National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA)

POSTPONED

The NDIA Cross-Division Collaboration Event brings together government leaders, industry partners, and NDIA division leadership to align on a shared imperative: accelerating the delivery of operational capability at speed and scale. A key focus of the event is capturing insights from both Government and Industry stakeholders to inform NDIA’s 2026 priorities, identify opportunities for cross-division collaboration, and shape future events, guidance, and initiatives that align with the need to accelerate delivery as defined in the Department of War Acquisition Transformation Strategy.

The session will conclude with a collaborative workshop, where NDIA Division leaders and participants will synthesize panel insights into a cross-division roadmap, highlighting near-term collaboration opportunities and longer-term areas where NDIA can help enable faster, more integrated delivery.

Proposed Agenda for Reference
Theme: Delivering at Speed

• 8:00 – 8:10 Opening 
• 8:10 – 9:30 Government Leadership Panel Setting the Strategic Context: Delivering Capability at Speed
• 9:30 – 9:45 Break
• 9:45 – 11:00 Industry Leadership Panel Agility, Responsiveness, and Speed at Scale
• 11:00 – 11:15 Break
• 11:15 – 11:30 Discussion: What NDIA heard from Stakeholders on their priorities
• 11:30 – 12:00 Division Leads Share 2026 Plans (Quad Chart and Collaboration Chart)
• 12:00 – 12:30 Lunch (working lunch/provided)
• 12:30 – 2:00 Division Leads Share 2026 Continued
• 2:00– 3:30 Whole group workshop. 
• Round table discussions and create cross division roadmap
• 3:30 – 3:45 Break
• 3:45 – 5:00 Feedback, and Next Steps

Join senior Air Force leaders and industry decision-makers in Dayton, Ohio, on 22 April for a full day of strategic insight, direct engagement, and actionable updates that shape upcoming requirements and procurement priorities. STCF is one of the few venues where industry has focused access to Air Force procurement officials responsible for training and simulation products and services. 

Early registration rates are available through 10 April — secure your spot now!

Press: This event is not open to Press

Foreign Nationals: This event is not open to Foreign Nationals

This discussion provides an update on the CBRN threats and challenges facing our Nation, presented by representatives from the Department of Defense’s Chemical and Biological Defense Program.

Press: This event is not open to Press

Foreign Nationals: This event is not open to Foreign Nationals

AI systems can now write code, pass bar exams, and reason through complex problems. Does this mean we are on the doorstep of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)? If so, should we be excited, terrified, or something else? 

This talk offers a grounded perspective on AI. It starts with the capabilities and limitations of current models, then defines two terms that are commonly used but rarely with precision: AGI and Superintelligence. From there, it explores the real implications of both and examines the strongest cases for and against two key claims: that AGI is imminent, and that scaling current models is a viable path to get there.

This talk is for practitioners and leaders who want to understand the landscape clearly, think critically about where things are headed, and make better decisions about how to leverage AI today. 

Please join NDIA New England for our 9th annual Cyber event! This day-long program, our Chapter’s signature event is dedicated to fostering dialogue on cybersecurity and compliance concerns impacting our members in the Defense Industrial Base. We are preparing an exciting agenda with the theme of “Implementing and Operationalizing CMMC“. With CMMC now fully in effect, organizations are seeking practical strategies for certification and operationalization. This year’s agenda brings together leading experts to address the technical, operational, and financial aspects of CMMC. Last year’s event drew over 300 attendees and sponsors, and we’re keeping it in-person only to maximize networking opportunities. We hope you can join us!

Capture and business development in government contracting are changing faster than most teams realize.

AI is no longer just a tool for drafting content—it’s reshaping how GovCon teams find opportunities, evaluate fit, identify teaming partners, and build capture strategies that actually increase probability of win. Capabilities that were impossible just a few years ago—semantic opportunity discovery, instant RFP triage, and data-driven teaming alignment—are quickly becoming competitive advantages.

In this candid panel discussion, experienced capture and business development leaders will explore how AI is changing the front end of the GovCon lifecycle. The conversation will focus on practical workflows, decision-making shifts, and lessons learned from real-world use—without sales pitches or product demos.

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of what’s now possible, how leading teams are adapting, and what capture and BD leaders should be rethinking today to stay competitive tomorrow.

The goal of the DAFMSA Summit is to gather Air Force and Space Force modeling, simulation, and analytics (MS&A) experts to learn about new MS&A initiatives and techniques, network across military services and with industry experts, and to hear our technological leaders’ perspectives on how MS&A can transition more training from the real world to digital. The 2026 Summit will provide a forum for shared information, ideas, and connection of MS&A professionals across the DoW, industry, academia, and international partners. The three-day summit agenda includes:

• Eminent Keynote Speakers from Military, Government, and Industry Leaders
• Distinguished Panel Discussions and Q&A sessions
• Track Session Presentation Focus Areas
• VIP Tour for Distinguished Visitors
• MS&A Industry Exhibition Hall
• Classified MS&A Briefing Sessions

The NDIA Air Combat Survivability Division will host a 2-day workshop on Multi-Systems Aircraft Combat Survivability at the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, May 5-6, 2026. While historically, the fundamentals of aircraft combat survivability focused on evaluating a single aircraft’s survivability versus a single threat, the discipline must now expand. The United States is developing new aircraft which bring the ability to cooperate with other air assets, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), to fight in the expected threat environment in 2030 and beyond. CCA are uncrewed, autonomous, drones that are designed to fly alongside crewed aircraft costing significantly less and providing greater sensor reach, delivery of weapons at increased ranges, and enhanced protection of the crew controlling the CCA. Thus, survivability analyses must also evolve to include the contribution of these off-board systems both to the survivability of the crewed aircraft-CCA systems and collectively to the entire air battleforce. 

The goal of this workshop is to review the current state of the U.S. Defense Industrial Base to assess multi-systems aircraft survivability, and identify pathways needed to further develop improved analytical methods. This event welcomes researchers and testers from the Department of War, Services, academia, and industry to collectively build a multi-faceted perspective on multi-systems survivability. The workshop will establish what analytical methods are currently available, consider how existing analytical methods might be limited for the upcoming needs, and highlight investments which need to be made in the near term, in order to include the effects of nascent collaborative combat tactics in the analysis of multi-system survivability. 

The workshop will be held at the SECRET//NOFORN level to allow discussion of details relevant to current acquisition programs.

On May 6 - 7 the NDIA Manufacturing Division is hosting an in-person event at Station DC, 1323 4th St NE Suite 200, Washington, DC 20002. The Manufacturing Division continues to focus on establishing NDIA as a trusted resource targeted at addressing challenges of the DoD and the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) related to:

• Supply Chain Resiliency
• Workforce Development
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Research and Engineering
• Future Technology

Join us this May for an exclusive opportunity to connect industry and government leaders on the most pressing issues facing the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). The conference will feature high-level briefings, dynamic panels, and interactive fireside chats with senior leaders from key DoD agencies shaping the future of defense manufacturing. Attendees will gain valuable insights, exchange ideas, and build stronger relationships with DoD representatives, manufacturing institutes, industry partners, and academia.

This event is closed to Press.

INVITE ONLY

The Office of Industrial Planning and Analysis (IPA), supporting DASW Industrial Base Resilience (IBR) under OASW Industrial Base Policy, will host a workshop to discuss industrial perspectives on how to prepare the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) for mobilizations and the narrative to communicate the importance of such activities.  This is the third workshop in the series and the narrative outputs from workshops with DOW and Interagency stakeholders will serve as the basis for this conversation.  The outcome will be a final set of narrative themes that will be used by OASW(IBP) and other stakeholders to align messaging on industrial base mobilization challenges and opportunities.

Welcome to the 2026 Support Equipment & Vehicle Modernization Summit.

As we stand at the forefront of an era defined by great power competition, this summit embodies our collective resolve to ensure that our armed forces remain unmatched in their power projection capabilities. It is here, at the nexus of technology and strategy, that we unite – military personnel, engineers, scientists, and industry leaders – to propel forward the modernization and innovation essential for maintaining global peace and security.

The 2026 Summit is especially pivotal as we support the “Great Power Competition Enabling Power Projection.” Our discussions and collaborations will be critical in navigating the complexities of contemporary geopolitical dynamics. They will highlight the innovative strategies and groundbreaking technologies that are fundamental to enhancing our operational readiness and strategic deterrence.

We are gathering to not just exchange ideas but to forge a future where our defense mechanisms are so advanced that they deter conflict and ensure stability in an unpredictable world. The path we chart together will define our ability to uphold peace, to protect our interests, and to support our allies and partners in the face of emerging threats.

Let this summit serve as a beacon of progress, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in every facet of defense modernization. May our discussions inspire action and our collaborations yield solutions that fortify our nation’s defense, enabling us to project power with precision and purpose on the global stage.

Thank you for your dedication to this critical cause, your invaluable service, and your active participation. Together, we are shaping the future of our defense forces, ensuring they are prepared to meet the challenges of great power competition with unwavering strength and innovation.

ATTEND
Connect. Learn. Lead the future of defense innovation. Experience three days of mission-focused collaboration, breakthrough technology, and access to decision-makers driving modernization and readiness.

EXHIBIT
Showcase your innovations directly to acquisition leaders, program offices, and industry primes. From AI and autonomy to ground systems and manufacturing, MDEX 2026 is where solutions meet opportunity.

SPONSOR
Amplify Your Impact and Reach the Right Audience. Sponsorship opportunities at MDEX allow your brand to stand out among defense industry leaders and decision-makers.