Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John Lamontagne to Keynote 2026 Air & Space Summit

• Gen. John Lamontagne, vice chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, will deliver a keynote address at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30
• The summit will gather government and industry leaders to examine reoptimization priorities, operational readiness and the technologies shaping the future of air warfare
• Lamontagne brings decades of operational and leadership experience, including command roles at Air Mobility Command and U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa

The Potomac Officers Club, the nation’s premier GovCon events organization, is excited to announce that Gen. John Lamontagne, vice chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, will deliver a keynote address at the 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30 at the Hilton McLean in Virginia. 

Gen. Lamontagne will offer GovCon executives a critical perspective on Air Force reoptimization, operational readiness and the evolving role of air and space capabilities in national security strategy. Register today to secure your opportunity to hear directly from one of the Air Force’s top leaders.

Who Is Gen. John Lamontagne?

Gen. Lamontagne serves as the vice chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, the second highest-ranking officer in the service, where he oversees the Air Staff and assists in organizing, training and equipping more than 665,000 active-duty, guard, reserve and civilian personnel worldwide. 

A command pilot with more than 4,000 flight hours in the KC-135R, C-17A and C-12 aircraft, Lamontagne has held senior operational and strategic leadership positions across the Air Force. 

Before becoming vice chief, he served as commander of Air Mobility Command, where he oversaw the Air Force’s global airlift and aerial refueling enterprise. His previous assignments also include deputy commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, chief of staff of U.S. European Command and commander of the 618th Air Operations Center. 

Why Is the 2026 Air and Space Summit a Must-Attend Event for GovCon Executives?

The 2026 Air and Space Summit is a premier forum for government and industry leaders focused on the future of aerospace superiority, operational readiness and defense innovation.

As the Department of the Air Force accelerates efforts to achieve decision advantage across contested environments, the summit will spotlight how integrated sensors, AI-enabled operations and resilient mission networks are reshaping the future of air and space superiority. 

Attendees will gain insight into how government and industry are working together to deliver operational speed, secure data sharing and mission resilience from orbit to the tactical edge.

Summit attendees benefit from:

• Direct access to senior defense and aerospace leaders across air and space
• Insights into Air Force, Space Force and NASA modernization priorities
• Opportunities to align emerging technologies with mission needs
• Relationship building across the defense industrial base

What Will Gen. John Lamontagne Discuss in His Keynote?

Lamontagne’s keynote is expected to address the Air Force’s evolving operational requirements and the importance of modernization in maintaining strategic advantage.

Key themes may include:

• Readiness and force reoptimization initiatives for the ‘great power competition’
• Mobility and logistics in contested environments
• Advanced technologies supporting air and space superiority
• Operational integration across joint and allied forces
• Industry collaboration to accelerate mission outcomes

His extensive operational and strategic experience positions him to provide valuable insight into how the Air Force is adapting to emerging threats and global challenges.

Why Gen. John Lamontagne’s Keynote Is Critical for GovCons

Lamontagne’s keynote comes at a pivotal moment for the defense industrial base as the Air Force continues restructuring and transforming its operational capabilities and acquisition strategies.

For contractors supporting defense modernization initiatives, Lamontagne’s perspective offers valuable insight into where the Air Force is prioritizing investment across AI, mission networking, space architectures and operational resilience. 

As agencies push to reduce sensor-to-decision timelines and enable secure data sharing across classification domains, industry will play an increasingly important role in delivering interoperable and scalable solutions. 

His perspective will help contractors better understand where opportunities are emerging and how industry can support the future of air dominance. 

Why This Conversation Matters in 2026

As geopolitical competition intensifies and adversaries accelerate deployment of advanced capabilities, the Department of the Air Force is under increasing pressure to operate faster, connect more systems and make decisions at operational speed. Achieving air and space superiority now depends on resilient mission networks, integrated data architectures and the ability to translate information into action faster than any adversary.

The 2026 Air and Space Summit will provide GovCon leaders with direct insight into how defense agencies are adapting acquisition strategies, operational models and technology priorities to meet these evolving challenges. 

Why Should I Attend the 2026 Air and Space Summit?

The 2026 Air and Space Summit is designed to provide actionable insights into the technologies, policies and priorities shaping the future of aerospace and defense.

Attendees will hear directly from military leaders, government officials and industry executives driving innovation across the air and space domains. The event also offers valuable opportunities to build partnerships and strengthen positioning within the GovCon market.

What’s the Agenda for the 2026 Air and Space Summit?

The full-day event will feature keynotes, panel discussions and networking opportunities focused on innovation, acquisition and operational effectiveness.

Hear from our lineup of air and space leaders (with additional speakers still to come):

• Tom Ainsworth, acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration (Pending Confirmation)
• Col. Aaron Stevenson, deputy director of the Commercial Space Office, Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force
• Greg Heckler, deputy program manager for capability development, Space Communications and Navigation Program, NASA
• Dr. Robert Antypas, space, access, mobility, and logistics mission area lead, Air Force Research Laboratory
• Dr. Kelly Hammett, director and program executive officer, space rapid capabilities office, U.S. Space Force
• Steven Butow, senior advisor to the director and executive committee member, Defense Innovation Unit 
• Additional senior Air Force, Space Force, NASA and industry leaders

The 2026 Air and Space Summit will include panel sessions featuring high-ranking government speakers on topics such as:

• Advancing integrated sensing and AI-enabled decision-making across air and space domains
• Accelerating operational speed through human-machine teaming and mission orchestration
• Delivering interoperable optical networks and resilient mission connectivity
• Enabling secure, real-time data sharing from orbit to the tactical edge
• Leveraging commercial space relay services to achieve “speed to mission”
• Building the Department of the Air Force’s Network of the Future with adaptive encrypted architectures
• Advancing multi-level security systems and AI/ML capabilities for modern warfighters
• Maintaining military advantage through rapid technology adoption and innovation at scale

The summit offers GovCon executives an unmatched opportunity to engage directly with senior Air Force and Space Force leaders shaping the future of defense modernization. 

From AI-enabled decision advantage and resilient mission networks to commercial space integration and operational readiness, the 2026 Air and Space Summit will deliver actionable insight into the technologies and strategies defining tomorrow’s battlespace. Secure your seat today and position your organization at the forefront of air and space innovation.