Optical Space and Ground Systems

Chris is the president of Quilty Space, an independent research and consulting firm that provides strategy, competitive benchmarking, financial analysis, and investment diligence on all aspects of the Satellite & Space industry.

Prior to establishing Quilty Spacein 2016, Chris served as a sell-side research analyst with Raymond James for 20 years, publishing hundreds of company-specific, macro, sector, and thematic research reports on the industrial, defense, space, wireless, and communications industries. Chris is widely-acknowledged as the leading Wall Street analyst on the Satellite & Space sector and has participated in 30 capital markets transactions over the past five years valued at over $2.5 billion

Chris received a BS degree in Systems Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1989 and an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1994.

Mr. Burgess is vice president and general manager of the Space Systems Division at General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS). Mr. Burgess is responsible for the operational execution and growth management of an expanding portfolio of miniature, small and medium satellite system solutions, and high performance space optical payloads across GA-EMS facilities located in Colorado, Massachusetts, Virginia, Alabama and California. Mr. Burgess’ expertise in designing and delivering satellite programs and developing space technology innovations drives the company’s capabilities to deliver critical mission solutions for national security, science and weather missions, and laser communications.

Mr. Burgess joined GA-EMS after serving as chief technology officer at Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) Space Systems, and as vice president of Business Development at SNC’s ISR Aviation and Security Sector. Previously, he led the National Security Space division at the former Orbital Sciences Corporation, developing satellite and ground communication systems for the US Government, including GSSAP, ANGELS, EAGLE, MiTEx, and the CHIRP hosted payload.
Mr. Burgess holds an MS and BS in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a graduate of the General Manager’s Program at Harvard Business School and is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Mr. Burgess is a published author and holds a patent on “Method and System for Formation-Keeping Between Orbiting Spacecraft by Varying their Ballistic Coefficients.” He is a member of several boards, including Chairman of the Aerospace Engineering Sciences External Advisory Board at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Dr. Inuk Kang is Director of Space Systems Engineering of Optical and Photonics Systems (OPS) division of CACI. He leads CACI’s research and development of next-generation laser communication systems and supports strategy and capture efforts for CACI’s laser communication product portfolio for U. S. National Security sector. CACI OPS division is U. S.-based vertically-integrated company, providing ground, airborne, and space laser communication solutions. Prior to CACI, he led research and development activities at LGS Innovations, Bell Laboratories, and Seoul National University. He is a fellow of OPTICA (formerly Optical Society of America) and received Ph. D. in physics from Cornell University.