Deputy Intelligence Director Aaron Lukas to Deliver Keynote at 2025 Intel Summit
Potomac Officers Club is excited to unveil Aaron Lukas, principal deputy director of national intelligence, as a keynote speaker for the 2025 Intel Summit, hosted on October 2 at the Hilton McLean in Virginia.
As the second-in-command of the U.S. intelligence community, Lukas is one of the most powerful and influential national security leaders in government today. He supports Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in overseeing the work of all 18 intelligence agencies and helps guide the IC’s mission to integrate and coordinate intelligence operations worldwide.
Public-facing appearances by top intelligence officials are rare. Lukas’ keynote offers GovCon executives and cleared leaders a unique opportunity to hear directly from the highest levels of the IC about priorities, challenges and the future of national security. His participation underscores why the POC Intel Summit is the premier gathering for the intelligence community and its industry partners. Save your spot before tickets sell out!
Who Is Aaron Lukas?
Lukas boasts more than two decades of experience across intelligence, policy and national security leadership roles:
- CIA service: Spent years as an analyst and clandestine operations officer, with overseas assignments shaping his deep operational perspective.
- White House experience: Served on the National Security Council as deputy senior director for Europe and Russia during the first Trump administration, advising on sensitive policy matters at the highest level.
- ODNI leadership: Previously served as chief of staff at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, where he helped reform leadership structures and streamline decision-making across the IC.
- Recent appointment: Nominated by President Trump in March, confirmed by the Senate in July and sworn in as principal deputy director of national intelligence on July 24.
- Earlier roles: Policy analyst at the Cato Institute and chief speechwriter at the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, adding policy and communications expertise to his operational background.
This combination of operational, policy and leadership experience positions Lukas as one of the most well-rounded leaders in the intelligence community today.
What Lukas Will Address in His Keynote
With his unique vantage point as the IC’s second-highest official, Lukas is expected to explore themes with direct relevance to both government and GovCon industry audiences:
- IC leadership and reform: How ODNI is working to strengthen trust, transparency and integration across 18 agencies.
- Adapting to geopolitical disruption: The evolving threat landscape in Europe, Russia and beyond—and what it means for intelligence priorities.
- Technology integration: Leveraging AI, data analytics and cyber resilience to maintain the IC’s strategic advantage.
- Operational lessons from the field: How clandestine service experience informs today’s global intelligence challenges.
- Public-private collaboration: The growing role of industry innovation and partnerships in supporting national security missions.
Why This Matters for GovCons
For executives in the GovCon and national security space, Lukas’ Intel Summit keynote is more than a rare appearance—it’s a strategic opportunity:
- Gain early insight into the ODNI’s modernization roadmap.
- Understand IC priorities at a pivotal moment of geopolitical and technological change.
- Align your organization with the expectations and needs of top IC leaders.
- Position your company for future opportunities in intelligence and defense contracting.
Don’t miss this chance to hear from top IC leaders like Lukas, in addition to CIA officials like Jennifer Gase (deputy CISO) and Ryon Klotz (deputy CIO for information technology enterprise) at the 2025 Intel Summit! If you want to do business with the IC and learn which technologies it needs to complete its toughest missions, this is the event for you.
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