2026 Defense R&D Summit
As global threats evolve and the pace of technological advancement accelerates, the need for groundbreaking research and innovation in defense has never been greater. The Potomac Officers Club invites you to the 2026 Defense R&D Summit, where the nation’s top defense leaders, researchers and innovators will converge to examine the technologies revolutionizing the future of warfare. Through expert-led discussions and actionable insights, this summit offers a unique opportunity to explore strategies that will strengthen U.S. military capabilities and ensure national security. Don’t miss your chance to engage with key decision-makers and pioneers shaping the dsefense landscape of tomorrow.
Speaker Details
Dr. Thomas Rondeau (Keynote)
Principal Director, FutureG & 5G (OUSD R&E)
U.S. Department of War (DOW)
Hon. Emil Michael (Keynote)
Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
& Acting Director of the Defense Innovation Unit
U.S. Department of Defense (OUSD R&E)
Hon. Michael Duffey (Keynote)
Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
Dr. Ronzelle Green (Keynote)
Director of Research & Development
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
Mark Luncher (Introducer)
Vice President, Programs National Security and Space Sector
SAIC
Danielle Manson (Introducer)
Vice President Federal Partnerships
JMA Wireless
Carrie Wibben Kaupp (Moderator)
President
Exiger
Jay Coffey (Moderator)
Vice President, Federal
Arqit
Joe Pishock (Moderator)
DoD Accounts and Strategy
Oceus
William Grabner (Moderator)
Senior Vice President, Federal Sales
JMA Wireless
Jason Bales (Moderator)
CTO
CACI
John Moberly (Moderator)
Chief Growth Officer
Ibeos
Vincent DiFronzo (Moderator)
EVP, Air Force and Combatant Command
SAIC
JC Gordon (Moderator)
Vice President - Maritime & Logistics
Kpler
Michael Sherman (Panelist)
Director, Operational Resilience
Vantor
Col Jason Quinter (Panelist/Virtual)
Commanding Officer, Marine Air Control Group 38
U.S. Marine Corps
CDR Jeremiah Daley (Panelist)
Military Director, PACFLT N9WAR
U.S. Navy
Steve Vogelsang (Panelist)
CTO Nokia Federal Solutions
Nokia Federal Solutions
Dr. Stacie Williams (Panelist)
Chief Science Officer
U.S. Space Force
LTG (Ret) John Morrison (Panelist)
Former Deputy Chief of Staff, G6, U.S Army
MAJ Robert Perez-Alemany (Panelist)
Technical Program Manager, Space Portfolio
Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
Leigh Method (Panelist)
PDASW and PTDO ASW(S)
U.S. Department of War (DOW)
COL Richard Becker (Panelist)
G6 & INSCOM CIO Deputy Director, Operations
INSCOM
Dr. Tucker Swindell (Panelist/Pending Approval)
Acting Assistant Director, Network & Communications
US ARMY DEVCOM C5ISR Center
U.S. Army
Lt Col. Benjamin Pimentel (Panelist)
Technical Lead for Expeditionary & Tactical Programs FutureG
U.S. Department of War (USW(R&E))
Col. Daniel May (Panelist)
Chief AI Officer for Air Force Intelligence
U.S. Air Force
Dr. Amir Stephenson (Panelist)
Director, 5G.MIL Programs
Lockheed Martin
Sarah Campbell (Panelist)
Associate VP of Research for Defense & Security
George Mason University
Lt Col. Gregory Haverkorn (Panelist)
Battlespace Awareness Division Chief at AF TENCAP, ACC Det 1
U.S. Air Force
Peter Cappiello (Panelist)
Chief Executive Officer
Future Technologies Venture LLC
Col. Nicholas Lozar (Panelist)
Commanding Officer
Marine Depot Maintenance Command
VADM Retired Jeffrey Trussler (Panelist/Virtual)
Former Deputy Chief of Naval Operations & Director
of Naval Intelligence N2/N6 Information Warfare
Team Trussler LLC.
Dr. Fredrik Fatemi (Panelist / Pending Confirmation)
Senior Research Scientist for Quantum Science
DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, AFC
LTG (Ret) Matthew Glavy (Panelist)
Former Deputy Commandant for Information [DC I]
U.S. Marine Corps
CAPT Patrick Thompson (Panelist - Pending Approval)
Infrastructure Services Division
C5ISC
Kathryn Wang (Panelist)
Principal, Public Sector
SandboxAQ
RADM (Ret.) Doug Small (Panelist)
Nathan Simington (Panelist)
President
DWS Strategies, LLC
Nathan Simington (Panelist)
Director of Policy & Strategy
Ericsson Federal
LTC Paul Lushenko (Panelist)
Chief Strategist
Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401)
GEN (Ret) David D. Thompson (Panelist)
Former Vice Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force
U.S. Air Force
Shannon Pallone (Panelist)
SFPEO, BMC3I
U.S. Space Force
Dr. Jeff Waksman (Panelist)
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations,
Energy and Environment
U.S. Army
Brig Gen (S.) Lauren Courchaine (Panelist)
Director, Cyberspace Operations and Warfighter Communications (AF/A6O)
U.S. Air Force
CAPT Charles McKissick (Panelist)
U.S. Navy Military Deputy Navy Service Lead
Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
Col. Daniel Celotto (Panelist)
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-6
Marine Corps Installations Command
Tim Kocher (Panelist)
Deputy Director in the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security,
and Emergency Response (CESER)
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Frank Finelli (Panelist)
Managing Director
The Carlyle Group
Event Topic
Defense, IT, TechnologyRelevant Audiences
All State and Local Government, All Federal Government, Department of Defense
Event Type
Onsite
Event Subtype
Conference / Summit
When
Thu, Jan 29, 2026 | 7:00 am - 3:45 pm
Registration Cost
Government:
$ 0.00
Non-Member Government:
$ 50.00
Elite New:
$ 100.00
Member:
$ 250.00
Guest Member:
$ 445.00
Non-Member:
$ 725.00
Location
Hilton-McLean
7920 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, Virginia, US, 22102
Organizer