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USA House presents

U.S. Mission to the OAS presents

Path to Space for the Americas

The United States and the nations of the Western Hemisphere, building the ground and the space economy together.

Thursday, September 17, 2026  ·  Hall of the Americas  ·  OAS  ·  Washington, D.C.

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Organized with the U.S. Mission to the OAS

Organized with USA House

About the working day

How this hemisphere builds the space economy

The United States and the nations of the Western Hemisphere share one geography that matters for the next economy: the equator, the ranges, the energy, and the partners who can actually build. Path to Space for the Americas is a practical working day on how this hemisphere builds the space economy, and who is positioned to take part as access to space opens.

The U.S. Mission to the OAS program is Space Industry Forum: Advancing Cooperation in the Americas. USA House presents the page at the Hall of the Americas, Organization of American States, Washington, D.C., just before UNGA week. Organized with the U.S. Mission to the OAS.U.S. Mission to the OAS presents the page at the Hall of the Americas, Organization of American States, Washington, D.C., just before UNGA week. Organized with USA House.

Schedule

Space Industry Forum: Advancing Cooperation in the Americas

Hall of the Americas, OAS · Thursday, September 17, 2026 · 1:00pm–5:00pm Forum · 5:00pm–7:00pm reception. Times as published by the U.S. Mission to the OAS.

Afternoon program

Hall of the Americas

1:00 – 1:20 PM

Welcome & Introductory Remarks

Welcome
Amb. Leandro Rizzuto, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), U.S. Mission to the OAS
Paolo Zampolli, Special Envoy for Global Partnerships, U.S. Department of State
Laura Gil, Assistant Secretary General, OAS
NASA **
1:20 – 2:00 PM

The Case for Space in the Americas

Panel: State/OES, Office of Space Affairs & NASA

Panel
Moderator: Michael Ashby, Moderator, Case for Space
Valda Vikmanis, Director, DOS/OES, U.S. Department of State
Kathleen Karika, Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations, NASA
2:00 – 2:40 PM

The Americas in Action: Leadership through the Artemis Accords

Panel: Latin American Artemis Accords signatories

Panel
Moderator: David Reinecke, Moderator, Artemis Accords, U.S. Department of State
Amb. Ana Irene Delgado, Permanent Mission of Panama to the OAS
Amb. Rodolfo Coronado, Permanent Mission of Perú to the OAS
Amb. Carlos Bernardo Cherniak, Permanent Mission of Argentina
2:40 – 3:20 PM

Latin American Market: What the Region Needs, Future Goals

Focus: Regional space policy direction and ecosystem development needs

Panel
Moderator: Barbara Kotschwar, Moderator, Latin American Market, OAS
Dr. Gustavo Medina-Tanco, LINX / UNAM
Dr. Michael King, Florida Institute of Technology
Dr. Héctor Jirau, Parallel18 / PRSTRT
3:20 – 3:40 PM

The New Economies of Space

Panel
Stephen Rodriguez, Operating Partner, DCVC
Chris Morales, Partner, Point72 Ventures
John Cronin, Managing Partner, Stromback Global
3:45 – 4:55 PM

Launching Space for the Americas: Funding, Infrastructure, Partnerships, and Opportunities

Panel: Engagement and Action: Shared Space Opportunities and Spaceports

Panel
Moderator: Dr. John Olson, AXIONS / moderator, Launching Space block, AXIONS Corp
Dr. George C. Nield, Global Spaceport Alliance
Dr. Jennifer Rochlis, Commercial Space and NASA Executive Leader, Advancing Frontiers
Danica Vallone, Making Space
Tom Marotta, The Spaceport Company
5:00 – 5:45 PM

Spaceport Workforce Development

Panel
Linda Eddleman, CEO, Trust for the Americas
Ryan Reed, Aerospace Engineering Instructor, NASA’s Glenn Research Center
5:45 – 5:55 PM

Closing Remarks

Close
Amb. Leandro Rizzuto, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), U.S. Mission to the OAS
6:00 – 8:00 PM

Reception

Light drinks & food; informal networking.

Reception

This Agenda is subject to modifications

Featured participants

Speakers

Named speakers from the Mission program as published.

Amb. Leandro Rizzuto
Amb. Leandro Rizzuto
U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), U.S. Mission to the OAS
Paolo Zampolli
Paolo Zampolli
Special Envoy for Global Partnerships, U.S. Department of State
Laura Gil
Laura Gil
Assistant Secretary General, OAS
NASA **
NASA **
NASA **
Michael Ashby
Michael Ashby
Moderator, Case for Space
Valda Vikmanis
Valda Vikmanis
Director, DOS/OES, U.S. Department of State
Kathleen Karika
Kathleen Karika
Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations, NASA
David Reinecke
David Reinecke
Moderator, Artemis Accords, U.S. Department of State
Amb. Ana Irene Delgado
Amb. Ana Irene Delgado
Permanent Mission of Panama to the OAS
Amb. Rodolfo Coronado
Amb. Rodolfo Coronado
Permanent Mission of Perú to the OAS
Amb. Carlos Bernardo Cherniak
Amb. Carlos Bernardo Cherniak
Permanent Mission of Argentina
Barbara Kotschwar
Barbara Kotschwar
Moderator, Latin American Market, OAS
Dr. Gustavo Medina-Tanco
Dr. Gustavo Medina-Tanco
LINX / UNAM
Dr. Michael King
Dr. Michael King
Florida Institute of Technology
Dr. Héctor Jirau
Dr. Héctor Jirau
Parallel18 / PRSTRT
Dr. John Olson
Dr. John Olson
AXIONS / moderator, Launching Space block, AXIONS Corp
Dr. George C. Nield
Dr. George C. Nield
Global Spaceport Alliance
Dr. Jennifer Rochlis
Dr. Jennifer Rochlis
Commercial Space and NASA Executive Leader, Advancing Frontiers
Danica Vallone
Danica Vallone
Making Space
Tom Marotta
Tom Marotta
The Spaceport Company
Stephen Rodriguez
Stephen Rodriguez
Operating Partner, DCVC
Chris Morales
Chris Morales
Partner, Point72 Ventures
Linda Eddleman
Linda Eddleman
CEO, Trust for the Americas
John Cronin
John Cronin
Managing Partner, Stromback Global
Ryan Reed
Ryan Reed
Aerospace Engineering Instructor, NASA’s Glenn Research Center

Partners & supporters

Sponsors

Platinum

Oklo

Gold

With Honor

Silver

Voyager Space

Partners

Hosted with

Organized with

U.S. Mission to the OAS

U.S. Mission to the Organization of American States.

Organized with

USA House

A private endeavor by patriotic Americans promoting U.S. values and American business interests.

Hosted by

Stromback Global

USA House is hosted by Stromback Global.

Get involved

Join the working day

Ways to take part at the Hall of the Americas.

Attend

Request an invitation to the working day at the Hall of the Americas.

1:00–5:00pm Space Industry Forum
5:00–7:00pm reception at the Hall of the Americas
Working access with hemispheric counterparts
Attendance is by invitation only
Request an invitation

Speak

Apply to participate as a speaker, panelist, or moderator.

1:00–5:00pm Space Industry Forum
Artemis Accords and Latin American Market sessions
Launching Space for the Americas session
Curated sessions

The venue

Hall of the Americas

Organization of American States Main Building, Washington, D.C.

OAS Main Building (House of the Americas), 17th Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW. The Hall of the Americas is the ceremonial hall inside. Photo: Joshua Sherurcij / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY).

USA House presents Path to Space for the Americas at the Hall of the Americas, Organization of American States, Washington, D.C. Organized with the U.S. Mission to the OAS.

U.S. Mission to the OAS presents Path to Space for the Americas at the Hall of the Americas, Organization of American States, Washington, D.C. Organized with USA House.

Date

Thursday, September 17, 2026 — just before UNGA week.

Hall of the Americas

Organization of American States Main Building, Washington, D.C.

Address

17th Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Getting there

Metro: Farragut West (Blue, Orange, Silver) and Farragut North (Red), a short walk to 17th and Constitution.

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