Astronautics & Space Commerce Roundtable

The Puerto Rico Space Foundation and the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) are convening an executive roundtable to align the island’s strategic aerospace roadmap with the U.S. National Space Policy.

Puerto Rico is strategically positioning itself as a high-value, competitive hub within the U.S. aerospace and space industrial base. Capitalizing on its advanced engineering talent, robust manufacturing infrastructure, research institutions, strategic location, and emerging commercial space-access capabilities, the island is uniquely prepared to capture immediate federal and commercial opportunities.

This event is designed for leaders across government, industry, investment, academia, and infrastructure. The goal of this session is to move beyond high-level discussion and deliver concrete steps toward execution. The event will explore three key pillars:

• Economic Integration: Pathways to connect our local economy with the global space supply chain.

• Federal Incentives: Identifying U.S. government programs and incentives for commercial space growth.

• Strategic Growth: Educational insights into commercial space opportunities for the island.

Featured Participants

Defense & Federal Innovation

Robert Perez-Alemany is the Program Manager for the Space Portfolio at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Office of the Secretary of Defense. Since joining DIU in 2024, he has spearheaded joint initiatives with defense leaders and commercial innovators—including Northrop Grumman, BlackSky, Firefly, and Avalanche Energy—to deliver advanced technologies to the Warfighter. His work spans partnerships with NASA, DARPA, Space Systems Command, and the Air Force and Naval Research Labs on high-impact projects ranging from tactical imaging to nuclear fusion and novel propulsion systems. Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics & Nuclear Engineering at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Commercial & Ecosystem Strategy

David L. Beck is the Principal of Space Technologies LTD, a consultancy focused on building and integrating deep-tech, sustainable systems across the dual-use (commercial and defense) space sectors. He also serves as a Strategic Advisor and U.S. Space Business Consultant for NordSpace Corp., a Canadian satellite manufacturing and launch services company. A former U.S. Space Force leader with over 30 years of engineering experience, his expertise spans electric vehicle design, wide-body aircraft auxiliary power systems, and space launch technologies. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Southern Mississippi and an MBA in Marketing with an emphasis in Global Sustainment.