space: Finance Forum brings together top executives, investors, and public-sector leaders to accelerate the space economy through innovative financing models beyond traditional aerospace capital. Learn more
About Space Foundation
Space Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 as a gateway to advance the global space community. We uniquely connect and inspire the entire space workforce from early education through post-secondary (college, non-college, vocational), to the start of their careers as new professionals, and ultimately as leaders at the highest levels of government and commercial industry. As a charitable organization, Space Foundation raises support from corporate members, sponsors, individuals, and grants to offer a comprehensive portfolio of programs and activities that extend our worldwide mission. Learn more