JPL x Aerospace Corporation | NXT in Space: Episode 3

As space becomes more crowded, competitive, and commercially driven, how do institutions like JPL and The Aerospace Corporation adapt while continuing to provide the technical expertise the nation depends on? In this episode of NXT in Space, join Aerospace CEO Tanya Pemberton and JPL Deputy Manager of National Programs Matt Hart – along with host Greg Ivan Smith – for a conversation about the evolving space economy, emerging technologies, and the world-class workforce needed to tackle the nation's most complex challenges. Tanya Pemberton is the President and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation, a leader in advancing national space capabilities. Appointed in October 2025, she guides Aerospace in solving technical challenges across defense, civil, and commercial sectors. With over 30 years of industry and government experience, Pemberton previously served as Aerospace’s Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President of the National Systems Group. Her distinguished career includes serving as Chief Information Officer for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and senior roles at the National Reconnaissance Office. She holds degrees from MIT and Caltech. Matt Hart serves as the Area Executive for National Security and the Deputy Manager of the National Programs Office at JPL. In this dual leadership capacity, Hart directs strategic initiatives that bridge cutting-edge space technology with crucial national security requirements. Before joining JPL, he honed his aerospace expertise at The Aerospace Corporation, where he specialized in programmatic assessments and advanced concept development. Leveraging over two decades of industry experience, he now oversees a complex portfolio of aerospace initiatives at JPL, driving critical technological breakthroughs and fostering vital interagency partnerships to support United States national space infrastructure goals. NXT in Space is a series from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory that brings together industry leaders, creatives, and futurists to explore how collaboration can accelerate innovation and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Watch the series: Source: