The Race Itself

What the new space economy is, who is competing for it, and why Washington is a contender.

Amazon Leo

Amazon's satellite network, engineered and built on the Eastside, and what a program at that scale means for local jobs, suppliers, and connectivity.

Winning It

The federal, state, and regional moves that keep the work here: workforce, permitting, infrastructure, and a regional pitch that closes.

Rep. Suzan DelBene

U.S. Congress, Representing Washington's 1st District

Suzan DelBene has represented Washington's 1st Congressional District, which runs from the Eastside north to the Canadian border, since 2012 and serves on the House Ways and Means Committee. Before Congress she spent more than a decade in technology, including twelve years at Microsoft. Few members of Congress know the Eastside's employers, or the federal side of the space economy, as well.

Steve Hartell

Vice President, U.S. Public Policy, Amazon

Steve Hartell leads Amazon's federal public policy and congressional affairs. He came to Amazon from Cisco and EMC and began his career on the Senate Commerce Committee. As Amazon builds Amazon Leo, its low Earth orbit satellite internet network, on the Eastside, he makes the case for how private-sector investment can help both Washingtons win the space race.

Victoria DePalma, PhD

Research Director, Greater Seattle Partners

Victoria DePalma leads economic research, industry analysis, and competitive benchmarking at Greater Seattle Partners, the public-private partnership that recruits employers and investment to the Puget Sound region. Her work covers Greater Seattle's key industries, from aerospace and space to technology, life sciences, clean technology, and advanced manufacturing. She recently led a comprehensive study of the region's space economy: its industry strengths, its workforce, and its position in the global space market.