2026 Defense R&D Summit | Potomac Officers Club
RegisterWHAT
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 defense landscape of tomorrow.
*This event is closed to media.
Keynote Speakers
Speakers
COL Richard Becker
G6 & INSCOM CIO Deputy Director, Operations
INSCOM
Sarah Campbell
Associate VP of Research for Defense & Security
George Mason University
Theresa Campobasso
Senior Vice President, Government Success
Exiger
Peter Cappiello
Chief Executive Officer
Future Technologies Venture LLC
Jay Coffey
Vice President, Federal
Arqit
CDR Jeremiah Daley
Military Director, PACFLT N9WAR
U.S. Navy
Lt Col. Gregory Haverkorn
Special Operations, Personnel Recovery and Close Air Support
U.S. Air Force
Col. Nicholas Lozar
Commanding Officer
Marine Depot Maintenance Command
Col. Daniel May
Chief AI Officer for Air Force Intelligence
U.S. Air Force
Leigh Method
PDASW and PTDO ASW(S)
U.S. Department of War (DOW)
LTG (Ret) John Morrison
Former Deputy Chief of Staff, G6, U.S Army
Lt Col. Charles Osterhout
Division Chief: Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, and Combat Applications
U.S. Air Force
MAJ Robert Perez-Alemany
Technical Program Manager, Space Portfolio
Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
Lt Col. Benjamin Pimentel
Technical Lead for Expeditionary & Tactical Programs FutureG
U.S. Department of War (USW(R&E))
Col Jason Quinter
Commanding Officer, Marine Air Control Group 38
U.S. Marine Corps
Jon Rhone
Command and Control Strategist
SAIC
Michael Sherman
Director, Operational Resilience
Vantor
Dr. Amir Stephenson
Director, 5G.MIL Programs
Lockheed Martin
Dr. Tucker Swindell (Pending Approval)
Acting Assistant Director, Network & Communications US ARMY DEVCOM C5ISR Center
U.S. Army
Steve Vogelsang
CTO Nokia Federal Solutions
Nokia Federal Solutions
Dr. Stacie Williams
Chief Science Officer
U.S. Space Force
Agenda
| 7:00am | 8:00am | Networking Reception |
| 8:00am | 8:05am | Welcome & Opening Remarks |
| 8:05am | 8:45am | Opening Keynote |
| 8:45am | 9:20am | Morning Keynote: Hon. Emil Michael |
| 9:20am | 9:50am | Networking Break |
| 9:50am | 10:50am | Panel A: Bridging Domains: 5G to FutureG in Defense, Steve Vogelsang (Moderator), Col Jason Quinter, LTG (Ret) John Morrison, Dr. Tucker Swindell (Pending Approval), Lt Col. Benjamin Pimentel and Dr. Amir Stephenson. |
| 9:50am | 10:50am | Panel B: Crossing the Valley of Death and Ready to Fight on the Far Side, Jon Rhone (Moderator), CDR Jeremiah Daley, Lt Col. Charles Osterhout and Lt Col. Gregory Haverkorn. |
| 9:50am | 10:50am | Panel C: Innovating for Advantage: Advancing Secure, Interoperable IT for Space Defense, Michael Sherman and Dr. Stacie Williams. |
| 10:50am | 11:00am | Break |
| 11:00am | 12:00pm | Panel A: Smart Installation and Logistics Modernization through 5G, Peter Cappiello, and Col. Nicholas Lozar. |
| 11:00am | 12:00pm | Panel B: Securing the Future of Defense Innovation, Theresa Campobasso (Moderator), Leigh Method and Col. Daniel May. |
| 11:00am | 12:00pm | Panel C: Non-Kinetic Considerations for Left of Launch Defeat: Sarah Campbell. |
| 12:00pm | 1:30pm | Networking Lunch |
| 12:15pm | 1:15pm | Lunch Panel |
| 1:30pm | 2:30pm | Panel A: Innovating Wirelessly within INDOPACOM, COL Richard Becker and Lt Col. Benjamin Pimentel. |
| 1:30pm | 2:30pm | Panel B: Powering AI at Mission Scale: Energy, Compute, and Infrastructure for Defense Innovation |
| 1:30pm | 2:30pm | Panel C: Securing the Quantum Edge: Advancing U.S. Leadership as a National Security Imperative, Jay Coffey (Moderator). |
| 2:30pm | 3:00pm | Networking Break |
| 3:00pm | 3:35pm | Afternoon Keynote |
| 3:35pm | 4:10pm | Closing Keynote: Dr. Thomas Rondeau |
| 4:10pm | 4:20pm | Closing Comments |
