Speakers

Dr. Melissa Patton

CEO, Space Grove

Managing Partner, Patton Consulting Group

Dr. Melissa Patton is an executive strategist, entrepreneur, and educator whose career bridges workforce development, innovation, and the space economy. She is the CEO and Co-Founder of Space Grove, a global innovation hub that brings together government, academia, industry, and workforce partners to shape the future of space and defense innovation. Located at the center of the U.S. space ecosystem, Space Grove serves as a collaborative hub where ideas turn into impact, underutilized assets become engines of growth, and partnerships spark opportunity. Through connection, creativity, and community, Space Grove fuels Florida’s leadership in aerospace, defense, and advanced technologies, building the talent, solutions, and momentum needed for tomorrow.

As Founder and Managing Partner of Patton Consulting Group and Head of U.S. Engagement for Space-Comm Expo Europe, Dr. Patton builds global partnerships that link American companies with international markets and opportunities across the space ecosystem. With over 20 years of executive leadership in higher education, workforce strategy, and product-led growth, she has scaled startups, advised aerospace companies on international expansion, and advanced initiatives aligning K-12, university, and professional pipelines to the needs of the growing space industry.

Known as a “space-adjacent operator,” Dr. Patton integrates change management, operations strategy, and commercialization expertise to prepare companies and communities for a multiplanetary future. She speaks frequently on the infrastructure and operational playbooks needed to scale space startups, the role of ground systems in secure and efficient launch readiness, and the cross-sector partnerships that will fuel the next era of space exploration and economic development.