A discussion with experts from the United States and Japan
March 24, 2026 | 8:00 pm – 9:15 pm ET
March 25, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am JST
Format: Virtual webinar, open to public
In recent years, the space domain has become competitive, congested, and contested, with more state and private sector actors entering the field. The United States and Japan recognize that a peaceful space domain is critical to every aspect of life here on Earth, and view the sustainability of space assets as critical to their national interests.
In March 2026, the Mansfield Foundation hosted a webinar featuring distinguished experts from both countries. The event featured keynote remarks from Soichi Noguchi, Ph.D., a former astronaut & CTO of IISE. Leaders from the space exploration, government, and academic communities explored the history of U.S.-Japan cooperation in space flight, how this has expanded over time, and where our partnership is headed.
Program Schedule
| 8:00 pm EDT / 9:00 am JST | Introductory Remarks |
Frank Jannuzi, The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation
| 8:05 pm EDT / 9:05 am JST | Framing Remarks: Exploration & History of Cooperation |
Dr. Soichi Noguchi, Former Astronaut & CTO, IISE
A brief overview of Mr. Noguchi’s career, milestones in U.S.-Japan space cooperation, and the importance of sustained bilateral cooperation in space.
| 8:25 pm EDT / 9:25 am JST | Moderated Discussion: Space Security and Commercial Opportunities |
- Dr. Setsuko Aoki, Professor, Chiba Institute of Technology; Professor Emerita, Keio University
- Mr. John Hill, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space and Missile Defense
- Dr. Saadia Pekkanen, Job and Gertrud Tamaki Endowed Professor, University of Washington
An overview from the national security perspective. Recent highlights in U.S.-Japan space security cooperation (QZSS, Earth observation, space debris mitigation, etc.)
| 8:45 pm EDT / 9:45 JST | The Future of U.S.-Japan Cooperation in Space |
Soichiro Noguchi, Setsuko Aoki, John Hill, Saadia Pekkanen
Looking forward to the most consequential or exciting developments that we are seeing or will see in the space industry over the next decade, in space exploration, national security, and the commercial sectors.
| 9:05 EDT / 10:05 JST | Q&A |
Audience members may submit questions through the chat box.
| 9:10 pm EDT /10:10 am JST | Closing Remarks |
Key takeaways and things to look out for in forthcoming U.S.-Japan space cooperation.
9:15 pm EDT / 10:15 am JST Adjourn
Dr. Soichi Noguchi, Former Astronaut & CTO, IISE
Framing Remarks
Dr. NOGUCHI Soichi was born in Kanagawa in 1965. He was selected as Japanese astronaut in 1996 and completed three space flights. He was the first astronaut in the world to accomplish three different methods of Earth entry, and he was officially certified by the Guinness World Records in two categories. He received a YouTube Creator Award with live performance of Chopin from Space. He received a special distinguished award from Boy Scout Japan with his lifelong commitment to the boy scout organization.
Chief Technology Officer of the Institute for International Socio-Economic Studies(IISE), President of IHI Academy, Pro Vice President of Ritsumeikan University, Project Professor at the University of Tokyo, Executive fellow at World Economic Forum, the board of directors, Space Foundation, and the president of Cup Noodles Museum.
Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, camping, songwriting (Sony Music Artists), Voice Acting (dubbing in Star Wars Han Solo, Into the Nature, Disney Elio, etc.), and flying airplanes and helicopters (CFII, MEI).
Dr. Setsuko Aoki
Professor, Chiba Institute of Technology; Professor Emerita, Keio University
Dr. Setsuko AOKI is Professor, Chiba Institute of Technology and Professor Emerita at Keio University since April 2025. She is also a Board Director of SKY Perfect JSAT Holdings Inc. since June 2023.
She holds Doctor of Civil Law (D.C.L.) (McGill University, Montreal, Canada, 1993). She graduated from Faculty of Law, Keio University in 1983 (LL.B.) and Graduate School of Law, Keio University in 1985 (LL.M.). Her previous positions at university include: Assistant Professor (1994-1995) and Associate Professor (1995-1999) of the School of Social Sciences, National Defense Academy of Japan, Associate Professor (1999-2004) and Professor (2004-2016) of the Faculty of Policy Management at Keio University, and Professor of Law, Keio University Law School (2016- March 2025). She served as Vice-President of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) (October 2017 – September 2023); Dr. Aoki has been a Member of the Committee on National Space Policy (CNSP), Cabinet Office of Japan, since July 2012- July 2022, and since August 2024 to present.
Mr. John D. Hill
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space and Missile Defense
Mr. John D. Hill retired from the United States Senior Executive Service in September 2025 after a 38-year civil service career. A Presidential Rank Award recipient, Mr. Hill retired as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space and Missile Defense, a position he held beginning in January 2022. He twice performed the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, from January 2021 – March 2022 and again from August 2024 – April 2025. In these capacities, Mr. Hill oversaw formulation and implementation of defense policy and strategy for space security, nuclear deterrence, missile defense and defeat posture, and countering weapons of mass destruction. He was also responsible for associated international relations of the Department of Defense, including serving as chair of the NATO Nuclear Planning Group’s High-Level Group.
An expert in national security strategy, space policy, and Asian and Pacific security affairs, Mr. Hill was a charter member of the Mansfield Fellowship Program, serving on detail to the government of Japan in 1996 – 97. He drew on this experience throughout his subsequent years at the Department of Defense, including in assignments as Senior Country Director for Japan; Director for Northeast Asia; Principal Director for East Asia; Principal Director for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia; and Principal Director for Space Policy.
Mr. Hill received his Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from American University (1986) and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from UCLA (1984). He and his wife Lynn live in Fairfax, VA. They have three daughters, who are embarked on their own careers, and three grandchildren.
Dr. Saadia Pekkanen
Job and Gertrud Tamaki Endowed Professor, University of Washington
Dr. Saadia M. Pekkanen is the Job and Gertrud Tamaki Endowed Professor at the University of Washington in Seattle. In addition to this appointment, she is Adjunct Professor in the Department of Political Science, and Adjunct Professor at the School of Law where she also teaches courses. She earned Master’s degrees from Columbia University and Yale Law School, and a doctorate from Harvard University in government.
At the University of Washington, she is the founding director of the Program on Strategy, Policy, and Diplomacy Research (SPDR) at The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, the founding director of the Space Law, Data and Policy Program (SPACE LDP) at the School of Law, and the Founding Co-Director of the Space Policy and Research Center (SPARC) with the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. She works at the intersection of international relations and international law, specializing in the commercial, legal, and security policies shaping outer space affairs. Her regional expertise is in the foreign affairs of Japan and Asia, engaging broader themes of states, industrial policy, strategy and grand strategy, diplomacy, alliances, and governance in the world order.
Her mentors instilled in her a passion for bridging the academic-policy divide, and she too is inspired to connect and advance scholarship on technology, international security, and diplomacy in the public interest. She runs the strategic consultancy SPACEAIMS, focused on advancing educational and informational pillars for space diplomacy. She also writes The Space Diplomacy Newsletter on Substack.
She is a member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) and a lifetime member of the Council of Foreign Relations (CFR).