Naisha Naik

Usafa Legacy Apprentice @U.S. Space Command

Colorado Springs, CO, US

I am employed as a contractor within the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Command through the Griffiss Institute. I am working as an intern in the USSPACECOM Capability and Resource Integration Directorate (J8) directly under Director Thomas Lockhart.• Assisted the director of USSPACECOM Capability and Resource Integration Directorate (J8), full-time, with research on commercial integration strategy ideation, focusing on dynamics, trajectories, SDA, and commercial integration.• Utilized a forecast model in Excel(ETS algorithm) to project orbital, surface, and flyby missions through 2075, drawing on historical data from 1958–2025 (>151 missions).• Created a 3D animated model in Blender visualizing projected cislunar congestion and mission distribution through 2075.• Authored “The Cislunar Economic Forecast”, analyzing U.S. cislunar market potential, costs/barriers, and public partnerships using SWOT and STEEPLE frameworks through non-classified and unclassified data; currently working for publication.• Presented findings to stakeholders, including J8 staff, USAFA faculty, federal judiciary, industry partners, and my peers.• Attended space and missile defense conferences alongside senior leadership; participated in commercial outreach sessions with defense and aerospace firms (Lockheed Martin, American Systems, Caribou Thunder, etc.).• Integrated feedback from J8’s cislunar team and Joint Commercial Operations(JCO) into commercial strategy development.