Los Angeles Times Media Group and Arizona State University to Host Inaugural Aerospace and Defense Summit

The one-day event, featuring expert insight into the future of space exploration and global defense, will take place May 15 in El Segundo

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LA Times Studios, part of the Los Angeles Times Media Group (LATMG), in partnership with Arizona State University (ASU), is proud to announce a one-day summit examining the future of space exploration and global defense. Taking place on Friday, May 15, at NantStudios, a premier virtual production studio in El Segundo, the Aerospace and Defense Summit will bring together industry leaders for high-level, strategic panel discussions and networking opportunities. Tickets are available for purchase now.

“Space is no longer a distant frontier, it is the backbone of modern civilization, and the decisions shaping its future are being made now,” said Anna Magzanyan, President of LA Times Studios. “This summit brings together the policymakers, defense leaders and innovators at the center of that transformation, because understanding what comes next requires seeing, in real time, the forces shaping our orbital future.”

The full-day event will convene government leaders, tech companies and top universities to discuss the challenges and opportunities in aerospace and space communications. Featured speakers include: Dr. Leon Alkalai, CEO and founder of Mandala Space Ventures; Stephen Cheung, president and CEO of Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation; Kevin Coggins, deputy associate administrator of SCaN at NASA; Jordan Croom, vice president of Payloads at Varda; Michael M. Crow, president of Arizona State University; Philip June, vice president of programs at Millennium Space Systems; Dr. Laurie Leshin, professor for space futures at Arizona State University; Dr. Sally Morton, executive vice president and professor of ASU Knowledge Enterprise; Chris Pimentel, mayor of El Segundo; Dr. Elena Rocchi, clinical professor and director of MSD Space Architecture and Extreme Environments Program at Arizona State University; Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, founder and executive chairman of ImmunityBio, Inc.; Dr. Robert Spalding, CEO of SEMPRE; Jay Tamsett, executive director of aerospace and defense at Ernst & Young; Simon Waddington, CEO of Cambium; and more to be announced.

The Aerospace and Defense Summit is supported by platinum sponsors Cambium, Millennium Space Systems and Varda, and gold sponsor the City of El Segundo.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Helya Askari at [e-mail]. For tickets and additional information about the Aerospace and Defense Summit, please visit latimes.com/b2b/events/aerospace.

About LA Times Studios

LA Times Studios is a multiplatform content studio that produces a wide range of critically acclaimed audio, video, and live event projects. Operated independently from the Los Angeles Times newsroom, LA Times Studios collaborates with a variety of internal and external partners on branded partnerships, event production, advertising innovation and original content development. With a strong focus on storytelling, LA Times Studios creates impactful, audience-driven content across diverse media formats.

About Los Angeles Times Media Group (LATMG)

LA Times Media Group is building the media company of the future with Four Brands, One Engine: the Los Angeles Times, our foundation of 144 years of independent journalism and a one-of-a-kind archive; LA Times Studios, which turns content into premium digital publishing, podcasts, streaming, and live forums; NantStudios, delivering real-time virtual production on flexible LED stages for cinematic content at speed and scale; and NantGames, which creates nationality-based esports events and interactive worlds that connect global communities. Together, these four synchronized brands expand LATMG from a legacy newspaper into a modern, technology-powered media platform where stories move fluidly across screens, stages, and games, and audiences can engage, participate, and ultimately become owners of what’s next.